I am a die-hard bass fisherman. I have been for over 25 years. It’s in my blood and it’s a big part of my life.
As a bass angler, over the last two and a half decades I have found a few techniques for catching bass that seem to be my favorites compared to other angling techniques.
One of the best on this list of techniques is casting spinnerbaits for bass in shallow water. Spinnerbaits are a great way to cover a large amount of water in a short time and locate active bass that are willing to bite without having to be handled or coaxed into biting. When bass are on a spinnerbait bite, a ton of fish can be caught in a short amount of time. And to top it all off, quite a few of these bass will be heavyweights…bass heavier than the average fish in the lake.
For whatever reason, spinnerbaits tend to catch large bass on a regular basis. This is not always the case, but most of the time, it is true.
Some people tend to misinterpret spinnerbaits as meaningless baits to be used by hobby anglers who don’t know how to catch bass any other way. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Sure… spinnerbaits will catch bass for novice anglers, but they still need to be placed in the right spots. However, in the hands of an experienced angler, the spinnerbait will really shine as a consistent angler.
Because spinnerbaits come in such a wide variety of sizes, colors, and blade combinations, there is virtually no limit to the number of combinations that can be thrown. This makes the bait extremely versatile, making it an all season bait.
Ask many bass anglers when they think the best time of year to cast spinnerbaits is and probably 75% of them will immediately tell you that a spinnerbait is a spring bait. While it may stand out in the spring when bass move en masse into the shallows, largemouth bass can be caught any time of year with spinnerbaits. Regions where lakes freeze over in the winter are obvious exceptions, but anytime there’s open water is a great time to try a spinnerbait.
In addition to all the nuances that can be attributed to the different colors and sizes, spinnerbaits also need to be paired with the right equipment so that they are at their most efficient bass catching levels.
Spinnerbait rods should be light enough to use for hours without tiring your arm too quickly. Rods in the 6 to 7 foot range are best and medium to medium-heavy action is also the way to go, depending on the size of spinnerbaits you plan to cast. Obviously this will be dictated by water depth, water clarity, weather conditions, etc. But it gives you a general guide to get started.
The last essential piece of equipment is your royal. The lightest spinnerbaits…those ¼ oz. or smaller should be cast with spinning rig and light line, while those above this size range should be used with baitcasting rig.
My absolute favorite baitcasting reel for spinnerbaits is the Shimano Curado 200e7.
A few years ago, Shimano completely redesigned this reel, from the ground up. When they did this, they were able to set a new standard in baitcasting reels for freshwater fishing applications.
The reel not only performs better than ever, but is also smaller and lighter than before. This makes the real one a joy to fish with, even when used for hours at a time.
The reels new lower profile makes it easy for any angler to grip and effortlessly maneuver, even if they have small hands. This was achieved by slightly sinking the reel foot into the reel body.
Shimano also worked hard to reduce the weight of their new flagship reel. They accomplished this in a number of ways, but the most notable is the series of holes that were drilled into the spool. This eliminates unnecessary weight, while maintaining the strength and integrity of the reel.
As you probably already know, I fell in love with the Shimano Curado 200e7. It really has become my real favorite for spinnerbait fishing. I also love buzzbaits, but that’s another story!
