spinnerbaits & painted blades?

[smbassman]

I was wondering how many of you throw heavy spinnerbaits with painted blades and burn them for smallies?  I have a few different kinds and have always been partial to Terminators (other than the blades are very thin and bend easy), they do seem to produce more than others I have tried.  My problem with the painted blades of all brands I have tried is the paint never seems to last long before chipping off.  And this is with normal wear. 

Now if I accidentally catch the troller head on a underhand roll cast, that is usually the end of that bait all together with bent blades and no paint left.

I guess my question is - what brand and weight spinnerbaits do you throw and is chipped paint just something you must live with? 

Thanks!!!

[dhuff]

I fish all kinds of spinnerbaits with painted blades for them.  When they get chipped up I just simply touch them up with a little paint and stick them back in the box.

[McCarter]

I like the Terminators too.  If you email them they will send you out a whole box of blades.  You have to pay shipping, buts it was only 3 bucks or something like that.

I was having a problem with the swivels breaking off and the blades sinking to the bottom of the lake.  They took good care of me.

PoorBoy himself

[fishon1219]

All my painted blade baits are Pulsators, or strike king 's. When the paint gets chipped it just makes it easier for me to pick that bait back out of my box. I seem to catch more fish on the baits that have battle scars anyway.

[MBell]

I use strike king mostly,they last a while.  Painted blades are cheap to buy, jannsnetcraft.com.  I don't use spinnerbaits too long, a few good fish and they break easily.  The terminators last longer but they still break.  If you add an epoxy or a few clear coast to you blades they will last longer, but may also act different.
-Matt 

[Revtro]

Gotta agree with the majority.  I use Terminators quite a bit and just replace blades by buying them in bulk.  I get mine from Gander Mountain.  However, I started using the Booyah spinnerbaits recently and look forward to giving them an honest chance this season. 

[Bulletproof]

I'm a pulsator or picasso guy, imo probably the best quality spinnerbaits out there are these 2!  I usually throw 1/2 ouncers.  Ya the painted blades will definitely lose there aesthetics after  a good summer of fishing them, but i still crank fish on them.  Oddly enough I may of only picked up a spinnerbait rod a handful of times last year.  I always keep one rigged but hardly ever used it.  i like them in rough water/colored water conditions and as a locater.

[Savage]

Bulletproof-

I really like the Picassos you can get at Gander with the painted blades, they seem to work the best.? I have some that have lasted me for quite a few trips now.? Here's a couple tips that work for me:

scratch the paint off the back side, it makes the bait look more like its pulsating and drives 'em nuts.

you can get jig paint to repaint the blades.? if you do re-paint them, try a clear coat to lengthen the life.? Don't get too many coats of paint on a blade, it makes them run funny!

My best color is a white skirt, with a double willow leaf blades, the big one chartreuse and the other white

I dip the ends of the skirt in chartreuse dye, again, it looks like the bait is pulsating more

Put a trailer hook on that thing and go to town.? Just keep that thing out of sight

[Dan]

Pulsators and Strike King models. Double willow 1/2 ounce are my particular favorites. On the northern lakes in September, if you want to compete you better be throwing them. Like the painted white with light blue fleck that Pulsator makes and the chartreuse are always a consistent producer. Never fish them without a trailer hook. Like to use a grub on the main hook, but there are times when it is too much.

[Bulletproof]

Last time I looked at gander they were practically giving away picassos.  dont recall what colors but they were half ounce.  i wanna say i paid like 2 or 3 bucks a piece for them. 

[djkimmel]

Been using War Eagle's for 5 or 6 seasons now. I don't really seem to have a chipped blade problem with them now that you mention it. Guess I quit noticing it when it quit happening.

I like buring the 3/4 oz double willows (occ. big willow behind a small Colorado) - all white, all chartreuse or the chartreuse/white combo depending on water quality, season and what the BIG smallies (sometimes largemouths) seem to be trying to tell me.

I will sometimes use a 'fake' burn - bigger blade on a 1/2 that gives the illusion of a burning spinnerbait that isn't actually going anywhere fast. Sometimes that really gets them. I don't do it enough.

I will burn smaller spinnerbaits more often when I don't seem to be around big smallies, but regular smallies and largemouths, especially around cover.

In real clear water in the summer, War Eagle has a number of really nice natural colors that seem to be great - blue herring shad, green shad, mouse are some good ones.

[Bulletproof]

Never heard of War Eagle spinnerbaits until you mentioned them.  they look pretty darn good.  another bass item is going into the cart.  my x-mas funds have officially ran out.  i like the sun perch and the clear copper peach and can tink of a couple spots these baits may perservere in.

[djkimmel]

I have a lot of confidence in their ability to attract and catch bass. From what I know, they are made from piano wire. The wire chrome coating will eventually wear off from flexing (caused by mean bass) and then the wire can rust.

They will break if flexed hard enough by enough bass, but they last long enough for me to catch quite a few bass on one normally and I use round-nose pliers to keep the R-bend in shape without bending too much. I haven't had any break on the first fish or two - nothing like that. I use the older ones in practice and switch to a newer one for the tournament. I've flipped bass up to 4-6 in the boat on them.

I think the flex and vibration is the reason they get a lot of bites. I like the colors and the skirts. The skirts are tied, so to switch you need to cut them off, but I don't do that until usually after I've worn the skirt out on fish. I don't normally feel the urge to switch skirts because they are nice colors and shape.


You really want to try the buzzbaits - the best I've tried for consistency in productivity. Pretuned with a good rivet and pre-roughened wire for a great squeak right out of the package. The roughened wire will eventually eat through the blade, but again, not until after you've made a ton of casts (and in my experience) caught a lot of bass on them. I just carry extra blades.

The Screamin' Eagles are interesting too - extra weight for a heavy, but compact spinnerbait. I actually haven't used them much, but two of my regular fishing partners really like them.

I have a lot of confidence in these lures.

[Skulley]

I never heard of War Eagles.  Where can you get them???  I have been a believer in Pulsators.  I have done very well on them but am always open to try a new brand.  The painted blades do chip but I don't believe that effects the bite unless the chips are large.  I also experiment with a lot of blade changes and combinations.  I customize them myself.  Experimenting is good.  It is interesting when you find a combination that might be unconventional.  The fish don't know the difference.......especially when they are hungry.

BD   

[djkimmel]

D&R Sports sells War Eagles - usually some in stock - they will ship if they have what you want - 800-992-1520 - I like getting things from them when I can because in the past I've gotten the stuff really fast.

Once in a while, I see them at BPS. You can also get them online from various sites like basstackle.com.

[Hooksetter]

For me it's War Eagle. 1/2 oz double willow, chartreuse blades, skirt and a Zoom split tail trailer. It works for smallies on LSC and on inland lakes for smallies and LM. I got mine at Lakeside when they still had the store in Farmington on Grand River.

[Skulley]

I like to try everybodies stuff.? I haven't fished with a bad bait yet.? They are all good.? Some are just better than others.....but they are all good.? As Roland Martin says all colors are good as long as it's (choose the color du jour).? ?? I like all spinnerbaits.? I throw them a lot.? I would like to try War Eagles.? Thanks.....

BD? ?