Thicker Blades

[edcald]

I am new to making spinnerbaits, but I think I want thinner wire and thicker heavier blades to vibrate more. Where do I get the heavier gauge blades? In Hagen's I noticed Stainless Steel blades are they heavier or just for salt water use? Also wire, How Light can I go on 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 weight spinnerbaits?

[psv]

Stamina sells some 0.25 & 0.40 blades. They are really good quality blades.

Hope it helps.

[21xdc]

I use staminainc, barlows, jannsnetcraft, worth, hagens and lakeland... Look here Lakeland Incorporated: Spinner Blades, Casting Spoons, Fishing Tackle Components

http://www.worthco.com/fish/

http://www.hagensfish.com/

http://www.staminainc.com/

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/

http://www.barlowstackle.com/fishing-tackle-store.html

Edited December 17, 2008 by 21xdc

[edcald]

I found the .40 blades in the Stamina catalog, but I could not find the.25 blades. Also how lite of wire do you use on the different sizes of spinnerbaits. I put out my 1st batch with .035 wire on 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2, but I think I have seen smaller wire.

Thanks for everything!

[21xdc]

I personally like the thicker frames. This makes the blade make full rotation and "shake" the whole bait and skirt. The thin wire soaks up lots of the viberation and produces less I believe. Using good BB swivels also helps you feel the bait. Deep cup blades also rotate in a tighter circle and produce less thump. Not to mention that our smallmouth will break the wire at the "R" and heavy wire will get more to the boat.

Edited December 18, 2008 by 21xdc

[JSC]

21 brought up a couple of points is why I am injecting this at this time.

Thick Blades have there place as do the thin ones.

Heavy wire and even Extra Light wire (below.30 down to .20) on off set spinner baits .. Same ...

All of this comes down to the combination you make in the entire spinner bait you are constructing ... all of them shine in performance on the right occasion (SP) ... I have been guilty of restricting myself to the light blade / light wire for most of my spinner bait fishing ... you really have to keep a close eye on the condition of the Spiiner Bait as YOU can break the wire .. as far as when to use what ... I can not answer with a solid answer ... kinda like what color to use under different conditions and when you think you have it figured out is when your theory gets blown away,

My

Good subject

JSC

[21xdc]

I have been making spinnerbaits for 25 years and owned a lure company for almost the same. I have tried many different combos. Many will over blade their baits for viberation and results in rolling. Arm length,blade size, type, and head weight proportion is key to a good running spinnerbait. Even my 1/8 oz spinnerbaits have .041 wire. I actually will not throw a bait here in the land of the great lakes smallmouth with thin wire. Too much riding on a gimmick of more bites with thin wire.

[smalljaw]

.041 is the heaviest wire I use but I prefer light wire .031-.035, I've caught muskies on light wire and while they are bent up, they haven't broke but thats because if I do get a good strike or big fish, I make sure that if the wire is bent too much I switch baits. The smallies I fish for rarely exceed 5lbs. but they are in current so the fight is always hard and I have yet to see a good smallie break my spinnerbaits.

[21xdc]

We catch 100 smallmouth a day here and need something better than just using 100's of spinnerbaits. We break R bends on .041 wire alot here... I wish I could use .051 wire. I have been a tournament fisherman for 28 years. This is just my experience as well as everyone else I know.

Better go see where some of the best smallmouth and musky fishing in the world are. 7 mph current too..

Edited December 18, 2008 by 21xdc

[JSC]

We catch 100 smallmouth a day here and need something better than just using 100's of spinnerbaits. We break R bends on .041 wire alot here... I wish I could use .051 wire. I have been a tournament fisherman for 28 years. This is just my experience as well as everyone else I know.

Better go see where some of the best smallmouth and musky fishing in the world are. 7 mph current too..

Hi ... No argument but am curious as to what size line you are using ? .. I have fished spinner baits for more years than I am going to try and figure and remeber only having a wire break on 2 fish and one was my fault for not checking the condition of the wire and the fish was only about a 3 pounder ( a spinner bait I made of xtra light wire 35 years ago) ... the other one was an 8 or 10 pounder on a bought spinner bait with at least .035 wire while prefishing for a tournament on Lake Seminole that one broke off inside the head that was about 30 years ago.

I figure that if you are fishing in a lot of rock it might be getting some nicks ???

Just curious

JSC

[21xdc]

I use 14lb mono... The problem is everytime we catch a good one, The wire gets stratened out. When you bend it back into shape it fatigues. Just like bending a coat hanger back and forth. The thin wire will not take this abuse near as long as the thicker wire. Once the wire breaks, you loose all the hard work of buying components,pouring,priming,painting, clearcoating,tying,blade and swiveling, and trailer hooking. So I try and build a bait that will catch as many fish as possible before it's junk. I guess you could always make a loop at the head and use it as a jig for a while.

[edcald]

You have really got me to thinking. Okay, 21XDC with the heavier wire do you like heavier blades ie. the Musky blades .40 blades or do you use with a longer wire (a new idea to me). I rarely get to fish for small mouth. How long do you go on your spinnerbaits say from the R-bend up to last blade on your sb.

JSC, when do you use lighter blades? Burning it? Letting it drop?

I was taught to believe lighter wire heavier blades so you can always keep in touch with the blade thumping and when you lose that thumping set the hook, it might be a light bite with a fish swimming with the SB.

[JSC]

"JSC, when do you use lighter blades? Burning it? Letting it drop?

I was taught to believe lighter wire heavier blades so you can always keep in touch with the blade thumping and when you lose that thumping set the hook, it might be a light bite with a fish swimming with the SB."

I generly use the light wire for all types except "Burning it" When they want it fast I mostly have gone to a Buzz Bait .... Note I do not use it with and "R" Bend in this Xtra Lite ... it is twisted or coiled as in a "Safety Pin" ... Got a few notes on the "Safety Pin" will post later as I have a Grandson out of school that can't be still waiting to go fishing.

Talk To You Later

JSC

[21xdc]

I buy my blades and swivels from worth co and the reg premium blades thump great in my baits. The thicker blades might thump harder, But I feel there is no need for more. The heavier the blades makes for rolling spinnerbait if you don't size down sometimes. The twisted eyes won't break at the "R", But your line will get pinched and break baits and fish off too. I catch just as many fish as anyone I fish against using the thicker blades/hildebrant.