The reason for the question is I am trying to lean out the tackle box and instead of carring 4 spinnerbaits I would like to carry 1. I read somewhere that the small silver colorado with a large gold wollow was a great all around combo. Just wondering what the wisdom here has to say. Most of the water I fish has maybe 2 ft visibility and the largest has maybe 6 ft.

Paul

I prefer the terminator with an oklahoma blade and a small colorado in waters with that visibility.In very clear water I usually don't throw a sb but if I do I use a willowleaf and small colorado model.

2-6' of clarity sounds like the range of clarity up here. If I could only carry one it would be a double willow combination.

That's a really hard question; but if I had only one spinnerbait to choose, I'd go with an Oklahoma or Indiana blade with a small colorado and a chart/white skirt... 1/2 oz.

If it's 2' visibility I go with a 1/2 oz chart skirt with chart painted double willow blades. not many people throw it so the fish don't see it too much.

But if I was only going to carry one for every condition it would be the gold willow, silver colorado, white skirt 3/8 oz

I'd say most universal is a tandem willow / colo in 3/8 oz.

Willow on end with a small Colo blade spinning on the shaft (gold willow and nickle colo).

Real spinnerbait gurus (not me) carry tons of extra blades, skirts, trailers to customize the bait as needed.

SB's are not a confidence bait for me most of the time, so I keep a basic selection from 1/4 oz to 1 oz in basic colors (white/ white-chart, and chart).

3/8 oz strike king char skirt

small colorado silver and larger willow gold

sounds like most of us agree

white or translucent is my 2nd choice

I'd say most universal is a tanden willow / colo in 3/8 oz.

x2, although I would go with a lighter model and crimp split shot onto the shank of the hook if extra weight is needed. That is, if you only want to use one spinnerbait.

I'd say most universal is a tandem willow / colo in 3/8 oz.

Willow on end with a small Colo blade spinning on the shaft (gold willow and nickle colo).

Real spinnerbait gurus (not me) carry tons of extra blades, skirts, trailers to customize the bait as needed.

SB's are not a confidence bait for me most of the time, so I keep a basic selection from 1/4 oz to 1 oz in basic colors (white/ white-chart, and chart).

I agree completely.

JT Bagwell

The most universal blade combo is the tandem - big willow/little colorado...

However, as an avid spinnerbait fisherman(who fishes them more than any other lure), if i could only carry one lure it would be a double willow.

As a matter of fact, the tandem combo is one of the last blade combos that i personally look for. Whenever i'm spinnerbait shopping, i first and foremost look for the double willow, then followed by a single or double oklahoma/colorado. AFter those, then i'll look for the tandem blade combo.

So if you can only carry one bait, i'd highly recommend carrying a 3/8 oz double willow. The 3/8 oz is light enough to burn near the surface, and heavy enough to fish a little deeper.

I'd also recommend buying some extra skirts. I've got an entire Plano dedicated to nothing but skirts. You can make that 1 lure very veristle by quickly switching skirts. In general, carry a white, chartreuse, and a dark color(purple/blue/black) skirt. This would be a good enough place to start.

I once fished the same spinnerbait for almost an entire summer(a Terminator). I caught over 100 bass and pike on it before it eventually broke. But that $7 was well worth those 100+ fish... I actually kept a journal that summer so i had an actual count on the fish and it was indeed over 100.

But if you can only carry one spinnerbait, and nothing more - i would recommend buying a 3/8 oz double willow Terminator T-1 in a chartreuse/white shad skirt.

P.s. Trailers are usually to your advantage too. A lot of people would recommend a trailer hook, but i personally use a soft plastic trailer such as a 3-4 inch grub or twin/split-tail. Many times the difference between fish short striking and hanging on for that extra second is that soft plastic trailer. I can attest to this from a lot of experience. The trailer will also give the bait some extra action.