Through all the years of teaching many former guide clients I have taken on bass fishing trips, one question comes to mind that has been asked time and time again by many anglers, and that question is, "Are spinnerbaits worth the money you pay for them?," and I have to say yes!
If I had a choice of three baits to fish a body of water for Largemouth, Smallmouth, or Kentucky Spots, I would have to say that a spinnerbait is one of the three that I would choose. Spinnerbaits are one of the most versatile types of bait that an angler can use when fishing for bass. There are several different presentations and techniques that one can use when fishing with a spinnerbait, such as:
Chunk-N-Wind
This presentation is probably the most commonly used by most anglers. You cast the bait and reel it back in at a moderate rate or retrieve the bait just under the water surface, usually no deeper than 4- to 5-feet deep. This technique works well when an angler wants to cover a lot of water territory quickly and can be very effective at times.
Slow-Rolling
This presentation is often used for fishing deeper water areas, usually between 6- and 20-foot depths and sometimes even deeper. With this presentation, you want to keep the spinnerbait as close to the bottom as possible and bump or hit any possible structure in your fishing area. With this presentation, cast your spinnerbait, and when it hits the water, you can either immediately start your retrieve or count-down, letting the spinnerbait fall to the depth you want to cover, then start your retrieve. Maintain a slow, steady retrieve, keeping the spinnerbait moving at all times.
Waking or Bulging
This presentation can be a little tricky when you first learn it. You cast to your targeted area and retrieve or reel the spinnerbait back in just fast enough to create a bulge or wake just below the surface without actually skimming the top of the surface of the water. This presentation is an excellent pattern to use around submerged timber, riprap, fall-downs, vegetation, edge drops, docks, and just about any structure when the bass are active.
Jigging-It
Jigging the spinnerbait can be one presentation of a spinnerbait you'll not want to forget because it's proven to be one of the more successful techniques. The presentation is straightforward, and the results can be fantastic! Jigging the spinnerbait is done by pitching the spinnerbait in a targeted area like patches of open water in vegetation, space holes in the structure, next to and in between pilings, in between rocks, and so forth. Let the spinnerbait drop to the bottom, lift your rod tip up and down two or three times, then let the spinnerbait settle to the bottom again.
Draggin'-It
I have ever caught some of the biggest bass by using this presentation. You use the spinnerbait as you would a plastic lizard or worm. Cast the spinnerbait and let it fall to the bottom. Reel or retrieve in the slack out of your line. Lift your rod tip slowly from about 9 to 12 o'clock (or straight up), reel in the slack, and repeat this technique back to the boat. Make sure you always keep tension on your bait for this technique.
Yo-Yo or Pumping
This technique can also be very effective at different times, especially in and around vegetation areas. This technique cast the spinnerbait to the targeted area, using more of a slow-roll for a retrieve. While on the retrieve, periodically make a quick lift of your rod tip after five or six winds on your reel; stop reeling and let the spinnerbait flutter back down towards the bottom until the slack is out of your line, then repeat this process back to the boat.
Although there are more, these are some of the most compelling presentations that I have found to be quite successful, and they have proven themselves time after time. Some of these presentations listed above can be some of the most effective at catching bass if you give them a chance. But, like anything else, it takes time and practice to build confidence in any bait. There is a lot more to learn about spinnerbaits, such as; blade size, blade shape, colors, weights, trailers, trailer hooks, etc. Lord willing, I can share some of these things with you in future articles. Till next time! Take Care & God Bless!
