The "Spinnerbait" is a lure bass anglers have long relied upon. A standard in the industry, virtually every bass angler has one (or ten). While there are a variety of manufacturers and designs, spinnerbaits have a few key features that are universal: a ‘V’ shaped wire frame, a spinning blade, and a head/hook combo.

1. When and how to use a spinnerbait

With its thousands of variations in structure and design, the spinnerbait really comes down to one basic thing…a quick, straight retrieve. Along that straight retrieve, however, the angler can use different techniques to entice strikes. In deeper water, for example, lifting the bait near the surface then letting it drift back down often produces strikes on the fall. As does a quicker ‘curved fall’, where the pauses are not as dramatic as the lift and fall method. In shallower water, ‘gargling’ and ‘buzzing’ are good ways to entice the bass to strike. Both methods require keeping the rod tip up, and the spinnerbait at or near the surface. Seemingly built for fan casting, the spinnerbait is most effective when you want to search for bass in a big area, where different obstacles and structure require versatility. Spinnerbaits shine even where the wind and weather are rough.

2. Basics of using spinnerbait

Let's assume an angler has a large area of the lake where the bass are actively biting in the 3-6 ft range, the wind is fairly heavy, and it's cloudy. Now let’s discuss weights, blades and resistance to address these issues.

Weight
- and proper use depending on the target depth and reeling speed -

 The angler attaches a ½ ounce spinnerbait. After a few casts, he settles on a retrieve speed he wants, but the light weight of the lure keeps it near the surface, and the wind is blowing the line quite a bit. The angler switches to a ⅝ ounce and continues. The heavier bait is now at the top end of the strike depth, but the wind is still blowing the line more than the angler would like. The angler then switches to a ¾ ounce bait and casts. The wind is not much of a factor now, and the bait is at the low end of the depth range, allowing the angler to lift the rod tip and ‘lift and fall’ throughout the depth range of 3-6 feet. Problem solved.

Blades

Spinnerbait blades come in various styles, but the three main types are the Willow, Colorado and Indiana blades. From there, they can be set solo, in tandem or even three to an arm. The Willow blade is the most basic spinnerbait blade. It has a leaf-like blade and its flash (wobble from side to side) is more subtle than the others. It seems to be most effective when attacking fish under pressure. Colorado blades are rounded, cup-shaped blades that tend to catch water, increasing its resistance. Colorado blades have the most aggressive flash of the major blades, making it ideal when the angler wants to draw bass with noise and vibration from a large area. The Indiana blade is the middle ground between the Willow and Colorado blades. It has less flash than the Colorado, but is more aggressive than the Willow. It is a versatile and popular blade type that can be cast in virtually any area. Because it is a versatile blade, it’s a good first choice. Color is also important. There are only a couple of generalities about color that can be made: on bright days, shiny metal is better. On cloudy days, colors work better. Deciding which metal (copper, silver, gold) and colors are best is left to the water, the angler and practice.

water resistance

The flexibility of the spinnerbait allows the angler to deal with a variety of challenges. Water resistance depends on all of the components of the spinnerbait. For example, the angle of the head will increase or decrease resistance. The thickness of the skirt will also add or decrease resistance. Even the weight of the wire arm can affect how much water resistance the lure has in addition to blade resistance. When the wind is blowing the line all over the place, switching from a single blade spinnerbait to a double bladed one can help increase water resistance and tighten up the line. Switching out subtle blades for more aggressive ones also helps. The more resistance to retrieve, the tighter the line and the more feel the angler has for the strike. All of these factors make the spinnerbait the King of versatility.

3. Six types of typical Japanese spinnerbaits

No article on spinnerbaits would be complete without comparing some of the best Japan has to offer! Each spinnerbait has a clear concept difference, so if you are unsure which fits your needs, we offer you this list…

• DEPS/B Custom: A spinnerbait that controls clear water with slight waves and pitching.
• EVERGREEN/Dzone: Durability is secondary, a spinnerbait that continuously fires good bait with ultra-fine wire diameter φ0.68mm for increased vibration.
• IMAKATSU/Zinx Mini Super Blade: This is for tough situations. The weakest spinnerbait on the Japanese market.
• MEGABASS/SV-3: Balanced spinnerbait with a beautiful shape
• JACKALL/Dooon: A more subtle spinnerbait can be reeled in quicker than most other spinnerbaits
• JACKALL/Super Eruption Jr: This spinnerbait was designed for hitting obstacles and features a head shape and a compact size that are ideal for light contact.

DEPS/B Custom

     - A spinnerbait that controls clear water with slight waves and pitching.

The B Custom is a tandem spinnerbait that excels in clear water using subtle waves with erratic side to side pitching. The Deps B Custom, which stands for Lake Biwa Custom, was designed to catch big bass like those found in Lake Biwa (where the world record bass weighing 22lb was caught in 2009). It has a unique head shape that lets it fall horizontally with great action, and that head shape causes it from rock side-to-side with left-right fluttering action on the retrieve. . With small blades creating ‘micro waves’, and a unique head to design that gives the bait erratic action, the Deps B Custom is sure to lure big bass!

EVERGREEN/Dzone

     - Durability is secondary, a spinnerbait that continuously fires good bait with ultra-fine wire diameter φ0.68mm for increased vibration.

This tournament quality spinner bait is designed by former B.A.S.S ELITE tour pro Morizo Shimizu who designed JACK HAMMER with Brett Hite. With a focus on catching valuable fish in tournaments and not durability, the intense vibration emitted from the ultra-fine wire arm attracts many bass. The Dzone also has hand tied silicone skirts, a live eye and compact head for down-deep retrieves. 

IMAKATSU/Zinx Mini Super Blade

     - This is for tough situations. The weakest spinnerbait on the Japanese market.

The Zinx Mini Super Blade is a compact spinner bait made of a special steel that is designed for heavy fishing pressure situations. Water resistance is lower with the super blade. Using super thin double willow blades, the angler can feel the retrieve more because the blades rotate at high speed. Recommended when you want to attack bass under pressure.

MEGABASS/SV-3

     - Balanced spinnerbait with a beautiful shape

Designed to upgrade the legendary V-3 model, the Megabass SV-3 was developed by the Megabass engineering team and B.A.S.S. elite pros. The SV-3 has become one of the ultimate spinnerbaits to win under the various conditions. A balanced spinnerbait with a clean, beautiful shape, it is characterized by the speed of recovery from posture changes due to contact. The Megabass SV-3 has a beautiful design that makes full use of Japanese technology and is recommended for beginners and the first lure when you get lost.

JACKALL/Dooon

     - A more subtle spinnerbait can be reeled in quicker than most other spinnerbaits

The Jackall DOOON boasts tight action that works extremely well as a search bait. This unique Spinnerbait has a highly detailed head design with innovative side fins, which give it a planing effect, keeping the lure at a consistent depth during fast retrieve. A strong 1mm thick wire gives the perfect balance between flex and strength. Recommended when you want a subtle vibration to search large areas quickly for big bass. 

JACKALL/Super Eruption Jr

     -This spinnerbait was designed for hitting obstacles and features a head shape and a compact size that are ideal for light contact.

 The Jackall Super Eruption Jr. spinnerbait is one of the finest spinnerbaits from Japan. It features a .0.8mm wire and a unique blade/head combos that lets it maintain an upright angle at any speed. Its small size and weedless profile is perfect to use in small ponds and streams, yet can slay big water fish that get picky with size.