Anyone have consistent success in the winter with a 3/8 or 1/2 oz double willow spinnerbait in white or white/green? If not what spinnerbait setup has worked best for you?

Yes, Chartreuse, White or Chartreuse and white will flat trigger that reaction bite.  That is winter time is Texas anyways.

FM 

Yep.  1/2 ounce, white, single Colorado blade with a white Zoom split-tail trailer.  Vertically drop it along steep banks and ledges, and points that drop off into river channels.  You can slow-roll it too.

I have been shorting up the arm on my single blade Colorados . So it’s even with the back of the hook smaller tighter package. The seem to like it . 

The spinnerbait bite at my lakes has gone downhill over the years but this pink looking thing in winter has been catching them. Works well in spring too.

 

OSP High Pitcher with Double Willow 

 

48 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Yep.  1/2 ounce, white, single Colorado blade with a white Zoom split-tail trailer.  Vertically drop it along steep banks and ledges, and points that drop off into river channels.  You can slow-roll it too.

what's your blade size on the Colorado?

50 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Yes, Chartreuse, White or Chartreuse and white will flat trigger that reaction bite.  That is winter time is Texas anyways.

FM 

even with double willow?

Usually a #5 or #6. You want the bait to helicopter down while staying horizontal.  The blade acts like a parachute to slow the fall.

45 minutes ago, FishTank said:

The spinnerbait bite at my lakes has gone downhill over the years but this pink looking thing in winter has been catching them. Works well in spring too.

 

OSP High Pitcher with Double Willow 

 

Me likee... danged monkey......

FM

28 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

Me likee... danged monkey......

FM

 

I ordered a few from Japan before the tariffs hit and think I paid around $10.  The current US price 🤑.

I'll let you know when they stop bouncing!

I throw a half ounce white with nickel double willow year round.  It is always successful no matter the season. 

Double willows are for either fishing deep in cold water, or fishing in warm water IMO. 

 

Single or double Colorado is the way to go in cold water. I make one just special for fishing in cold water around here. It's a 5/8oz white/white with hammered copper Colorado blades. I call it the BUS (Big Ugly Spinnerbait). Tons of vibration and the big girls love it when the water is cold.

 

 

 

 

 

@Bluebasser86 Looks like a heavy head 3/4oz? also large blades 5 and 4.5? how do you fish this exactly 

2 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

@Bluebasser86 Looks like a heavy head 3/4oz? also large blades 5 and 4.5? how do you fish this exactly 

It's a 5/8oz head, the blades are #5 and #6. I usually just do a slow, steady retrieve. It's tons of vibration and they about try to take the rod away from you when they eat it. 

Cold water I like a 1/2oz white bait with a #5 blade usually silver. There must be something about those copper blades though.I make a lot of baits for a local guy who slow rolls them for winter SM. His are all 1/2oz white with 3.5 and 5 hammered copper blades.

 

Allen 

Many years ago I fished a "twin spin", heavy V arm spinnerbait, small blade on each arm, Uncle Josh frog on the back.  Fished this bait on deep channel swings in cold water.  I have not used this bait in years, don't even have any more.  Anybody else?  Can you even buy a twin spin anymore?

22 hours ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

even with double willow?

 

Those are probably my three favorites. I use the Chartreuse w/gold the most.  It's a River2sea brand. I like the Colorado blades too but I think I get more "thump" from the double willow.

FM

I like a single Colorado blade.  The weight doesn't seem to matter as long as the bait has a small profile.

I dont fish winter. Used to a little. My favorite spinnerbait was a short arm with a Colorado blade and Uncle Josh Pork Frog. I had some with weedguards, dont remember the maker, and would  reel it up to some wood then kill it.

Me personally no. Not that it couldn't work and with FFS you could put it right over the top of them but I'll throw the A rig first in our water temps.

On 12/30/2025 at 8:59 AM, Lottabass said:

Many years ago I fished a "twin spin", heavy V arm spinnerbait, small blade on each arm, Uncle Josh frog on the back.  Fished this bait on deep channel swings in cold water.  I have not used this bait in years, don't even have any more.  Anybody else?  Can you even buy a twin spin anymore?

You can still get a Hildebrandt Nugget but only in 1/4 Oz size.

No spinnerbait for me in Winter, instead a rattle-trap then football jig and under-spins.. of course having a jerkbait rigged up is advisable. On sunny cold days as the sun climbs high the fish will lift up to a shallower depth, not because the water is warmer but because fish will directly absorb the diffused sunlight energy. That’s when either the underspin comes in or even the jerkbait. I guess even a ball head minnow bait would work.There are much better options during this time in my experience. Spinnerbaits are 3 season baits for me just not Wintertime.