I'm in need of y'all's opinion on what you like or would like to see in a good spinnerbait. I'm fishing with Brad from Brad's Baits this year and I've been helping him build up some of his hard baits and we've made a good box of jigs and bladed jigs for personal use. I've got the bait building fever and I'm thinking of doing spinnerbaits for myself and to sell. Thanks for all your help.

3/4 Oz light wire. silver willow,and a brass Colorado.White and chartreuse.

.032 wire....

http://www.barlowstackle.com/Do-It-Ultra-Minnow-Spinner-Bait-Molds-P279C57.aspx


This looks interesting

I started making my own spinnerbaits years ago and with the price of these current models I'm glad I did, almost 9 dollars for a spinnerbait, give me a break. You can make your own for about a dollar and they catch fish just like the name brands.

Bought my own mold then modified it to accept larger hooks. I can now put as large as a 5/0 hook in a 1/4 ounce bait if I want. I also buy Owner hooks and stainless steel wire designed for saltwater fishing. I get it in 0.031(195lbs rated) and 0.035(240lbs rated) sizes. For me to make a bait it costs me approx. $3-4 using top notch components and gold blades. My baits look like some I see selling for $8-10 with lower grade blades and hooks. I would sell mine in that price range if did start to sell them, however, I've been there and done that. Its tough to work a full time job and dedicate the time to building a good product and giving good service.

I have been making spinner baits for 50 years. A dollar will buy the swivel I use on them. Each diamond dusted blade is a dollar. The blank is a buck fifty unless you are building from scratch and it will be about the same when you figure it all up. Living Rubber skirt material in rolls scented with Minnow Powder is a dollar per skirt and takes 15 minutes just to build one. The right eyes for a spinner bait are a dollar. The Stanley Pro Trailer which has been discontinued is a dollar. Painting the head and coating with two ton epoxy is time consuming and needs 24 hours to cure which is well over a dollar. Then you figure your time to build a spinner bait that is the best it can be; holding all the senses that a big bass is looking for. I spend about 2 hours on each of my spinner baits and I like the twisted line tie because they will last twice as long.

There are a few spinner baits out there that are very worthy of rebuilding that I use. You just cannot build one from scratch that will be better than these baits so I use them for the best quality spinner bait going. The cost $8 per bait to begin with then I put all the right parts on them to make the best spinner bait it can be. This pushes the cost up to $15 each.

What can I tell you? You either go cheap or go for something in between.

Building your own baits is great therapy and allows you a good excuse to travel to the man cave and keep the ole nag away.

Here's one you never see:

1/4 and 3/8 in a single spin, willow leaf, copper.

Hang on.

As Mr. Harper said, You get what you pay for in so many words. I do not know of any big time builders doing the twist eye any more. If you stop and think why, it just might be the wire is to brittle to twist. Now if you lose a Big Girl on a bait did the bait flex or not? Only you can spend your money. Dan

What size blade are you using for a single blade 1/4oz spinnerbait?

Whatever KVD uses!

-#5 Indiana is just the right size. for the 1/4 oz.. It is a tad smaller than a #5 Colo. blade. I also use it on my 3/8 oz. Halloween Spinner Bait.

- You will find that from company to company the #'s are different sizes. I have a bunch of blades sitting and waiting for the right occasion because I had to reorder. You will want to pick a company and stay with them if possible. It is just very difficult to get every blade that you would want to put on different spinner baits for lake, water conditions and weather conditions from one company. I have about 10 different blades that I have confidence in for these different conditions.

I like light wire baits. The biggest problem with them is that they are going to bend and thebreak break at some point. I find that this usually occurs on tournament day and on fish that would have really helped your sack...
Store bought- I use only two, Santone and Stanley. Santone's are guaranteed to break at some point but they catch fish so it's just part of it.
As to sizes and blade combinations, it varies from day to day and lake to lake. At least for me.