Hi all,

 

I have an old spinnerbait that is 25 years old (actually own 4 of them) that are very effective for me in the right circumstances. Except the hooks suck. They are old steel hooks, nickel plated maybe. Soft metal, lose an edge quickly. Rust easily. But the thump this spinnerbait puts out is like no other I’ve ever fished in 25 years.

 

I’m going to try to match the thump in a modern bait with good hooks. I’m contemplating blade sizes and choices. The one I have is 3/8 (maybe even 5/16) and I think either a 4.5 or 5 single Colorado on a compact sized frame. I was figuring to get both 3/8 and 1/2 oz heads and 5 and 6 hildebrandts. 
 

Im throwing this into shallow cover, dark hours, along pad edges, etc and fishing 6-24” deep, crawling along slow. I’d love to be able to hover the bait in place with a 3/8 and a #6, just super creeping it along 12” under the water. The more thump the better. 
 

Anything I’m missing or should also consider?

I’m no expert, but it seems to me that the thump you are seeking lies in the blade.  Is there something unique to the blades that are thumpier than blades of less thumpier baits?  Maybe a slight difference in shape, or maybe something to do with the ratio of blade diameter to depth of the convex?  Or both? 

I’ve soldered lumps on the back side of blades to add more “thump” to a single spin.

 

 

Blades made today are much thinner than 25 years go. Get you some Hildebrandt blades. Booyah makes spinnerbaits with those blades and with Mustad Ultra point hooks. 

Wire length and diameter play a big role as well. Can you post a picture of the bait?

 

If you decide to go with Hiltabrant blades order based on measurements not stated size. Their sizes are way off other blades. For example Worth and Lakeland a size 5 Colorado is maybe 1mm different? A Hiltabrant 5 is equivalent to a size 7.

 

Allen 

@Munkin

 

The specific one is an old Hart throb spinnerbait.  It is a compact frame size, little heavier wire, and tapered head.  The blade is the same as a #5 hildebrandt more or less.  It is maybe 1mm smaller in total length (same width) but the hilde is maybe a half mm not as deep.  

 

I was putting in a TW order anyway, so I got some 5 and 6 hildebrandt blades plus a pair of 3/8 oz Boss heads.  I mocked up a pair with some takeoff skirts and they are thumpers.  The #5 is pretty close to what I had.  The #6 is pretty close to what I was looking for.  I think the Boss wire is a little thinner and the geometry is a little off (I bent it a little to get closer) but with the #6 blade I was reeling it so slow in the pool (to keep from blowing out) that it was just about hovering.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/BOSS_Shad_Head_Spinnerbait_Body_2pk/descpage-BSHSB.html

 

A little more play, maybe a different wire body (heavier, to not bend out on fish).  But I’m close. 

On 9/14/2025 at 3:37 PM, Jig Man said:

I’ve soldered lumps on the back side of blades to add more “thump” to a single spin.

 

 

I can't see the lumps. Where do you add the lumps? I might give it a try with some steel putty

@casts_by_fly could you share some side by sides with the class? 

On 9/14/2025 at 3:03 PM, casts_by_fly said:

Hi all,

 

I have an old spinnerbait that is 25 years old (actually own 4 of them) that are very effective for me in the right circumstances. Except the hooks suck. They are old steel hooks, nickel plated maybe. Soft metal, lose an edge quickly. Rust easily. But the thump this spinnerbait puts out is like no other I’ve ever fished in 25 years.

 

I’m going to try to match the thump in a modern bait with good hooks. I’m contemplating blade sizes and choices. The one I have is 3/8 (maybe even 5/16) and I think either a 4.5 or 5 single Colorado on a compact sized frame. I was figuring to get both 3/8 and 1/2 oz heads and 5 and 6 hildebrandts. 
 

Im throwing this into shallow cover, dark hours, along pad edges, etc and fishing 6-24” deep, crawling along slow. I’d love to be able to hover the bait in place with a 3/8 and a #6, just super creeping it along 12” under the water. The more thump the better. 
 

Anything I’m missing or should also consider?

Jewel jolt spinnerbaits thump.

@Banned User

 

Look sweet bro!

 

What about one of the 25 year old rustys?

@Banned User

Here you go.  Fully intact and usable at the top.  New guy in the middle.  Rusty hook and retired at the bottom.  Also, the rust is an issue, but fixable.  Keeping them sharp is the bigger problem.  

 

 

@casts_by_fly looks like you did good bro,  couple little thumpers right there

On 9/21/2025 at 7:41 PM, casts_by_fly said:

@Munkin

 

The specific one is an old Hart throb spinnerbait.  It is a compact frame size, little heavier wire, and tapered head.  The blade is the same as a #5 hildebrandt more or less.  It is maybe 1mm smaller in total length (same width) but the hilde is maybe a half mm not as deep.  

 

I was putting in a TW order anyway, so I got some 5 and 6 hildebrandt blades plus a pair of 3/8 oz Boss heads.  I mocked up a pair with some takeoff skirts and they are thumpers.  The #5 is pretty close to what I had.  The #6 is pretty close to what I was looking for.  I think the Boss wire is a little thinner and the geometry is a little off (I bent it a little to get closer) but with the #6 blade I was reeling it so slow in the pool (to keep from blowing out) that it was just about hovering.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/BOSS_Shad_Head_Spinnerbait_Body_2pk/descpage-BSHSB.html

 

A little more play, maybe a different wire body (heavier, to not bend out on fish).  But I’m close. 

 

If that Hart spinnerbait is from 2006 I may of made it personally.  The guy who taught me about spincasting made baits for Hart. I spent about a week helping him make a bunch of their baits. 

 

Allen 

@Munkin- Very cool!  These will predate that by at least 10 years though, maybe a couple more even.

 

I also have some hart shakers downstairs.  Same body/head/wire but they have a 3-blade setup with a sickle/hatchet type blade.  

Seems pretty difficult to hover a spinnerbait. 😲

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

hart shakers

 

3 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

3-blade setup with a sickle/hatchet type

Pics?

@detroit1- not exactly hover, but have enough lift from the blade to counteract the sink of the body.  Aka, as slow as possible with as much thump as possible.  

 

@Banned User

 

 

And just for @gim since I know he likes them, I’m pretty sure this is a titanium model terminator (with the dark grey/black wire).  I have another downstairs but it is the steel wire.  

 

I have a few of those chopper blades, gonna have to see how it can configure something, those look sweet

I have several Hart Shakers.  Great baits.  It's a shame they don't make them anymore.

On 9/23/2025 at 9:27 PM, Banned User said:

I have a few of those chopper blades, gonna have to see how it can configure something, those look sweet

Gambler. They made them for years then stopped. 15 years later they’ve reintroduced them and you can get them from Tackle Warehouse today. I bought a couple in Bluegill last week 

I fished the new single Colorado last night in the lake and the scenario it was intended for, my home lake where I’ve caught a ton of bass around sunset with the harts.  Didn’t catch any (had two swipe at it, but I think both were pickerel) but the spinnerbait fished pretty well.  I only fished the #5 blade on a 3/8 head.  Split tail trailer.  It looks great in the water and the thump is incredible, maybe even more than the harts.  However, those blades have so much lift that you have to go really slow.  It was hard to slow myself down enough.  Partly that will be because I had the 8.5:1 zillion on that rod, so dropping back to my normal 7:1 will help.  Even still, I’m going to play with some heavier head weights this winter and cook some up.I think a 1/2 with the #6 should fish with enough lift to fish super slow still but have better attitude in the water.  A 1/2 with the #5 will be a 2-3’ deep lure whereas the 3/8 is a top 18”.

On 9/27/2025 at 3:17 PM, F14A-B said:

Gambler. They made them for years then stopped. 15 years later they’ve reintroduced them and you can get them from Tackle Warehouse today. I bought a couple in Bluegill last week 

Ninja spin is what Gambler calls it.

 

Allen