Hey guys. Looking for some suggestions on smaller spinnerbaits. I've used the Matt Heren Got 5, and War Eagle finesse - Both are fine baits, but always looking to add more to the box. 1/4, 5/16, and 3/8 oz. Nothing heavier, nothing lighter. Any feedback will be appreciated. Thanks

S.O.B. Mini Me  is a great spinnerbait. http://www.soblures.com/mini-me-spinnerbaits.shtml

I like the TJ special color.

Siebert Outdoors makes a compact series that looks pretty sweet in a 3/8oz, only $5.50 too.

Another vote for the siebert compact spinnerbait.

A personal favorite of mine is the Strike King Rocket Shad.  The one negative about the lure is that a toothy encounter may shred the skirt.  I had it happen on three different ones, so I just had a friend who is a fly tier wrap a custom pattern for me.  I'll post up some photos when I get a chance.

Stanley makes a short arm compact spinnerbait that has worked well for me.

Strike King use to make a short arm spinner bait with a plastic weed guard. Bill Dance made this bait famous on his fishing shows in the early 80's. The bait was designed to be jigged in bottom structure. His shows with Terry Bradshaw were my favorite.

A personal favorite of mine is the Strike King Rocket Shad.  The one negative about the lure is that a toothy encounter may shred the skirt.  I had it happen on three different ones, so I just had a friend who is a fly tier wrap a custom pattern for me.  I'll post up some photos when I get a chance.

 

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The bit of difference this lure has is a double hook that swivels.

Thanks for the input fellas. Think I'm gonna try the Damiki Gladiator. The hook on the rocket shad is complete garbage, and the skirt attachment leaves a lot to be desired. On the plus side it does casts like a rocket. I guess you get what you pay for at two and a half bucks.

A comact spinnerbait is completely different from a short arm bait so make sure what ever you choose it will be what you want. The short arm spinnerbaits don't retrieve really well straight on, they are designed as a drop bait to fish bluff banks and drop offs, I make them for a few guys that use them on Dale Hollow and what you do is make a cast and just let it fall to the bottom and then you yo-yo it back, the blade spins really well on the fall due to the arm being short. A compact spinnerbait is simply any size spinnerbait made on a smaller frame, you see a lot of "hidden weight" spinnerbaits on the market because this makes for a compact design but they tend to get thrown by fish a lot more than normal designs as a larger area of the hook shank is coverd by lead so guys that really like to use trailers on spinnerbaits don't like them too much. The same for guys like KVD who like to drop the bait and then pick it back up and do different things with it stay away from hidden weigh baits as they tend to drop almost horizontally rather than nose down. The Damiki Gladiator is what I would choose if I was going to buy a compact frame spinnerbait.

Here's a picture of the differences between the stock SK Rocket Shad and the ones I have had altered.

 

 

Thanks for the input fellas. Think I'm gonna try the Damiki Gladiator. The hook on the rocket shad is complete garbage, and the skirt attachment leaves a lot to be desired. On the plus side it does casts like a rocket. I guess you get what you pay for at two and a half bucks.

 

Hmmm guess we have had different experiences with them then Ive caught hundreds of bass with those things over the years.

 

On a higher quality side there is Secret Weapon Sidearm Double Willow Spinnerbaits I have use these. TT gave them a  9 rating and TW has 5/16 size

 

It has a fitting that attatches the double blades and can be removed for single blade use so you can have a silver or gold or both.

No bearings to go bad and different blades available