When should I use a spinner bait when Bass fishing?

The spinnerbait is an excellent artificial bait to use in shallow water, under six feet.  It works very well in dense weeds, brush piles and standing trees.

The added question should be:

What spinnerbait should I use?

Blade design is very important.  Spinnerbaits are generally made with three different blade designs.  The "Colorado" blade is round and shaped somewhat like a spoon. This blade design creates intense vibration in the water as the spinnerbait in retrieved. It is an ideal choice for fishing water that is not very clear.  The vibrations will help the fish locate your bait from longer distances. It is also a good choice on low light overcast days.

The "Willowleaf" blade design creates a more visual spinnerbait.  This design creates little or no vibration. It does give the spinnerbait much more visibility. The bass will be able to see bait from greater distances due to the flash created by the long leaf shaped blade.  This blade design in an excellent choice in clear water conditions with bright lighting.

The "Indiana" blade is in a sense the middle ground.  It takes some of the advantages of each of the other two blades and combines them together.

Your other consideration in choosing a spinnerbait is color.  I am referring to the color of the skirt not the blade.  Choosing a color can be a very inexact science.  I always start using a white spinnerbait.  Through my many years of fishing I have found white to be the most productive color.  Try to keep a variety of different colors in your box.  I like chartreuse, orange, yellow and black as well.  It is best to experiment with different colors and not become married to any one favorite.

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