Learn how to be a better caster in order to catch more bass. The right presentation with a little flex and play will get the job done. Underhand casting demo with a spinnerbait.
Lilly pads, limbs, docks, ledges, and keeping your cast accurate with a soft presentation. KVD shows you how it’s done in this throwback 2005 footage from The Bass Pros!
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Fishing with Spinnerbaits: Techniques and Tips
1. Big Spinnerbaits for Offshore Structure
A big spinner bait is one of the best options for catching big bass on offshore structures. Using a 3/4 oz bait, I trim the wire down by about a third and use a single Willow blade. This setup is perfect for summertime fishing. Here’s how I use it:
- Technique: Cast the spinnerbait and let it sink with tension on the line to feel the blade turning. Allow it to helicopter down horizontally until it hits the bottom.
- Action: Rip the bait off the bottom with a sharp upward motion to mimic a fleeing shad. Let it flutter back down. Repeat this process to provoke reaction strikes from suspended bass.
- Gear: A 7-ft rod is ideal for creating big jumps off the bottom, which is key in the heat of summer when bass are less active.
2. Slow-Rolling Spinnerbaits
Slow-rolling spinnerbaits is an effective technique for triggering bites, especially when bass are less active. Here’s the process:
- Key Ingredients: Target cover or bottom features, such as tapering grass lines, standing timber, or submerged structures. Avoid flat banks.
- Contact with Cover: Reel the spinner bait just fast enough to skim the top of the cover. When it touches an obstacle, speed up and let it flutter back down to provoke a reaction strike.
- Positioning: Fish parallel to cover or along edges, keeping the bait in the strike zone longer for better chances at strikes.
3. Accurate Casting for Success
Precision casting is essential for spinnerbait fishing, especially in shallow or heavily structured areas:
- Soft Presentations: Use a shorter rod with a flexible tip to make accurate, underhand casts. This ensures the bait lands softly, avoiding spooking fish in shallow water.
- Roll Casting Technique: Leave a little line hanging, loop the bait, and execute a smooth underhand cast. This technique helps you navigate limbs, bushes, and tight spaces.
- Control: Short, accurate casts (30-40 ft) are best for maintaining control in dense cover.
4. Choosing the Right Blades
Spinnerbait blade selection is crucial for optimizing its action and depth:
- Tandem Willow Blades: Ideal for horizontal retrieves through grass, as they provide less lift and keep the bait running deeper.
- Single Blades: Best for vertical presentations or when letting the bait flutter. They work well around deep timber or for yo-yoing the bait.
- Adjusting for Strike Zones: Use a Colorado-Willow combination for slower retrieves or to keep the bait in the strike zone longer.
5. Fishing Lily Pads with Spinnerbaits
Spinnerbaits shine when fishing around lily pads and similar cover. Here’s the strategy:
- Targeting Clumps: Line up clumps of pads and cast the spinnerbait to run into the stems or stocks. Bass often position themselves at the base of the pads.
- Triggering Strikes: When the bait hits a stem, give the rod tip a slight jerk to make the bait jump forward, flaring the skirt and blades.
- Skirt and Blade Color: Match the forage, such as shad, with a pearl white or white skirt for stained water. This mimics the flash of baitfish.
6. Keeping the Bait in the Strike Zone
Maximize your chances by keeping the spinnerbait in the strike zone as long as possible:
- Parallel Presentations: Position your boat to fish parallel to edges or cover. This approach keeps the bait near potential strike zones longer, giving bass multiple opportunities to attack.
- Short Accurate Pitches: In tight areas like pad pockets, short, accurate casts are crucial. Use heavy lines and baitfish-colored skirts to navigate and trigger strikes effectively.
7. Provoking Reaction Strikes
The key to successful spinnerbait fishing lies in provoking reaction strikes:
- Bouncing Off Cover: Always aim to make the bait contact cover, such as logs, timber, or grass. Use quick snaps or rod movements to create erratic actions.
- Imitating Weak Baitfish: Make the spinnerbait appear vulnerable by shaking it through the water, letting the skirt flare and blades shudder, enticing predatory bass to strike.
8. Complementary Techniques
Spinnerbaits pair well with other techniques like topwater frogs over lily pads. Switching tactics can help find active fish in specific situations, making spinnerbaits an essential part of any angler’s arsenal.
With these tips, you’ll enhance your spinnerbait fishing skills and consistently land quality bass. Happy fishing! 🎣
