If you’re fishing 12-15’ or deeper and you need that big thump to compensate for lower visibility, which of these weights are better for keeping that big blade from making the spinnerbait rise too quickly?

 

Does anything else (other than the specs of the rod you have available) make you choose one over another? I’d expect the heavier you go, the more the blade spins on the drop. But other than that, I can’t think of anything.

The blade size and how fast you’re reeling it will impact how much rise you get. Bigger and faster means more rise. I let that determine which specific bait I’m throwing. 

The heavier the spinnerbait the faster you can retrieve it while keeping it deeper in the water column.  The blade size will play a bigger role in that, but the weight does have some effect.  Also, casting distance, especially in the wind, will likely be greater with the heavier spinnerbait.  

I've always relied on blade size (and cup size) and adjusted my retrieve speed accordingly.  If you're looking to keep it deep and still move it along at a good pace, a heavier bait in combination with a blade with enough vibration for you to feel, can be the ticket.

Will 1 oz run deeper than 3/4? Is this one of those "gravity isn't a force" YT videos?...

So many factors weigh into which one will run deeper. If you're really worried about the bait rising, use an Indiana or even big willowleaf blade instead. It won't have as much thump, but bass will still be able to find it. 

4 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

So many factors weigh into which one will run deeper. If you're really worried about the bait rising, use an Indiana or even big willowleaf blade instead. It won't have as much thump, but bass will still be able to find it. 

I was definitely planning on getting 3/4oz double willows.
Thought that intense TVA generation schedules at various times might make a Colorado blade better right off the river channel. One spot off a flat can be super clear, but then you find a deep current seam and suddenly visibility goes to almost nothing.

 

What I really don’t understand is where tandems (outer willow, inner/front small Colorado) fit in. Clearer water with extra flash? I might get those in 1/2 oz for shallower work.

Unless there's a good mudline you're fishing, I wouldn't bother fishing a lot of offshore areas in muddy water. I don't fish many places with current, so maybe it's different, but muddy water anywhere I fish means fish will be shallower and tight to cover. 

 

I don't use the double willows for fishing deeper, unless it's something like a Screaming Eagle. The single willow leaf will provide less lift and thumps just a little bit more, makes it a better option for deeper water imo. The big single Colorado Booyah Coverts stay down really well, if you can keep yourself reeling slow enough, they'll stay down in the deep water. I just picked up a 3/4oz last night in preparation for big spinnerbait season that's about to start here.