Most of the talk about potential winning patterns on Lake Guntersville has centered on jerkbaits and crankbaits, both lipless and lipped. But there's another lure that could be a big factor this week, an oldie but goodie – the spinnerbait.
"The spinnerbait is really a smaller version of an Alabama rig," Ish Monroe said. "When the Alabama rig came out, it kind of killed the spinnerbait. But since BASS and some other organizations have banned the A-rig in certain tournaments, it's made a comeback.
"Fishing a spinnerbait is kind of a long, lost art. But it's also one of the most versatile baits out there. It can catch fish deep, suspended or shallow."
Monroe's boat at the Guntersville launch site Wednesday morning was next to Mark Davis's boat. Monroe glanced Davis' direction, and then said, "And look at the first thing Mark Davis pulls out of the box."
Yep, a baitcaster with a spinnerbait tied on.
"This tournament sets up for a spinnerbait," Davis said. "When the water warms up real quick, a spinnerbait can really be good. When I won at Table Rock in '04, the water warmed up real quick and a spinnerbait was the key for me the first two days."
It has been several years since a major B.A.S.S. event has been won primarily on a spinnerbait, but they've never gone out of style. The versatile spinnerbait could see a surge in popularity this week.