New - old spinnerbaits

Do you throw spinnerbaits whenever you bass fish? From top to bottom, fast or slow, in the thick stuff or not, anytime day or night, spinnerbaits just catch fish! I’ve got at least a dozen with me every trip to the lake. I use them a lot and they take a beating in the process. So I took a few of my old beat up ½ and 3/8 ounce Stanley spinnerbaits and tried to restore them to their former glory. Here’s what was done to give them a new look.
First thing was to remove the old finish from the head. I taped the lower blade and hardware up so it wouldn’t get in the way. An overnight soaking of the head in paint remover did the trick. Paints gone and the metal looks like its just been poured.

Next step was to base coat the head before putting a pattern together. I used the same paints I use on hard plastics and used the same, air-dry then heat set, process between coats.

After the paint dried the hook and wire arm needed a light scrubbing with fine steel wool to remove the overspray. Once the hook and wire arm were cleaned a coat of Devcon 2 ton epoxy was applied to protect the paint.

The beads spacers and blade combinations on all the lures remained factory with the exception of one of the spinnerbaits . The upper blades are the original #4.5 or #5 Wedge style but, I chose a #4 Indiana blade from Barlow’s Tackle shop for the upper blade on the gill pattern spinnerbait. Both the upper and lower blades were cleaned and buffed with metal polish. I replaced the upper swivel if it was the least bit stiff.
The skirts were hand made using basic skirting tools and the skirting materials I had on hand. Everything used to make the skirts is sold by Skirts Unlimited. I tried to match the colors to the head pattern and species I was trying to mimic. All of the skirts have at least three colors. In the case of the Sexy Shad skirt I probably shouldn’t have used so many layers of material but, “Hey! I’m still a novice at making skirts”.

These are as close as I could get to some of what works best for me - the overall look, blades, spacing, wire diameter, components and a few of the colors I have been successful with in the past.

[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90943-crap1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90944-crap2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90945-crap3.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90948-gill1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90949-gill2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90950-gill3.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90952-giz1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90953-giz2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90954-giz3.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90956-ss1.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90957-ss2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2015/12/full-91083-90958-ss3.jpg[/img]

once again i'm reminded who really has the gift for this stuff. those are beautiful and can't help but catch fish. i've got some chatterbaits soaking now that i'm going to attempt to give a more realistic look to. after seeing these i might just spray them with a rattle can and call it done. nice work doc!

Excellent post and beautiful work. Just to add something that you might like to try next; I use my Dremel tool with the round ball bit to make eye sockets. Just put a dot on the side of the head where you want it and go to work. It takes about 1 min. for each side and you have a spot for an eye. You will be surprised what the biggest eye you can get on each size bait will do for the catching on a spinner bait.

There are those that say "NO" they are a reaction bait and the eye makes no difference. I know for a fact that it does make a difference. Big Bass want to look their pray in the eye as they are taking it and a spinner bait is no exception. There is not a reel made that can crank it faster than they can approach, turn on their side and take it by the head.

Good tip Donald...thanks for sharing it. I thought about using adhesive eyes but never considered your method. 3-D eyes would really be a big improvement.

Once you get the eyes glued in and I just use super glue to hold them; then I brush on the epoxy covering the whole head and eyes.

Look good. How did you sharpen the hooks?

I'm betting your chatterbaits will be great... and thanks for your comments.

I have a hook file that a friend gave me...does a great job.

Looks great as always

Your baits look great. I have a bunch of old spinner baits that are in terrible shape. I think this will be my winter project.

Now this is what I'm talkin' about! Appreciate the reply...hoping this post helps with the spinnerbait project.

The paint job on those heads are awesome! I have been a fan of the old Stanley vibrashaft since I started fishing. I am trying to locate the old Stanley Wedge Silver 4.5 willow leaf blades. Does anyone know where I could find a few?

Thanks for the tip on removing the old paint. It has given new life to my old stanleys.

Tolbie80

Beautiful job I should of know after your crankbaits they would be good.

Following up on this old post. I love to throw spinner baits. Only been to the lake a few times this spring and so far the refurbished 1/2 ounce Stanley spinner bait in the Bluegill pattern seems to be the ticket...where I'm fishing. The water is off colored with about a foot of visibility. Switched the blades to Indiana/Colorado and have used an orange or pumpkin seed trailer. Only have a few pictures to post but I've caught several nice bass and one big(at least to me)blue catfish on this spinner bait.


Good fishing and keep thinking good thoughts.

Finally had the right conditions to throw the Crappie pattern 3/8 ounce double silver willow I refurbished a while back. Cloud cover and wind provided just the right light conditions to throw it up into brush and vegetation along a windswept shoreline. Caught several bass pretty quickly.


Then had a hog eat my bait and break off after teasing me with a quick look at her. Makes a guy wanna' say D@MN!! Crappie pattern spinner bait version 2.0 will be on the bench first thing tomorrow. Keep thinking good thoughts and fish every chance you get.

Nice job boisarc. Glad they are working out. Thanks for the update.

I have old Elroy Krueger neon gold spinnerbaits---the rubber has deteriated ---I have new rubber plus tool from Tackle warehouse----there has to be a better way to add new rubber and save skirt

Not easy to produce from scratch for sure. This is my process.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/11031570/#11031570