So I bought a Rooster Tail inline spinner today and it seems like most of the time when I retrieve it, the blade isn't spinning. It works right sometimes but for the most part, no. Any tips/easy fixes that would take care of this?

Is it a real rooster tail brand? I've had trouble with off brand names but not rooster tail. The line must be tight, give it a little jerk should start the blade spinning.

Rooster tails have a thin spindle that the blade spins on, it doesn't take much for it to bend out of shape and affecting the spin, try straightening it out. You may also try slowing it down a bit. IMO for a couple of dollars more a Mepps or Panther-Martin works better, is made better and more durable.

. IMO for a couple of dollars more a Mepps or Panther-Martin works better, is made better and more durable.

X2 Absolutely

So I bought a Rooster Tail inline spinner today and it seems like most of the time when I retrieve it, the blade isn't spinning. It works right sometimes but for the most part, no. Any tips/easy fixes that would take care of this?

What size is it?

Is it a real rooster tail brand? I've had trouble with off brand names but not rooster tail. The line must be tight, give it a little jerk should start the blade spinning.

Yep, works. Or you may need to bend the blade or spindle a bit.

I got tired of that same problem and switched to the Panther Martins. They spin every time.

the thin willows on the rooster tails sometimes have a hard time getting going. give it a little twitch right before you start reeling and itll get the blades spinning. FWIW, i have the same problem with panther martins and mepps too. its the same thing with all of them. the smaller blades of inline spinners dont catch as much water as their spinnerbait counter parts, therefore its a little harder to get the blades to spin. a quick twitch of the wrist before you reel gets em goin. also, might i add that a low lb test (4-6) is best suited for it because it is easier to feel the blades thumpin.

There is a posibility that the clevis has been compressed or widened. The clevis is the piece that holds the blade onto the wire arm, see the orange blade inline below and you can see the piece I'm talking about:

Check that as well to see if it's been bent and hangs up, sometimes they do get bent out of shape at the factory or while fishing.

Hope this helps ya.

I routinely make two modifications to a Roostertail:

- I bend the line tie over (similar to the old Shyster line tie) - this reduces the tendancy of the entire bait to spin.

- I put a bend in the tip of the blade - this will get it moving.

I posted this photo a couple years ago on a similar thread:

I agree with the folks above - Roostertails are not the best in-line spinner, but with these mods, they work well enough. If you tend to lose these things - I'd rather lose a cheap bait than an expensive one...

Is it a real rooster tail brand? I've had trouble with off brand names but not rooster tail. The line must be tight, give it a little jerk should start the blade spinning.

Yes. It is a legit roostertail. It was bit windy today. Maybe the line wasn't as tight as it could be. I tried giving the line a jerk but it only really worked about half the time.

Rooster tails have a thin spindle that the blade spins on, it doesn't take much for it to bend out of shape and affecting the spin, try straightening it out. You may also try slowing it down a bit. IMO for a couple of dollars more a Mepps or Panther-Martin works better, is made better and more durable.

Just checked it. Nothing bent. Its all strait as an arrow. Had a Mepps a while back and I didn't have any problems with it but got it snagged and lost it the first day I had it. Got the Rooster Tail because I liked the color and my baitshop didn't have much to pick from.

What size is it?

1/4 oz

I routinely make two modifications to a Roostertail:

- I bend the line tie over (similar to the old Shyster line tie) - this reduces the tendancy of the entire bait to spin.

- I put a bend in the tip of the blade - this will get it moving.

Interesting. I may give this a try.

I appreciate all the tips guys. Thanks

Whether it's a Roostertail or some other inline spinner brand, I use them only with ul or light rod, in my ponds they attract too many bluegills. We do however have some mayan cichlids and they are a ball on real light gear.

I routinely make two modifications to a Roostertail:

- I bend the line tie over (similar to the old Shyster line tie) - this reduces the tendancy of the entire bait to spin.

- I put a bend in the tip of the blade - this will get it moving.

I posted this photo a couple years ago on a similar thread:

I agree with the folks above - Roostertails are not the best in-line spinner, but with these mods, they work well enough. If you tend to lose these things - I'd rather lose a cheap bait than an expensive one...

Excellent post, Goose. I bend the end of the blade as well but I hadn't thought of bending the line tie. Good stuff!

Excellent post, Goose. I bend the end of the blade as well but I hadn't thought of bending the line tie. Good stuff!

I wish I could say that having an offset line tie was my idea....but someone thought of it quite a while ago - as seen on this ~50 year-old Shyster...

Went out earlier this morning and made the suggested mods to my roostertail. Not only did it spin perfectly every time, but I actually caught some fish on it! No bass but I'd rather catch something than nothing. Can't believe this crappie hit it. He had the whole hook in his mouth and it barely fit. The pickerel cut the line just as I pulled him out of the water and over the dam I was fishing off of. He almost flopped back in the water with the lure still in his mouth but I was able to grab him just in time. He was a biggun. Measured a bit over 20inches. Thanks for the tips everyone!

Awesome tip Goose - I have an U/L with a white or chartreuse bodied rooster tail always tied on. I'm making this mod as soon as I get home!!

A rooster tail and a pike/pickerel is the worse combo ever if you have no pliers lol.

Tell me about it. Hooked a pickerel a few weeks ago and he had 2 of the hooks in the top of his mouth and 1 in the bottom effectively hooking his mouth shut. It was a real pain to deal with even with pliers.

A roostertail is a last resort inline spinner, a better quality spinner is cheaper in the long run and work better. Whether it's a roostertail or another brand, at hook replacement time (cut off the old with a wire cutter and add a split ring) single hook is a good idea instead of the treble. I've bought copies of a r/tail with a single hook but the same poor quality.

Bump for an old Thread. Not sure what a line tie is or how to bend it.

4 hours ago, Run2jeepn said:

Bump for an old Thread. Not sure what a line tie is or how to bend it.

Zombies AND Jeopardy category all in one. Killer!

10 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

Zombies AND Jeopardy category all in one. Killer!

Do I just bend the eye to a 90° ?

the times I've fished Roostertail (though I agree with jack it up and put a Panther-Martin underneath)  - oh yeah, Roostertail - snap it until you can feel the resistance of spin, then retrieve however you want.  

You just have to overcome inertia to get them started.  

I usually fish roostertails in current, so it's not usually a problem.  I wouldn't fish them in pike/pickerel country though.

11 hours ago, Run2jeepn said:

Do I just bend the eye to a 90° ?

I like 45° to 60°, but yeah. Also check the blade edge for burrs. The snapping the rod thing is standard. I bend one point (the one opposite the eye bend) into the shank until the point is up against it. Lastly in cold(er) water, sometimes the no spin thing works.