I just started fishing spinnerbaits.  I've fioshed them before with no luck and I lost confidence.

I found this pond with lots of grass this week and thought, "I'll try a spinner bait and "tick" it off the top of the grass" just like I read on BR.

Well it worked and I caught a few, but didn't know if I should just reel it in the same speed the whole way, or let it fall into the grass and then reel in, then let it fall again, then go real fast, then slow, all in the same retrieve.  

What works best for ya'll?  

Also, what exactly do people mean when they talk about "Ripping", a spinner bait?  Is it self explanitory?  Is it just yanking it real quick through the grass or other vegitation?

Spend some time in the BassResource.com Library, "Fishing Articles" at the top of the page. There are several to choose from and links to others. This is a sample:

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/spinnerbait_fishing.html

8-)

For shallower water like around bullrushes, I just cast and retrieve them a little below the surface at a moderate pace. In deeper water I have been having good luck letting them sink to the bottom and then slowly dragging them on the bottom.

For shallower water like around bullrushes, I just cast and retrieve them a little below the surface at a moderate pace. In deeper water I have been having good luck letting them sink to the bottom and then slowly dragging them on the bottom.

X2

Also if you can fish them around rocks stumps etc.  let them hit the structure and pause then continue retrieving.  Also try varying your retrieve ( fast, slow, pause).  Try different things and see what works in different conditions.  When something works keep doing it until it stops working.  Within reason there is no wrong way to retrieve a spinnerbait.  

The lake where I fish has really clear water and lots of underwater vegetation (hydrilla). I like throwing the spinnerbait out with a 7' rod, and letting it sink until it touches the top of the vegetation. Then slow roll it over the vegetation, twitching it when it touches the top of the veg. This has produced some 5+ lb bass for me.

Remember: Choosing colors, blades and profile DO matter!

This is my rule of thumb:

Clear water/ Sunny = Small profile/ Transparent white/ silver willows

Clear water/ Cloudy = Big profile/ white / white willows

Muddy water/ sunny = Big profile/ chartreuse/ gold colorado

Muddy water/ Cloudy = Big profile / chartreuse/ chartreuse colorado

Good Luck! Spinnerbaits are a ton of fun and my favorite lure!

i have been having luck by just burning it on the top

How do I fish spinner baits?

Any darn way possible. Burn em, slow roll em, try a stop 'n' go, keep em just under the surface, or let em sink n bang em against structure.

I personally have the most luck when I do a stop 'n' go or let em smack against structure. Makes em look like a disoriented baitfish and drives the fish crazy.