Times have changed. I can remember just 10 years ago, the spinnerbait was “the”bait. I don’t know if the fish have become accustomed to it, or if we’ve moved on to other things, but you just don’t see it being a major player like it used to be.
There are still some events where big fish are caught on spinnerbaits. Bill Lowen came close to winning the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Chesapeake Bay by using one.
Overall, I’d say this classic bait has taken a backseat – at least at the professional level – to a swimbait.
I use both baits the same way, with the same rod and reel –a 7-foot, 3-inch Falcon Cara Amistad and a 6.5:1 Lew’s Tournament Lite – only in different water conditions. To put it in one sentence, I like a Booyah spinnerbait in off-colored water and a YUM Money Minnow in clear water.
It’s basically the same technique; it’s just determined by the amount of water clarity and how much visibility the fish have.
I’ve seen the fish react really well to both baits on different days, and it’s really the same kind of bite. Put it this way: If you fish a spinnerbait and a swimbait with your eyes closed, you’ll find that the bites feel the same.
If seems like the big fish just throw slack in your line. I mean, you’re just reeling it and it feels like somebody just cut your line. And then there are the bites that just about take the rod out of your hand.
Sometimes people may think that the swimbait bite is way more aggressive, but I think that’s because you often see the fish coming and you actually see the bite. You get that, too, with a spinnerbait when you’re fishing laydowns and outside grass edges where you’re visually watching that bait come back to you.
As far as bait particulars, the spinnerbait will vary a little based on when and where I’m using it, but just looking at the scenarios in which I might use this or a swimbait, I’d say my favorite would be a 1/2-ounce chartreuse/white Booyah spinnerbait with double Colorado blades. That’s the one I’m going to use in off-colored to muddy water.
When I think I need a swimbait presentation, I’ll go with the 5-inch YUM Money Minnow in the river shad color rigged on a jig head. That color looks a lot like a real shad, and I’ll adjust my jig size and line weight according to where and how I want to fish that bait.
For example, in the wintertime, if I’m fishing visibly, and I want the bait to be moving pretty slowly, I’ll use a 1/4-ounce head and 20-pound Sunline fluorocarbon. The larger line sinks more slowly, so with that lighter head, it kind of floats the bait.
On the other hand, if you’re slow-rolling that swimbait over deep ledges and deep structure in 15- to 30-feet deep of water, that’s when I go to a 3/4-ounce head because you have to get it down there.
After the spawn, I’ll want that bait moving a lot quicker because the fish have a lot bigger strike zone. Then, I’ll go to a 1/2-ounce head and 18-pound line. When we get into really clear situations where you’re burning the bait, I’ll go up to a 3/4-ounce.
Basically, I change according to season, conditions and water clarity – the clearer the water, the heavier the head. This allows for longer casts and the ability to move the bait faster.
I think that’s really how things have changed. Back in the day, I threw a spinnerbait in clear water, and I threw a spinnerbait in off-color water and muddy water.
Now, I feel like we kind of play the game —we play the water conditions.
I mean, it’s hard to get a bite on a swimbait in muddy water. You want a lot of sound and vibration. That’s when the spinnerbait is still really effective.
But I think there are times when the water gets really clear and a swimbait can really fool the fish better than a spinnerbait.
In those times when it’s a toss-up between the spinnerbait and the swimbait, I’d probably lean toward the swimbait because it’s still kind of new to me. I’ve thrown it for seven or eight years now and I’m still kind of learning every time I throw it.
I can say that they’re both big-fish baits any time of the year. Also, you can fish them both on top of the water, in the middle of the water column or on bottom. You can burn them or slow roll them and fish them in cold or warm water.
I think the two baits complement one another. There are some areas of overlap, but for me, the difference is water clarity.
The swimbait has the edge in clear water, while the spinnerbait excels in off-colored water. In between, it’s a judgement call. Throw what feels right and fish it with confidence.