Like anything in fishing, the only way to learn is to do it. If you’re new to spinnerbaits, this is a good place to start, but the rules are not hard and fast. Bright colored blades, such as white, chartreuse, or even orange, provide the greatest amount of visibility to the bait. Light penetration is so low that shine and reflection matter less when the water gets the color of chocolate milk. In really muddy water, colored blades begin to shine. The silver reflects light better in your sunny, clear water, but the gold blade will provide a little more visibility for the bait when there is less light penetration. Most anglers opt for a gold blade in dingier water. While a spinnerbait is known for being a muddy water weapon, a silver double willowleaf spinnerbait can shine in some relatively clear water. It won’t move as much water as a Colorado blade and won’t cause the bait to rise like it, but still puts out more vibration than its willowleaf cousin. IndianaĪn Indiana blade exists in the middle ground of a Colorado and a willowleaf. A single big Colorado blade is actually a popular pick for the muddiest of water, and Jason Christie nearly won the 2016 Bassmaster classic on Grand Lake with such an approach after spring rains killed the visibility in the lake.

The large thumping blade moves a ton of water, making it a great option when the water clarity gets real bad. The goal with the Colorado is to put off as much vibration as possible. The Colorado blade is the opposite of the willowleaf, featuring a big wide teardrop shape.

A silver willowleaf will shine and flash real well, and despite the spinnerbait’s history as a muddy water bait, a double willow spinnerbait can be a killer in relatively clear water. For this reason, the willowleaf is at its best when the water has some clarity to it. Types of blades WillowleafĪ willowleaf blade is the longest and skinniest spinner blade, and it puts off the least amount of vibration of any of the options. How much will help you decide on what color spinnerbait, what color blade, and what type of blade. Because of this, the spinnerbait is particularly effective in dirtier water.īy no means does the water have to be muddy for a spinnerbait to work, but it really shines when the water has some turbidity to it. While the bass prefers to hunt with its eyes, the lateral line on the side of fish is actually an organ that helps it detect vibrations, which is put to use when poor water quality prevents effective sight feeding. The significance of this relates to how a bass hunts, particularly in water with poor clarity. Spinnerbaits, because of their rotating blades, are some of the most efficient baits on the market at moving water.

Colorado spinner blade sizes