Because I'm pretty new to lmb fishing (Before I first focused on lmb in Maine, I'd last fished them 50 years ago.), I'd never fished a spinnerbait for anything smaller than muskies. So, when I tried them, I was delighted with how well they worked and dismayed by how they'd break after even catching five fish, leaving a big hook in a bass's mouth. I paid much more for titanium and the first one I used broke too. They broke because they'd be bent by a bass and I'd have to bend them to their original shape so that they'd run true, weakening the metal even more. 

 

Someone at Bass Resource suggested a Dobyn's Beast spinnerbait and that was a great suggestion, as its thicker steel didn't deform in a fight.

 

And then, to support a Bass Resource advertiser and thus Bass Resource, I ordered some of @Siebert Outdoors's spinnerbaits. I've only used one this spring because it just keeps running true. It caught my biggest bass this spring too as well as several four-pounders and many bass between three and four pounds. Here's the big girl it caught:

 

 

Amazingly, I haven't lost a single big bass that it's hooked. I bought it with the chrome willow blades and a super white skirt. Sure, it looks like spinnerbaits from other lure companies, but it's better.

 

Because I'm a paddler, I often troll with it and it performs just as well trolling as casting. I can't imagine using anything else going forward.

I bought one recently with the painted blades. My only complaints are that it doesn’t come with a keeper and the angle of the wire coming off the head is strange. I bent the wire the way I want it, but no keeper makes me a little sad. If you don’t ever fish trailers with your spinnerbaits, it’s a solid option. 

1 minute ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I bought one recently with the painted blades. My only complaints are that it doesn’t come with a keeper and the angle of the wire coming off the head is strange. I bent the wire the way I want it, but no keeper makes me a little sad. If you don’t ever fish trailers with your spinnerbaits, it’s a solid option. 

 

I always fish a trailer. I use a Zako in chartreuse and white. It stays put.

Just now, Swamp Girl said:

 

I always fish a trailer. I use a Zako in chartreuse and white. It stays put.

Does yours have a keeper? Or you just threading it up on there regardless?

Just now, LrgmouthShad said:

Does yours have a keeper? Or you just threading it up on there regardless?

 

No keeper, but the Zako stays put. Sometimes after battling a bass, it's rolled to an twisted upside down position, but I just twist it back.

3 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

No keeper, but the Zako stays put. Sometimes after battling a bass, it's rolled to a twisted upside down position, but I just twist it back.

Zako is a pretty thick and durable trailer. I will certainly admit that I haven’t tried just putting a trailer up on there regardless, but I suspect a zoom split tail will have a harder time staying up there. Maybe some superglue. It’s far from a bad spinnerbait, though. It’s well-built with good components. 

7 minutes ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Zako is a pretty thick and durable trailer. I will certainly admit that I haven’t tried just putting a trailer up on there regardless, but I suspect a zoom split tail will have a harder time staying up there. Maybe some superglue. It’s far from a bad spinnerbait, though. It’s well-built with good components. 

 

I had to Google Zoom Split Tail. That's a cool-looking trailer, but I'm going to stick with my Zako. Maine bass like it. However, I can see why a Zoom Split Tail might not stay put. 

The zoom split tail with a touch of glue works.

 

@Swamp Girl- When the fresh of the year baitfish start to become the main forage later in the year, look at the compact also.  All of the same features and likes as the cosmic, but in a much smaller package.  I know you like quiet entry and the little compact is as silent as they come, especially on casting gear (which I know you don't use).  You won't get a zako on one but a 4" Zako is already bigger than most of the compact spinnerbait let alone the hook you'd put it on.  A little twister tail or split tail is the answer if you want a trailer.  A mini fluke with a half inch cut off works too.

Thanks.   I'll have to give them a try.

 

You could always use heavy ish mono and tie your own keeper.

Katy - the main reason to use a split rail or no trailer - in my experience - is the action of the bait changes.

 

I find I get a lot more bites with no trailer - have no idea why but the bait definitely 'dances' through the water more naturally where as trailers make it kinda glide more like other lures (to me).

 

Super glue is in my tackle bag and gets used on every trailer I put on a jig now!  There isn't a bait keeper out there that won't eventually destroy your soft plastic - glue + no keeper - I can actually use the plastic later on for something else because the keeper didn't destroy the soft plastic.

 

Tiny dab is plenty.

 

I have had lots of success using these - I like the double gold Willow in golden shiner a lot.

 

White chartreuse double willow with painted blades is also very very good.

 

Spinnerbaits are cool - hope we get some stain to our lakes this year so they become more effective!

24 minutes ago, Pat Brown said:

Katy - the main reason to use a split rail or no trailer - in my experience - is the action of the bait changes.

 

Well, then, I'm going trailerless this week and we'll see how that goes. Thanks for the suggestion.

The finesse Seibert spinnerbait is a winner as well. I’ve caught lots of bass on them. They are a great size to mimic smaller threadfin especially around the shad spawn and going into the fall. The thinner wire does bend out after catching a few but is easy to get back true. I don’t mind because the thinner wire also adds to the vibration and action.

I have no input on the siebert spinner blade. Only used his sniper jigs (amazing!)

but I will say I’ve fished trailers this year for the first time. I’ve used zoom fat Albert grubs, flukes, paddle tails. It looks amazing. It helps with keeping the bait a tad higher in the water column.

 

but in years past ( I know it was a different state) I’ve had a ton more success with no trailer. I really think I’m gonna go back to no trailer on my spinner baits. 

I would like to publicly apologize. I did not realize that the wire tied skirt allows for a small gap where the skirt band normally goes that you can use to hold your plastic trailers. A zoom split tail sits on there.

 

I will put this bait in the water and give my thoughts on it this weekend.