How to Use a Spinner Bait
Spinner baits are versatile fishing lures that combine a soft plastic body or skirt with blades that spin when retrieved through the water. Spinner baits are designed to mimic bait fish and catch sport fish such as bass and trout. These lures are usually used near the surface and retrieved at a steady speed.
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Instructions
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Choose the right spinner bait for the fish you seek. Baits shaped like an opened safety pin with large blades are designed to mimic larger bait fish and catch larger, more aggressive game fish like bass. Smaller spinner baits with straight bodies are often more effective when fishing for trout.
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Cast the spinner bait so you can retrieve it over the area where you think fish are located. The longer the cast, the better in order to cover more water. Cast safety-pin spinner baits into underwater cover or even onto the bank, then reel them into the water. If you're fishing in a river, cast the spinner bait diagonally upstream and across the current.
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Retrieve the spinner bait at a steady rate to keep the blades moving. Reel slowly to keep the bait a few feet under the surface, or reel faster so the lure stays on the surface and mimics the splash of bait fish. If one speed of retrieval is not working, speed it up or slow it down.
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Set the hook when you feel a bump or a change in the pulse of the spinning blades. Keep the rod tip up.
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When you catch fish, note the time of day, speed of retrieval, size and color of the spinner bait to learn the patterns of the fish.
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Tips & Warnings
Try a variety of colors and blade sizes to find the one that attracts fish. Always be ready to set the hook as you retrieve.
Check local fishing regulations if you are using a lure with treble hooks; some waters are restricted to single barbless hooks. You can modify treble hooks by pinching the barbs with pliers and snipping off extra hooks.
