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Best Spinnerbaits For Bass

Mark Armstrong
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​Spinnerbaits can be a versatile option for bass lures, as they can be used in various situations and even all year round. But what exactly are they and what makes them good?

To give you a better idea of what to look for when it comes to choosing the best spinnerbaits for bass we’ve put together this quick guide.

Sneak Peek: Spinnerbaits

​What Are Spinnerbaits, And How Do They Work?

Spinnerbaits are lures that tend to feature a weighted head with a skirt, similar to a jig, but with the added advantage of separate blades that spin when under the water. These blades help to create flash and vibration to attract attention from bass. Like a jig, the silicone skirt on the spinnerbait is designed to move underwater.

​Video: How ​To Work ​A Spinner Bait

Spinnerbaits usually have a hook hidden within the skirt, making the hook less visible to fish. The blades on a spinnerbait will usually be on a wire arm that extends them out from the rest of the lure.

These types of lures work because they can mimic the appearance of baitfish in the water and can attract attention from a greater distance. Bass can generally see the flash from the blades and can sense the vibrations caused as the blades move through the water.

​How To Choose A Spinnerbait

​Types Of Blades

Willow

Willow blades are generally the slimmest of the blades used in spinnerbaits. They are called willow blades because they are a similar shape to a willow leaf, much like an elongated football.

These types of blades can be better for using in clearer water conditions because of the reduced vibration compared to some of the larger profile blades. They can also create more flash and can be better suited for faster presentations and warm water fishing because of their more streamlined design.

Video: Spinnerbait Blade Combos

Colorado

Colorado blades have a more rounded appearance and tend to create added vibration under the water, but this can mean the level of flash is reduced. They can also be better suited for slower presentations and could be a good choice in colder conditions.

These types of blades can also help to lift your lure higher in the water when it’s being retrieved, which can help when you’re reeling it back in slowly.

Indiana

Indiana blades tend to have more of an oval appearance, with a rounded end at one side and a more tapered end at the other side. This means it can offer a good combination of flash and vibration, being somewhere in the middle of both the Colorado and willow blades, with more flash than a Colorado and more vibration than a willow.

​Double/Tandem

Some lures are designed to offer a combination of the blade features. Double blades are usually two of the same type of blade, for example a double willow blade. But there are also tandem blades, which tend to be a combination of two different types of blade, such as a willow and a Colorado blade.

Double Colorado blades could be a good choice for fishing in very muddy water in very cold, cloudy weather where you may want the added vibration to attract bass.

​Hooks

The hooks on a spinnerbait are generally hidden within the skirt of the jig-like lure. The hook is usually directly underneath the weighted head. This more upright hook placement can make the lure less likely to get caught up in cover, although it’s not an entirely weedless design.

> Guide to bass hooks

Colors

Like many other lures, spinnerbaits can come in a variety of colors. If you’re fishing in clear water or on a bright, sunny day, you may want to opt for a more natural color. White can be a good choice in these conditions.

Brighter colors might work well in muddy water or on cloudy days where visibility is reduced.

Size

As with most lures, you will find different sizes of spinnerbaits available. The variety of sizes can be helpful in making spinnerbaits a pretty versatile lure, letting you size up or down depending on your fishing conditions.

Smaller spinnerbaits can be useful in finesse presentations and in cold water conditions where bass may be less active and less likely to feed.

On the other hand, larger spinnerbaits might be better suited to warmer conditions or when bass are actively feeding.

Don’t confuse spinnerbaits with inline spinners. They are two different types of lures, albeit with similar names.

Read more about inline spinners here

​Spinnerbait Bass Fishing Tips & Techniques

​Clear Water

Smaller profile spinnerbaits might work better in clear water. Willow blades can be the best choice for clear conditions because they tend to create less vibration than Colorado or Indiana blades. These types of blades may also appear more like baitfish because of their shape.

Spinnerbaits can be an ideal choice for clear water if there’s cover or vegetation, and can be particularly useful on cloudy or breezy days.

> Fishing bass in clear waters

​Muddy Water

Spinnerbaits with brightly colored skirts combined with blades that offer a higher level of vibration can be a good choice to use if you’re fishing in muddy water. Visibility will likely be reduced in these conditions so you’ll probably need something that will attract attention despite the low visibility.

Colorado blades can be particularly good in these conditions, especially when you combine them with a brightly colored skirt.

​Video: Choosing ​The ​Right ​Spinnerbait ​Blades ​For ​Bass ​Fishing

​Warm Conditions

During the summer or when the water is warm, it can be a good time to throw larger sized spinnerbaits. Bass are usually more active in these months, as are their prey, which means faster presentations can usually work well.

Willow blades can be a good choice for warm conditions because they tend to have a more hydrodynamic shape which lets them cut through the water more quickly, meaning you can reel them in faster.

​Cold Conditions

In cold conditions you may want to slow it down a little because bass will often be less active during these conditions. Colorado blades can be a good option for cold water because they can have a little more drag, which helps to slow down your lure as you reel it in.

If bass are in deeper water, you might find a smaller blade paired with a heavier head could be easier to fish.

​Bump Into Structure

Letting your spinnerbait bump into things – just like you might do with a jig – can be a good technique, as this can cause added vibration which can attract bass. Rocks, weeds, logs and other objects can be ideal for this. This technique might be better utilized if you’re fishing in shallow water.

​Reel It In

The “chuck and wind” technique can be a good one for covering water. This simple technique involves slowly reeling the lure back in after you’ve cast it out.

While you’re reeling it in, gently move your rod tip either up or down to make the lure rise or fall, as this can entice a bass to take it.


​Best Spinnerbaits For Bass Fishing

​1: Strike King Finesse KVD Spinnerbait (Double Willow Blades)

Strike King Finesse KVD SpinnerbaitPin
  • ​Weight: ⅜ ounce to ½ ounce​
  • ​Size: 6 x 4 x 1 inches

The Strike King Finesse KVD spinnerbait can be a great choice for finesse techniques, as it has a small profile that is designed to entice a strike. It features double willow blades that can be ideal for fishing in clear water or in warmer conditions when you want a faster retrieve.

It also comes in a variety of colors, including white and chartreuse, with various combinations of blade colors. Another feature of this Strike King spinnerbait is the added Magic Tail which helps to create a more realistic movement underwater.

​2: Booyah Pond Magic (Tandem Willow/Colorado Blades)

Booyah Pond MagicPin
  • ​​Weight: 3/16 ounce​
  • ​​Size: 5 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches

This Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbait could be a good choice if you’re looking to target bass in smaller bodies of water, as it’s designed for ponds. This means it has a slightly smaller profile so that it can better mimic the types of baitfish found in smaller water.

It features tandem Colorado and willow blades to offer a combination of flash and vibration to attract bass. It also benefits from a 60 strand silicone skirt for added movement and comes in a range of different color options.

​3: Strike King Mini King (Colorado Blade)

Strike King Mini KingPin
  • ​​​Weight: ⅛ ounce​
  • ​​​Size: 4.6 x 2.8 x 0.5 inches

​The Strike King Mini King features a single Colorado blade with diamond beveling to create extra flash and reflection as well as increased vibration. This spinnerbait comes in a range of colors and could be a good choice for fishing in murky water or in winter when you need to slow down your retrieval speed.

​4​: Pradco Booyah Blade (Tandem Willow/Colorado Blades)

Pradco Booyah BladePin
  • ​​​​Weight: ⅜ ounce, ¼ ounce, ½ ounce​

This Pradco Booyah Blade features tandem willow and Colorado blades and comes in a range of colors to suit various conditions. It features nickel plated blades and alloy wire for added flexibility and vibration.

This spinnerbait has a relatively long arm, which could improve its weedless performance as the arm extends over the hook.

​5: Booyah Colorado/Indiana (Tandem Colorado/Indiana Blades)

Booyah Colorado/IndianaPin
  • ​​​​​Weight: ⅜ ounce​
  • ​​​​​Size: 5 x 5 inches

This Booyah spinnerbait features tandem willow and Indiana blades to give you a good combination of both flash and vibration, which could be a great choice if you’re fishing in muddy water or in winter when the temperatures are low.

It features a 55 strand silicone skirt for realistic movement underwater and comes in white and chartreuse colors for versatility.


​Frequently Asked Questions

Is Spinnerbait Good For Bass?

Yes, spinnerbaits can be good for catching bass. They are a versatile lure that can be used to target bass in lots of conditions.

What Is The Best Color Spinnerbait?

White can be a good versatile color to use. But sometimes chartreuse can work well, for example where you have reduced visibility.

Are Spinnerbaits Weedless?

They can be weedless because of the way they’re designed but there are also some spinnerbaits with added features that can help to improve this, such as a hydroplaning head or a longer wire arm at the top.


​In Conclusion

When you’re looking for a good spinnerbait for bass, you may want to think about your fishing conditions first, as this can often affect the performance of a particular type of spinnerbait. For example, if you will be fishing in cold conditions where a slow presentation is required, a lure with Colorado blades might be your best option.

Similarly, the clarity of the water and the time of year may also have an effect on the type of spinnerbaits that will work well, as bass may be more likely to bite something that looks like their natural prey. It might also help to experiment with different retrieval speeds.

Leave us a comment to let us know what you think of spinnerbaits and when they work best for you. And remember to share this to see what your fellow fishers think about spinnerbaits.

Best Spinnerbaits For BassPin

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