Does anyone use the lowly Beetle Spin for any serious bass fishing?

 

When I take the little tykes out I always have a BeetleSpin, Mepps Aglia, and a K&M pre-rigged worm for them to use.  One of those three will get them into fish in the short time that their attention span allows.  I also use one when I'm fun fishing with my ultra-light.

I've caught some of my biggest cold water bass on a beetle spin. 

I've caught big bass on a beetle spin. And even more on a road runner.

I used one in the pond I go to, of course it was too Mossy to do any good.

I make my own Beetle spins using stainless wire, ball bearing swivels, Owner Jig heads and various blades.

I also tie flash on them for added appeal.  They are the most productive lures I use and bass go gaga over them.

I've caught big bass on a beetle spin. And even more on a road runner.

Fan of the road runner

That is one bait I have never had very good luck with.  I do much better with a Mepps or Rooster tail spinner. 

Been known to work great on the Historic James River.

 

Should work other places, especially ponds and rivers.

Works everywhere - it's caught fish all over the world

Up until recently, (last 6-7 years) all of my PB fish, fresh AND salt were on the beetle spin. My biggest bass, cat, redfish, speckled trout, crappie, bluegill. ......you get the picture. Great lure. Dont use it much now, but my 6yr old is starting to fish more regularly, and she and i are going to be throwing one soon- you can bet that!

Used them many times during my life.  My dad swears by them.  I've never caught a fish on one.

I've thrown them before - usually after I get an accidental crappie, or big sunfish.  Especially if the bass bite has been slow.

     My problem has been that no rig in the boat can cast them adequately.  They're so light that I barely get them 5 yards out, get frustrated, toss a light jig for a minute and then go back to being abused by lockjaw LMB.  I have never actually tried to catch bass with a beetle spin, however.

My first 41 inch northern was caught on one. I bought a bunch of the arms, put my own blades on them and added jig heads. I often will use them with different plastics so they just become a small spinner bait. It is one of those things I haven't used in a while though.

That is one bait I have never had very good luck with.  I do much better with a Mepps or Rooster tail spinner.

Me too.

Does anyone use the lowly Beetle Spin for any serious bass fishing?

 

 

Nope, it ain´t a "profesional" bait and I´m a pro, I also don´t fish in-line spinners for bass, they are "beginner" bait and I´m not a beginner.

Ah, the lowly beetle spin!  The mere thought of them brings back nostalgia for fishing the Middle Fork river for smallies and rock bass.  I don't use them much now but having been reminded of them, maybe I'll take out a little kit and use them soon.

Nope, it ain´t a "profesional" bait and I´m a pro, I also don´t fish in-line spinners for bass, they are "beginner" bait and I´m not a beginner.

 

I'm glad to see one of our resident pros has weighed in on this!

Not since the late 70's... But I have caught LMB to 5 Pds. On a roadrunner 1/8

The only problem I find with the original Beetle Spin is the size, even the "large" ones are quite small, that problem can be solved easily, in my arsenal I have several skirtless spinnerbaits, so I insert a grub, worm or swimbait body ( like the Skinny Dipper ) and voilá, jumbo size Beetle Spin.

 

There´s something special about Beetle Spins, for whatever reason I still don´t get why they won´t strike a spinnerbait but with hit a beetle spin with gusto.

Nope, it ain´t a "profesional" bait and I´m a pro, I also don´t fish in-line spinners for bass, they are "beginner" bait and I´m not a beginner.

Ha, ha, ha

In my experience, the Rooster Tail is the best mutli-species bait.  But the "Lowly" Beetle spin is awesome for catching just about anything also.  All you need is a spinning rod and it will cast it just fine.  I don't fish it much because it seems to catch more small fish but the key is that it does catch lots of fish.

 

Caught my pb crappie on one an 18" monster 15 years ago never weighed it but it tasted good

I like beetle spins. I also like rooster tails and Mepps. Those three baits will catch a lot of fish.... But then, so will jigs and rapalas. I tend to throw beetle spins more in current

I think I've read Gary Klein, another Pro, said the Beetle Spin is the best bait ever made and uses them to catch

bass on a tough bite. 

 

Old school basser....