Blaukat FTM blog/Speedy Fall Spinnerbaits

Understanding seasonal transitions are one of the key elements to becoming a better bass angler.

Depending on which part of the country you live in, the seasonal patterns and movements of the bass can be more pronounced than others.

One of the most basic truths of the fall transition that occurs across the country is that bass tend to move shallower and chase more.

Given this, moving baits like crankbaits and spinnerbaits are solid fall choices in the September-November time period.

In this blog column, I want to discuss one of my favorite fall baits and techniques…speedy spinnerbaits.

“Burning” a spinnerbait was developed in the Missouri Ozarks over 50 years ago as a method to catch big clear water fall bass.

Back then, veteran anglers like Basil Bacon developed methods of fishing big, Colorado bladed spinnerbaits in sight…just under the surface.

Keeping the bait high in the water column produces the same strike effect as a topwater plug many times.

Anglers like Basil helped develop the technique that has become a mainstay in clear water fall fishing.

Today’s spinnerbait ripping technique has changed some since the early days, along with bait improvements and a better understanding of fish positioning and movements.

I have fished speedy spinnerbaits for over 40 years myself, and during this timeframe, I have learned a lot of tricks that will help generate more strikes with this method.

Here are some key things I have learned and experienced…

1.     Conditions must be right. The ideal situation is water visibility of over 2 feet, with a low-light condition created from clouds or early and late in the day. Water temperatures can range from 55-75 degrees, but a fall in temperatures need to be occurring. This usually begins happening in mid to late September in many parts of the country.

2.     The spinnerbait itself is key. Although bass will bite larger profiles at times, the best ripping spinnerbait is a small profile, ½ oz. size. This combination will allow the bait to be fished fast and high in the water column without rolling to one side. As well, skirt colors should be a clear/shad type color. My favorite blade for this application is a single, no. 3 or 4 willowleaf. This setup closely resembles a shad and allows me to efficiently cover water with the bait.

3.     Rod/ reels and line are also important. Speedy spinnerbaits are about covering massive amounts of water. Long casts are crucial. I prefer a 7-foot, medium heavy action rod like the Megabass Orochi Perfect Pitch. I will pair this with 15-pound test Seaguar Invixz line, and a 7:1 Lews baitcasting reel. I have found a setup along these lines help me make long casts, cover lots of water, manipulate the bait and get a good hookset from long distances.

4.     How you work the bait is also important. Always make the longest cast you can. Once the bait hits the water, begin your fast retrieve immediately. Most of the time, strikes occur within the first 5 or 10 feet of a retrieve, so you need to get the bait moving fast very quickly. As well, do not just “reel” the spinnerbait in. Keep your rod tip high, and shake it, stop and start it quickly, and give it an erratic retrieve. This will generate more strikes.

5.     Areas are important. I always key on shade lines when possible. Look for rocky points, steeper banks or transition areas. Depending on the angle of the bank, your boat may need to be parallel to the bank, or you might need to cast straight into it. You want the bait in the key depth, which is usually 5-10 feet for as much of the cast as you can get it.

6.     And finally, add a trailer hook. I prefer adding a no. 4 treble hook as a trailer, since you are not fishing the bait around cover. As well, the treble hook is largely hidden by the skirt. I’m convinced you get fewer bites with a long single trailer hook hanging behind the spinnerbait.

So, keep an eye on the water temperature in your area lake, and when it starts dropping, make the transition to the speedy spinnerbait method. I am confident it will be a big producer and make for some of the most exciting strikes of the year.

Best of luck out there!