Spinner-Baiting MUSKIES - An Awesome Technique
by Crash Mullins
As featured in Musky Hunter Magazine

Musky fishing has grown considerably over the past few years and along with it our choice of lures and products has grown as well. In nearly 20 years of guiding for muskies, there has always been one lure that’s been a standard for me — the long arm spinnerbait. I generally refer to it as a tool of the trade. Musky anglers have to be able to use all types of lures if need be, whether you really like them or not. Long arm spinners have been around ever since I started musky fishing and even years before when I was an avid bass fishermen. Due to their long upper arm, these lures throw off more vibration when compared to in-lines spinners, commonly referred to as bucktails. Here in the South, we cut our teeth casting this type lure, and when I began to musky fish, it didn’t take me long to learn that muskies like them as well. 

Long arm spinnerbaits are still one of the most underused lures in the musky world because most musky anglers prefer in-line spinners. Don’t take me wrong, because I too cast and catch fish on in-lines, but there are times and places for both. If there is one thing that is obvious, long arms are much more versatile as they can be used in just about any situation that occurs. As a professional guide I’ve found spinnerbaits to be the lure that most anyone can effectively use, year round, in every season — spring, summer, fall and winter. Naturally, some seasons provide better results than others, but overall, you can’t go wrong with a long arm spinnerbait.  

IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN SPINNERBAITS?

You bet there is a lot of difference in spinnerbaits. One thing that I look for is a minimum of a .045 wire stainless and a maximum of .060 wire. If the wire is too heavy it cuts down on vibration, if the wire is too thin the wire will break off at the head after it has been bent a few times — this can occur during a musky battle, something I have experienced. I’ve also found that a .045 wire is ideal for 1/2- to 1-ounce spinnerbaits, but for 1 1/4- to 2 1/2-ounce spinnerbaits, .060 is a good choice.

Ball bearing swivels for blades are best and I believe the quicker and smoother the blade turns the more vibrations it creates. The least amount of drag it has, the straighter the bait will come through the water. The reason this is important is when fishing thick cover, the lure will come through better riding straight up. I’ve found that not all spinnerbaits will do this so you must be very selective in quality. One last (but very important) thing to look for in spinnerbaits for muskies or pike is to make sure it has a twisted eye where you attach the leader.

 RUBBER SKIRTS VS. HAIR

Here in Kentucky I have the opportunity to fish pre-spawn muskies, while our water temperatures are in the high 40s to 50s. This pre-spawn fishing occurs at some point during March or April, when my clients and I use a lot of 1/2- to 1-ounce rubber-skirted spinnerbaits. Rubber is a better choice when the water is colder, let me explain why because, when paired with a trailer worm or teaser on the back, have more action and more of a “breathing” appearance to them. Hair spinnerbaits, on the other hand, will compact when wet, don’t give off that breathing look, and are made for a much quicker presentation. Hair lures are the preferred choice when the water starts warming and muskies begin moving much more quickly.

 BLADE CHOICES

There are several different types of blades on the market today, sometimes it gets a little confusing as to which blades should be used and how each blade works. Here is how I choose my spinnerbait’s blade, according to conditions and fishing methods: 

Two blades — I’ll use a twin-bladed spinnerbait in early spring, when water temperatures are in the 50s and lower 60s, in shallow water of 8 inches down to 1-foot, pre-spawn conditions, and dirty or muddy water conditions. The spinnerbaits I use here will have No. 5 and No. 8 Colorado blades on a 5/8- to 1-ounce body. This blade combination is perfect for crawling the bait across the bottom and occasionally letting it hit with just enough speed to keep those blades rolling, this is referred to as slow rolling. 

Willow leaf blades — As most of you know, a willow leaf blade is made more for flash than it is for sound. That is why when the water warms and clears up, or I’m fishing weeds, I usually use a No. 5 Colorado and a No. 7 willow leaf combination on a 1-ounce body, which happens to be my all-around favorite. I’ve found the little Colorados will put out the vibrations and the willow leaf will throw off a lot of flash. This combination is also made for a much quicker retrieve and enables the lure to come through thicker cover such as wood or weeds.