Blade Size recommendation

[alphawolf]

For a 3/8 ounce spinnerbait, what size Colorado blades would you recommend for a tandem setup. I am thinking 3 for the front and 5 for the rear?

Thanks!

[TTDuckman]

Although I am by no means an expert, I have made a ton of them and will give my 2 cents.

The design of your heads believe it or not will make a huge difference in what blades should go on what bait.

A thin minnow style head is much more appropriate for willow blades in my opinion. A thin minnow style 3/8ths, I would go 3.5 and 4 on a double willow. Tandem (colorado/willow), I would go 2, maybe 3 colorado with a 4 willow on the back. Double colorado, I would go 2 and 3.5, maybe 2 and 4, but wouldn't go larger, just my opinion.

On a thicker/fatter head, I would still go 3.5 and 4 on a double willow, maybe double 4's. On a tandem (1 of each), I would go 3 and 4 colo and willow respectively. On a double colorado, I would go 3 and 4.

On a thin headed 3/8ths once bait, there will likely be too much torch with a 3 and a 5, on a fatter head, you may be able to go with it. A lot has to do with speed of retreive. With the 3 and 5 on a thin head, it will undoubtedly cant on its side if burned, but on a fat head and slow rolled, it could be an awesome combo.

Tim

[21xdc]

These might help some>>

Make your own spinner baits, buzz baits and inline spinner baits

Directions, How to make spinnerbaits

[smalljaw]

Duckman offers some great advice and I think I can add to it. You also want to consider the wire diameter in addition to the head type, for instance if I'm making a 3/8oz spinnerbait with double colorado blades and the wire diameter is less than .040, I'll use a #2 as the bottom blade and a #4 as the main blade. The reason for having the size difference is that with thinner wire the main blade will vibrate the wire pretty heavy and if the bottom blade is too big it'll really throw the balance of the bait off to the extent of it rolling over. If I'm using .040 diameter wire or larger then the bottom blade will be a #3 and the main blade will be either a #4 or in some cases a #5, but most of the time I like a 2 sixe difference if I'm using all colorado blades. For willows I like to have either a full size or 1/2 size difference but it's because of the way I fish. Make a few baits and experiment, thats half the fun of making your own, you never know what kind of combination may turn out to work really well.