What situations dictate which type of blade? Also how do you decide on color and size of blades? Thanks and Happy New Year!

I throw a SB a lot

I don't really concern myself about blades color or size, I just like a tandem blade

60 years of throwing blades and still doing it. Combinations are important to me for the lake conditions and weather conditions. It is a lot of difference in store bought baits and custom built baits. I want each bait to give the Big Bass what she wants: sight, sound, vibration, and scent. It must be as real as possible to sew up the deal. I always start with my confidence bait, which is a hit off of the Hank Parker Classic. It has a light wire 3/8 oz., with Hammered 3.5 Copper Willow #4 Gold Colo. blades. The skirt is heavily Minnow Scented Living Rubber in Chart./Black Stripe - White/Chart. Stripe - Blue/Black Stripe. Then I move to the lake and weather conditions. A big blade is used in extreme muddy water conditions. Here are my best 7 for those conditions. All wires are .035 with Silver Diamond Dusted Heads. All baits run with the Stanley type Pro Trailer to compliment the skirt colors.

- Tournaments Spinner Bait as mentioned above. Thrown around heavy cover. It is my confidence bait and is first to be thrown on each lake. White/Flake Stanley Pro Trailer

- Halloween Spinner Bait: I only use it during extreme inclement weather like storms, sleet, snow, thunder and lighting. It has a single Orange Diamond Dusted #6 Ind. Blade. Skirt Minnow Scented in Orange/Black Stripe - Brown/Black Stripe - Black/Silver Stripe. Areas are specific and takes lots of time on the water to find the best Inside Bends in the back of the creeks with the right heavy cover for Big Fish to group up on during bad weather conditions. Tomato/Blue Flake Pro Trailer

- Sunny Days with Stained Water: #4 Hammered Willow Silver - #3 Chart. Willow Diamond Dusted 1/2 oz. . Skirt in Living Rubber with heavy Minnow Scent. Chart./Lime/White - White/Black Stripe - few Orange strands. White/Flake Pro Trailer

- Cloudy Days Stained Water: 1/2 oz #4 Hammered Bronze Willow - #4 Colo. Hammered Silver Deep Cup. Skirt in Living Rubber Heavy Minnow. Orange/Black Stripe - White/ Chart. Stripe - Purple/Black Stripe. Purple/Flake Pro Trailer

- Sunny Days with Clear Water: 3/8 oz. #3.5 Silver Willow - #3 Gold Willow. Skirt in Living Rubber Heavy Minnow. White/Chart. Stripe - Purple - Chart/Lime/White. White/Gold Flake Pro Trailer.

- Cloudy Days Clear Water: 3/8 oz. #3.5 Gold Willow - #4 Silver Deep Cup. Skirt in Living Rubber Minnow Scented. Chart./Black Stripe - White/Chart. Stripe - White/Blue Stripe. White/Flake Pro Trailer

- Muddy Water Bait - 1/2 oz. #6 Deep Cup Gold Blade. Light wire .035 in short arm 30 degree bend. Skirt Living Rubber Minnow Scented. Orange/Black Stripe - White/Silver Stripe - Blue/Black Stripe. Stanley Black/Red Flake Pro Trailer.

Ok Donald. I�ll bite. How the hell do you give a blade scent?

For a house payment, he will tell you.

On the skirts. Sorry for the confusion.

I don't even think about spinner baits when I go fishing. They are right below crickets on my favorite baits to use. Square Bills, swim baits, T-rigs, C-rigs and wacky rigs are my choice for water 10' and under.

My 10.2 lb PB hit a Johnson spinnerbait on Fork with twin willow leaf blades, gold and silver. Skirt was rainbow trout. Retrieve was steady, not slow roll or ripping it. The blade selection should synch with water conditions. The more stained the water, the slower I want the retrieve and the bigger the thump/vibration I want from the blades. See Donald's comments.

Thats funny

Thanks Donald.

Thanks Mag.

I mainly let water color decide what blade type im going to throw. Muddy I throw Colorado and also at night. My favorite is tandem willows but I will throw any of them. One of my favorite ways to fish. Blade size I use to help control the depth and speed of a bait as well as opening the wire or keeping it close to the bait. Lots of ways to get one to run the way you want. The problem I usually find is with big box baits they dont have the right blade combos with the baits. If you want h what hackney and them have it's not the same combos they sale normally. And some you cant bend the wires without breaking them.

Your welcome.
I tried to give you enough info.; so you can build a good spinner bait for the condition your lake is in.

I have a ton of spinnerbaits Donald rebuilt for me. Great quality baits and they all work pretty dang good... plus the knowledge you get from him helps a ton

You are seriously missing out sir. They have probably caught more fish year-round than any other bait besides a t-rig worm. Clear water, dirty water, any temp, any depth, they flat out catch fish