musky spinnerbaits

[legal limit]

I am making some 1 ounce musky spinnerbaits, and was wondering if anyone could recommend some blade sizes and combinations for these baits, I have made plenty of bass spinnerbaits but am unsure on how far to go up in size on the blades for musky. thanks in advance

[Brad]

You can try this link

http://www.staminainc.com/tips.html

[musky_man]

legalimit,

I have been making musky spinnerbaits for a while now. Personally I have found that two willowleaf blades work well. The first and larger blade shuold be about 3 inches long. The second blade should be about 2 inches long.

Do not be afraid to tuck them close together because I have found that works best. The clainging sound they make when the bait hits the water is a good attracter. Do not bend the upper arm too far back because you want to avoid having the blades over the hook as much as you can. That is imporant to some people because they say it enhances the hooking ratio -- personally I have found it does not make much of a difference, but to some it does.

You can see some of my samples at:

reprobaitlures.com in the products and wirebait sections.

Hope that helps.

musky_man

[Party Crasher]

There are two I really like. For versitility, I like a single #7 Indiana. For a lot of flash and vibration, I make one with a #7 Indiana on the shaft and a #7 Fluted on a #2 Bb swivel. I use a size 6/0 hook and a 5/0 trailer on my 1 ouncers. I use 2 1/2 strips (110 strands) of round rubber cut to 6 1/4 inches. Have you seen the new Do-It Ultra Spinnerbait molds? The larger one has a 1 ounce cavity. REALLY NICE!!! They take 4mm 3-D eyes. Really look SHARP!!!

[legal limit]

thanks for your insight part crasher, I will try some of the ideas you posted, I will et you know how it works out.

[Party Crasher]

The blade sizes listed are as shown in Moores catalog. Blade #'s and sizes sometimes vary. My #7 Indiana blades are 1 3/4"x 1 1/16". I really like that single #7 Indy bait. You can cast that thing all day without fatigue. And, along with Muskies, you will end up catching a little of everything on that bait. Pike, Bass and even a big Walleye once in a while on flowage type waters.

If you can get your hands on that new "Ultra" mold, do it! Otherwise, the style "H" (SJ-3H-L) or their style "C" (SJ-2C-L) are also exellent 1 oz. molds. And one that you would have to modify, but it makes a great 1 oz. Musky spinnerbait is the JYS-1055L Banana Jig mold. I have been making those for 20 years. All you need to do is cut a slot for the wire shaft with a hack saw blade. That Banana shape is a great shape for stabilizing the bigger blades. My least favorite for baits this size are the Bullet heads.

I use Mustad 3407 (6/0) for these Musky Spinnerbaits. I feel more comfortable with the strength of this hook as opposed to a 6/0 spinnerbait hook designed for bass type spinnerbaits.

I also like tandem willows like a #4.5 (or #5) and a #6.

You can still use a collar for this much skirt material if you'd like. But, tying the rubber direct to the head with size D thread makes the round rubber a little more "springy". The only drawback to tying is that "toothy critters" will occationally cut the thread after a while and you will have to re-tie. But this doesn't happen often.

I prime and spray all the details on my heads and then top-coat with Devcon or Flexcoat. They hold up really well.

I use .041 wire for all my 1 ouncers.

Good luck!