I am looking to start building some spinnerbaits.  I have been looking at blades and can't decide where to start.  My big question is in blade type.  Hammered VS Polished.  What are the best conditions for the hammered blades?  Do you have a preference and why?  Tight Lines!

I use smooth finish blades 99% of the time because I have confidence with the flash it produces. The difference between a hammered willow and a smooth finish is flash, when the smooth blade is spinning you get a bright brilliant flash over and over while a hammered finish you get multiple little flashes, sort of remind me when you watch the first pitch at the World Series or the kick off at the super bowl and you see all the camera flashes. There is also a small difference in spin speed but it isn't enough to notice and I don't think the fish do either but there are times when the multiple flashes are more productive than a single large flash such as clear shallow water, that is where I think a hammered blade will do better but other than that I use a smooth finish blade and an occasional fluted blade but that too is a clear water blade. The smooth finish is going to work better in stained water and I also think it shows up better at distance which is why I like that blade better and use it most of the time.

What do hammered blades and flouro have in common? me no use!

I use the Mann's classic spinnerbaits with the single or double Colorado blades in polished brass/gold they work the best here.

The hammered blades give off the sparkle in all directions like a diamond. When reeled slow. It should work better in darker water and light conditions.

A hammered brass blade is a great option in dirty/stained water, why I don't know but it has produced very well for me. 

My rule of thumb is this: silver blades for bright days, gold blades for dark days.  I like the plain blades, but will use hammered blades too. I have never found much difference really. 

 

Good luck, Jim

I prefer hammered blades for dirty water. 

 

Make sure you look at http://www.hagensfish.com/ They have awesome prices and about every blade you can think of. There is a minimum order, but i think its only a $1 charge if you are under it if I remember correctly. 

White spinner bait with a big single hammered silver Colorado blade is always a place to start for me.

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned about hammerd blades is the added lift.  A hammered willow blade can be retrieved slower than a smooth finished one while maintaining the same depth.  If you think of the dimples on a golf ball, those touting longer distance have dimples with beveled edges. Those dimples use the increased air flow to keep the ball aloft longer.  If you're into waking a spinnerbait in the summer, a tandem, hammered willow blade bait can be retrieved slower.  The same goes for Buzzbaits. Those with holes in the fins can be retrieved slower and still stay on top. 

Oh no, I let another pro tip slip. Now some guys are going to start drilling holes in their perfectly good buzzbait blades (the same thing applies to adding a couple of holes in your willow and Colorado blades, but don't tell anyone I said so).

and Hagens has Top Props baby.....