Spinnerbaits

[Fullspectrum]

I was just wondering which brand of spinnerbaits holds up better than the rest of the others on the market.

I started using Booyah, but they don't hold up that well after a few fish.  I'm currently using the ones by KVD.  They're not bad.

I was thinking about giving Terminator spinners a try this season.

Which brand would you recommend?

[tmiller2]

if i have the money i will only use terminator....they will not bend no matter what you do to them.....i have never had a problem using them

[Benthook120]

Terminators are a good choice. I have several that are a few years old now. I just replace the skirts when needed. War Eagle also makes a good bait.

[TightLinez]

Terminator and Rick Clunn Trickster

[BlackStrat]

IMO, Terminators are probably the strongest.  I just started using them.

I've always been a huge fan of Mann's Hank Parker Classic Spinnerbait (still am), and used to use them 100% of the time.  Now I'm down to about 80-85% of the time.  The thing I don't like about HPC SB is when you get a good sized fish you really have to work hard at getting the SB straightened back out so it'll swim true again.  I caught about a 2 1/2 pounder yesterday and she pretty much malled a Booyah that I have.  In the past I've had the same thing happen to Strike Kings and Stanleys.

[bigjim5589]

I last spinnerbait I've purchased was the Vibraspin from Karu, but they're not like any other.  The rest of the ones I own I made. I have one of the Heavycover spinnerbaits that I won in one of the contests here, but have'nt used it. I think the last spinnerbait I purchased in a store was one made by Bomber, back in 1975!

The subject of buying them came up on another site back in 2004. I was in the lure & fly business for 15 years and spinnerbaits were one of the lures I made. Here's the information I posted to that site about things I've learned while making them. I've edited a little to take out some things that no longer apply. I can't really comment on specific brands, this might help with what things to look for when buying a spinnerbait!

Price- The price will be a result of the cost of the components used & the brand name. There are many good spinnerbaits sold by small manufacturers, so don't over look them just because they don't have a famous name!

Head shape- mostly just for fisherman appeal, but some shapes do go thru cover better than others.

Paint- Powder paint is the best you can expect, but vinyl paint also makes a decent finish, especially with a clear over coat. Enamel also works, but will chip off easily. Depending on what you toss it against, no finish will last forever!
I coat mine with a clear epoxy & glitter finish, and I usually also add eyes, either painted or the holographic stick-on.

Wire- Heavy lasts longer, lighter vibrates better. Arm length effects vibration & balance also. Stainless wire bends but won't rust, tinned music wire will rust but won't bend as readily as stainless. Music wire also vibrates better than stainless. Titanium vibrates great, but is very expensive, and fatigues fairly quickly. It will break, and most often in the "R" bend. All wire types will eventually bend or break if you use it often enough. No spinnerbait is worth a hoot if the wire is not closed properly to keep the swivel & blades in place.

Swivels- Crane or roller types work fine, but most better spinnerbaits are sold with ball bearing swivels. Sampo is considered the best, but Spro (A division of Gamakatsu) also makes an excellent, and less expensive swivel. All swivels will catch some grass.

Hook- Buy the best quality you can get, Mustad Ultra Point or Gamakatsu are my choices, but spinnerbaits made with Owner, Daiichi, and some VMC hooks are also good. Prices will vary depending on the hook used. I'm not a fan of Eagle Claw, but many manufacturers use them. I prefer a strong hook with a black nickel finish, chemical sharpened needle point & small barb. I also use stainless & tinned saltwater hooks for spinnerbaits that I use in saltwater.

Skirts- Not a real important issue as they can be changed. Choose whatever color you like. I use silicone, round rubber & living rubber types. Silicone skirts have a wider & better color selection, but round or living rubber has better action in my opinion. I use black, white, chartreuse and combinations of these colors for most of my fishing anyway. Most folks I know trim them to just behind the hook bend to help eliminate short strikes.

I also like to tie hair onto some spinnerbaits, which gives them a different look & action. Bass & Stripers in tidal & freshwater love them tied with bucktail.

Blades- Colorado gives the most vibration, Willow the least, but Willow gives a better profile for imitating Shad & other baitfish. Generally, the heavier the wire used the bigger the blade needed for the same vibration, with everything else being equal.
Don't over size blades too much however as it can effect the balance and cause the spinnerbait to roll over.
Blades are usually made from stamped brass or steel. Steel blades are usually less expensive, but brass doesn't rust as easily. The thickness of the blade also will effect how it spins & balances.

Trailers- Plastic or Pork, add them if you like, but make sure they don't effect the action or hooking ability. I like to use a trailer hook on the bigger spinnerbaits, but no trailer if I'm fishing for bass. I will however add a trailer for Stripers.

One of my favorites is only 1/8 oz, and I use it with an ultra light rod, in tidal water for bass, crappies, & other panfish. It's also a great Smallie lure in small streams.
It has a 1/0 Mustad Ultra Point black nickel hook, Spro ball bearing swivel and I use X-fine living rubber for the skirts, and hand tie them on with fly tying thread. I also tie in some holographic or pearl mylar. The finish is powder painted, and has an epoxy & glitter over coat. I use single size 1 or 2, gold or silver Colorado or Willow blades with this lure. You won't find a better spinnerbait in any store!

[Mike Noble]

There are a lot of good spinnerbaits on the market.  I use Terminator spinnerbaits just because I started using them years ago and have confidence in them.  Like has been posted, they do not bend no matter what you hang into.  They do however break from time to time.  But the thing I like about them is that they are guaranteed.  When one breaks, I just mail the part of the spinnerbait I have and they send another one out to you.  I usually save them until have 4 or 5 broken ones and then mail them in.  I won't say they are the best...they are the ones that work best for "me".

[NateG]

strike king pour moi, they;re a bit cheaper and work fine

[bassin_man]

I like terminator.  I have used other spinnerbaits but always come back to terminators.

[TightLinez]

By the way, if you were talking "pure" spinnerbaits I'd go with Terminator, but I'd throw my KaRu Vibraspin (kind of a hybrid spinnerbait) over any of my spinnerbaits. You oughtta feel the thump on these things!