It's finally that time of year when the leaves start changing colors here. That change is a few weeks later than normal and I can usually get in three or four outings before the majority of the lakes here are closed to fishing.  You can bet the farm that I'll have a short arm spinnerbait tied on a rod and I'll likely not put that rod down all day.

There is something magical about a single willow blade short arm during this short time span, especially in the strip pit lakes I frequent a lot.

This bait, when allowed to helicopter down a bluff wall, steep drop, or deep outside weed edge is just amazing. The problem is, you just can't seem to find them anymore, so I end up making my own out of a standard bait by cutting the arm about 3/4 of the way up from the 'R' bend, slipping the smaller blade and clevis off, and attaching the willow blade/swivel to a newly formed loop at the end of the shortened arm.

I've used a number of different brands of baits to do this, but the ones with thinner wire arms seem to produce best. I believe it's because the shorter arm still retains plenty of the vibration characteristic. 

If you're looking to add a bait that is not only different from what the majority of anglers are throwing and is a proven fish catcher, look no farther. For the cost of a standard spinnerbait and a little time, you may just find out what I did almost 40yrs. ago.  But keep the secret to yourself.

I picked up a few of the downsized Nichols spinnerbaits last fall and they were quite productive for me. I haven't really thrown them this fall, but hope to this Friday.

2 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

  But keep the secret to yourself.

 

   I promise not to tell anyone!              jj

Just out of curiosity, why do they close the lakes to fishermen?

11 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

This bait, when allowed to helicopter down a bluff wall, steep drop, or deep outside weed edge is just amazing.

Funny you mentioned that, because I had a strange amount of bites while my spinnerbait was falling on Sunday. I should have capitalized on that. Btw, the single willow blade can be great, but I am quite attracted to the way a short arm single colorado falls. Very controlled flutter.

11 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

The problem is, you just can't seem to find them anymore, so I end up making my own

You can create one on Nichols' website but just selecting the single willow configuration on their metal flake spinnerbaits. The arm is short.

16 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

It's finally that time of year when the leaves start changing colors here. That change is a few weeks later than normal and I can usually get in three or four outings before the majority of the lakes here are closed to fishing.  You can bet the farm that I'll have a short arm spinnerbait tied on a rod and I'll likely not put that rod down all day.

There is something magical about a single willow blade short arm during this short time span, especially in the strip pit lakes I frequent a lot.

This bait, when allowed to helicopter down a bluff wall, steep drop, or deep outside weed edge is just amazing. The problem is, you just can't seem to find them anymore, so I end up making my own out of a standard bait by cutting the arm about 3/4 of the way up from the 'R' bend, slipping the smaller blade and clevis off, and attaching the willow blade/swivel to a newly formed loop at the end of the shortened arm.

I've used a number of different brands of baits to do this, but the ones with thinner wire arms seem to produce best. I believe it's because the shorter arm still retains plenty of the vibration characteristic. 

If you're looking to add a bait that is not only different from what the majority of anglers are throwing and is a proven fish catcher, look no farther. For the cost of a standard spinnerbait and a little time, you may just find out what I did almost 40yrs. ago.  But keep the secret to yourself.

Preach'n to the choir brother. I've had one tied on for about 3 weeks now. I prefer a single Olympic blade though. Those fall days when it's windy enough to make pitchin difficult, a short arm spinnerbait rolled along laydowns and rip rap can be killer. It's awesome prespawn too.

I have used the Stan Sloan short arm spinnerbait for years when conditions call for it. You can order them online at the link provided. 

 

Stan Sloan Short Arm Aggravator

 

 

1 hour ago, riverat said:

I have used the Stan Sloan short arm spinnerbait for years when conditions call for it. You can order them online at the link provided. 

 

Stan Sloan Short Arm Aggravator

 

 

 

Wasn't the first Classic won on that bait?

 

Allen 

22 minutes ago, Munkin said:

Wasn't the first Classic won on that bait

I believe that was the long arm

I agree with @riverat. I like the Stan Sloane short arm aggravator spinner bait. I have several of the originals with Colorado blades on them. I don't think I have ever tried one with a single willow leaf blade on it.

WE had a ton of rain fall the other night and I ended up switching out the willow blade for a Colorado. It didn't disappoint. Ended up catching three hogs, one of which was the biggest I'd caught out of that lake all season. 

I do like that Stan Sloane short arm. I may have to pick up a couple before I head south in Nov.

21 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

do like that Stan Sloane short arm

I have a couple myself. They work good. I am running a single Indiana on them. As a true single Colorado drop bait or slow roller, I prefer the Nichols

Bass ain't the only fish that like short arm spinnerbaits. This 42 incher freight trained mine this afternoon as I was rolling it along a blowdown.

I used to fish a short arm by Bass Buster, called a Scorpion.  Was a very popular spinnerbait in the 70.s.  Any one know when they quit making them?

I’ve got 2 short arm thumper spinner baits that were made by Terminator at one point. They really have a lot of vibration and they are the original T1 series so they have the titanium frame.

Ike has been promoting the Molix short arm single willow on his social medias this month 

Thanks for some food for thought. I’m going to sacrifice a few of my SBs and make that modification. 
 

On 10/25/2021 at 10:22 PM, CrashVector said:

Just out of curiosity, why do they close the lakes to fishermen?

Honestly, I don’t know but in my state, many of the lakes around me will be closed to fishing on October 31 and won’t reopen until the last Saturday in April 2021. 
 

I have 2 days left, lol. There are other lakes but the ones closest to are just flat out closed and the ones that are year round suck. They’re surrounded by homes and as a bank angler, prospects are practically nil. 

The Stan Sloan ones catch alot of bass for me, I  highly recommend them.

I havent fished one for years . Still have a couple , dont know what brand . I use to fish them in early spring with a pork frog trailer , swim them up to wood then kill it . 

 

 I also use   to gurgle them on top but  it was difficult to maintain the proper speed and rod angle to get them to gurgle long distances .  It worked  though but scrapped the technique favor of buzzbaits .

6 hours ago, scaleface said:

I havent fished one for years . Still have a couple , dont know what brand . I use to fish them in early spring with a pork frog trailer , swim them up to wood then kill it . 

 

 I also use   to gurgle them on top but  it was difficult to maintain the proper speed and rod angle to get them to gurgle long distances .  It worked  though but scrapped the technique favor of buzzbaits .

Sometimes I like to reel them along so they're creating a surface bulge and make the blade blow out here and there with a hard turn of the reel handle.If there's one following, that usually triggers them.

Bored so I made one to try.

 

Allen 

On 10/26/2021 at 12:22 AM, CrashVector said:

Just out of curiosity, why do they close the lakes to fishermen?

It's a safety measure to protect fishermen during waterfowl season.  These lakes  are flooded strip mines and in many areas are less than fifty yards wide. Others are closed to protect migrating birds from being disturbed.