Spinnerbait
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Spinnerbait refers to any one of a family of fishing lures that get their name from one or more metal blades shaped so as to spin like a propeller when the lure is in motion, creating varying degrees of flash and vibration that mimics small fish. The two most popular types of spinnerbaits are the 'in-line spinner' and 'safety pin' spinnerbaits, though others such as the 'tail-spinner' also exist.
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[edit] In-Line Spinner
The in-line spinner is the oldest known version of the spinnerbait, and also the simplest. There are several variations of it, but in its' most basic form, it consists of a wire metal frame with a treble hook at the back end, either exposed or dressed up with feathers or animal fur, a 'body' made from wood or composed of several beads, and the spinning blade at the front that gives the lure its' name.
[edit] Safety Pin Spinnerbait
The 'safety pin' style spinnerbait is probably the most popular spinnerbait design among recreational fishermen today, especially anglers fishing for Black Bass. Like the in-line spinner, the heart of its' design is a wire metal frame, but the frame bends roughly 90 degrees with the line being tied at the point of the bend. at one end, the frame ends in a lead jig with a single hook hidden by a 'skirt' usually made of strands of rubber or some other synthetic material. At the other end is the blade. Some safety-pin spinnerbaits have more than one blade, with a few having up to four, though one or two is generally a more common configuration. One of the benefits of this design is that the frame often keeps the hook from getting snagged on objects while being retrieved, though some believe this also leads to fish not being securely hooked and getting away, prompting some anglers to add a second 'stinger' hook to the main hook to increase the chances of a successful catch. This 'stinger' hook hooks fish that strike short of the skirt on the bait which would otherwise be lost.
[edit] Tailspinner
A tailspinner is a type of spinnerbait that consists of a lead body with the line tie point on top, a single treble hook on the bottom, and a single small blade mounted on the tail, hence the name.
[edit] Blades
The most important part of any spinnerbait next to the hook is the blade. There are several different shapes, and numerous sizes, with colors ranging from gold, silver, and bronze, to painted blades with a myriad of different colors and patterns. The two main characteristics of a spinnerbait blade are flash (available light reflecting off the blade as it moves) and vibration (the 'thump' of the blade as it spins). Some blade designs produce more vibration, while other designs produce more flash. The most prominent blade types include the following:
- Colorado blade: A round, spoon-shaped blade, the Colorado blade is designed for maximum vibration, its broad shape and parabolic cross-section producing a deep, heavy vibration that can be detected by fish at long distances via their lateral line, and by the angler through the rod. It is often favored for use in situations where the fish cannot see the lure very well, such as in murky water or at night.
- Willowleaf blade: A long, narrow blade shaped like the foliage it's named after, the willowleaf has an almost flat cross-section, and stresses flash over vibration, having very little vibration at all. This type is most commonly used when there is ample visibility for the fish to see the blade flickering and flashing as the lure moves. A popular safety-pin blade setup is to have a willowleaf blade with a colorado blade mounted just ahead of it on the frame in a 'tandem' configuration.
- Indiana blade: This blade is a hybrid of the Willowleaf and Colorado blades, sharing design features of both, such as the narrow width of the willowleaf and the rounded shape of the Colorado, with a curved cross-section halfway between the two. This blade is highly flexible, and provides a middle ground between the extremes offered by the other two, and is the primary blade type used on most in-line spinners.
[edit] External links
- Strike King A fishing lure manufacturer that produces a line of quality spinnerbaits.
- Blue Fox Another quality spinnerbait manufacturer.
- Mikey's Tackle Box Hand-Tied, Custom Spinnerbaits.
