I shore fish in lake Saint Clair in shallow water 4 to 5 feet deep.  I have a good number of days when I'm getting a few followers but no takers on spinnerbait.  After slowing retrieval, adding trailers, and downsizing from 1/2 oz to 3/8 oz still just followers. I've tried weighless T-rigging swimbaits, but casting distance becomes an issue on windy days. While I  have picked up a few swimjigs for this year and plan to try those for a follow up.

 

Just wondering if a spinnerbait is the lead in your one two combo whats your most productive 2nd part of that combo?  I'm trying to put together a progressive plan instead of just guessing and running scatter shot though my tackle box.

Really slow it down with a creature bait or jig.

Plastics on the technique of your choice!

Followers?  Try a slightly different color or blade size.

If they follow and don't hit the spinner bait that means that the size and color is close to what they want you need to add a trailer that gives them the action they are looking for.

 

As for a follow up bait to the spinner bait try a caffine swimmin shad with a weighted underspinner hook.

Try a lipless crank, if you think a moving bait is key but spinners are normally a search tool for me so if I can see there are bass in the area then slow down with soft plastics and jigs

Any time I see a fish swirl, have a fish miss a bait or follow a bait, I follow up with a senko. 

senko or fluke I have one or the other tied on at all times i'm not a huge spinnerbait fan though so i can't speak to that specifically 

Stick of dynamite rigged weightless and wacky...hasn't failed yet.

I'd revisit option #1 and upsize your spinnerbait in weight and go to a burning retrieve instead of slowing down. Willows, maybe chartreuse/white skirts or blades, and 3/4 oz or more. Make farther casts, and bring the bait back about as fast as you can. If that didn't work, my #2 would be a shallow crank, also burned in. Only after those two options would I go slow, and then it would be Ned.

A Fuke or Senko

i like to keep a senko tied on for a follow up cast for any bait.

3 hours ago, Team9nine said:

I'd revisit option #1 and upsize your spinnerbait in weight and go to a burning retrieve instead of slowing down. Willows, maybe chartreuse/white skirts or blades, and 3/4 oz or more. Make farther casts, and bring the bait back about as fast as you can. If that didn't work, my #2 would be a shallow crank, also burned in. Only after those two options would I go slow, and then it would be Ned.

Well this is the only adjustment that I haven't even thought of doing. Up sizing and burning it. All the other recommendations for slow rolling, slight color change, blade change, yo-yo, hard rips and kill it have been done.

 

I'm thinking I'll have to work on keeping a senko rigged up by all the info you guys are feeding me. Which also trying to be proficient at senkos this year too.

 

It just gets to wears on you a bit, when you go and put your best spinnerbait skirt on toss a nice long cast. Don't get me wrong me and bass have had some fun times.  But having days when they don't even notice me.  And I see all the other fishermen hooking up, I'm just tired of the interest and then having to deal with commitment issues. Now I'm going to watch fishing shows and eat ice cream.

 

If you didn't get the humor that your fault not mine.

Follow it up with a live minnow, huzzah!

Swim Jig or jig...

Ned rig

A t-rigged trick worm is hard to beat anytime.

Another beer ? 

Are you talking smallmouth or largemouth?  If it's smallies, go with a colored blade like lime green, or chart. The other thing is, do something different on the retrieve, whether it's smallies or largemouth. Give the rod tip a pop, pause and let the bait sink, or just move your rod tip to the side and back.  A straight retrieve works when fish are ambushing the bait, but in open water, or when they just want to follow, mixing up the retrieve will get them to commit. 

By changing lures, you have to get the fish interested, again, and that fish has already moved from the spot where it first saw your bait.  No matter what bait you throw, unless there is a school holding in the area, you're better off getting that fish to commit and then going after the others.

For those of you new to fishing, this works for most any species from crappie to muskie. Explore your options before changing baits or the areas you're fishing. You're doing something right if a fish follows your presentation. Why abandon it for something, or somewhere else?

For me it's gonna be a senko or a jig. 

If I can see followers when I'm throwing a spinnerbait I need to find windier water or dirtier water. I'd try a swimjig since it's a little more subtle.