Fishing In-Line Spinners

Fishing in-line spinners is a fundamental fishing technique. Most of us started fishing with in-line spinners as kids. Many anglers overlook these spinners, but most species of fish love them. These versatile lures catch just about everything that swims.

Yet, in-line spinners get little consideration these days. When asked to name their favorite fishing lures, few anglers include spinners. One reason is that they're very difficult to fish in heavy cover.

It's a bad rap, because in-lines are deadly in open water. Take rivers and streams for example. Can you think of a better all-around lure for smallmouths or largemouths in flowing water?

Fishing In-Line Spinners in Current

Spinners are killers in current. Look for areas that provide shelter from the current, such as woody cover or boulders. Logjams are a great place to cast spinners. Keep the rod tip high and reel fast enough to keep the spinner from sinking into the timber.

To fish a boulder, cast past the rock and retrieve through the downstream eddy. Bass, especially largemouths, often hold in slack current. Sometimes, though, they'll relate to the upstream edge or sides, so be sure to cover all the angles while casting. Rocky points and wingdams also hold bass, as do the edges of undercut banks, channels to oxbow lakes, and eddies behing pilings. In lakes, natural or man-made, spinners are most effective on shallow cover or structure. Fancast points and shoals, parallel weed edges, fish long, open pockets within weedbeds, and retrieve over shallow weed tops.

Another presentation consideration is retrieve speed. Speed depends on the situation. For active fish, a medium to fast retrieve is best, but even then it's usually a good idea not to "burn in" a spinner. A slower pace is best for sluggish fish. As for running depth, five feet is about the limit on a straight retrieve, but you can count them down on deeper structure.

When fishing spinners just under the surface, that weigh less than an 1/2-ounce, anglers often miss strikes because the fish pushes the lure forward without getting the hook. Plus, the angler tries to set the hook, pulling the lure even farther away. Try and fish light spinners at least a foot or two below the surface.

Spinner Blade Styles

There are two common styles of in-line blades, those that rotate around the shaft on a metal clevis, and sonic blades that spin directly on the shaft. Serious anglers need to know the difference. Blades that use a clevis emit lots of vibration and are suited to stained water and other low-visibility situations. Because sonic blades are convex on one end and concave on the other, they catch plenty of water and spin easily at slow speeds--great for finessing fussy fish.

Anyone who has fished an in-line spinner knows line twist can be a problem. But, you can get around that by using a small snap swivel, or by bending a steel spinner shaft upward at a 45-degree angle, so the spinner body can't spin. In clear water, this is especially useful.

Whether your tackle box contains a selection of Mepps, Rooster Tails, Blue Fox Vibrax, or Panther Martins, give fishing with in-line spinners a try again. They are worth serious consideration in a wide range of fishing situations.