Spinnerbaits are the tried and true lures known for consistent performance and year round effectiveness. From being used as a successful tournament bait to sticking trophy fish around cover, spinnerbaits excel in most fishing conditions. With the induction of social media and online resources, custom baits have made their way to anglers across the country. From thinner diameter wires to spitting-image paint jobs, spinnerbait presentation has become just as important as the angler’s ability to 
cast them efficiently in the most difficult of situations.
Components
Routine spinnerbait anglers rarely fish their lures straight out of the package without modifications, but those who truly dial in the technique, custom made baits are the priority. Beginning with wire, there are many different types that can make up a spinnerbait. From piano wire that emits maximum vibration to titanium that outlasts the competition, the very basics of the spinnerbait make the biggest differences in execution and success. To those who change out blades, beads and skirts, spinnerbaits are customizable down the very last detail. To the average eye though, custom paint and skirt combinations grab the attention of those who take satisfaction in fishing custom baits over all other aspects. Since tuning is utmost important, the biggest misconception about spinnerbaits is that they last forever. Piano wire, for example, emits more vibration but fails to withstand the abuse of titanium. For this reason, custom bait specialists have a supply of components and often mix and match to suit their personal style or particular fishing situation.
Custom Paint
From single blade to tandem configurations, spinnerbait blades are fairly well understood by most anglers. Keep the blades clean and polished and maximize the lure by using appropriate blade shapes and finishes. Advancing knowledge in what works and why, the custom fanatics then turn their attention to spinnerbait colors that drop jaws and ignite spinnerbait collections. Richard Edwards of Custom Jig & Lure Innovations on Facebook began offering custom spinnerbaits in the fall of 2014 and has an extensive customer base, but often has to turn away or limit orders due to limited time. Digging a little deeper, I asked Mr. Edwards who his typical customer is:
“I would say that the widest and the best customers I have are the average weekend tournament anglers. They know that I work with some prominent bass anglers, but I treat them just the same as far as wanting their input on my lures,” he said.
While the benefits of fishing custom spinnerbaits far outlast any stock bait off the shelf, more often than not, it only takes one or two photos of his baits to gather interest and spinnerbait orders. Much like other custom tackle makers, the angler’s response and feedback is paramount to maintaining and improving the end product. As a customer myself, I can attest to the “average Joe” receiving top notch customer service and that is something I appreciate.
Casting
Hitting the water and maximizing the lure often separates those who are successful with spinnerbaits and those who gain no confidence in the bait whatsoever. Just two years ago, I was one of those anglers that had a box of spinnerbaits and rarely chose them over a crankbait or other reaction baits. Focusing on where and how I was fishing them turned on a light bulb one day and much to my embarrassment, realized that I was choosing to fish them where the bass didn’t have an opportunity to attack with surprise. I found weeds, docks and I focused on fishing spinnerbaits that often had me picking out backlashes due to an inability to cast where needed. A year later, I was catching largemouth when others were not and a little success turned into one of my favorite baits of all time.
Casting and boat position makes a big difference in catching spinnerbait fish off of docks. Casting from the front of the boat 
often allows an angler to choose his or her angles, but even then, there will be times when paralleling a dock calls for a backhanded roll-cast. This backhand cast can change the approach altogether and instantly help intermediate anglers catch more bass by keeping the spinnerbait close to cover. Especially as a co-angler, being efficient on the backhand is just as important as a forehand cast due to the nature of available water.
Retrieves that encompass a random twitch are far more effective than a straight retrieve. For followers or neutral fish, a sudden jolt can tempt a reaction strike on an otherwise semi-interested fish. Much like swimbaits or other large lures, there are times at which the spinnerbait will make for an excellent search bait with limiting results. By keeping a keen eye on shadows and watching for “flashes” near your bait, an angler can slow down and use a different tactic to catch those enticed fish. Without a doubt, advanced spinnerbait fishing comes down to casting ability and lures that are built and tuned for your specific bodies of water. The reality of the spinnerbait is there’s not much it cannot do.
Advertising