Spinners, Floaters and Attractors

Once we understand the basic form and function of the livebait rig, we can modify it to match specific fishing conditions. You may choose to rely on commercially tied spinner, floater, or miscellaneous attractor snells. Most walleye anglers, however, do at least a little customizing themselves, relying on a host of components.

Spinner Harnesses

Spinners undoubtedly are the most popular variation of livebait rigging, dating back many years as their own integral system, not simply as add-on enhancements to slipsinker rigs. In fact, most spinner fishing is accomplished with either a bottom bouncer or a three-way rig—systems ideal for quick movements to rotate blades, anchored by modest to heavy weights to keep livebait either near bottom or at a determined depth for suspended fish. Balancing components is key to achieving the desired results.

Blades

Spinner blades draw the most attention, perhaps because they receive attention from fish and fishermen. Spinning blades produce intermittent flashes of color or reflection, and they vibrate, alerting walleyes to their presence long before they actually see the lure. If the combination of components is correct, maximizing or minimizing attention, matching preyfish or simply arousing curiosity, walleyes may be triggered to strike. Blades don’t necessarily have to spin hard and thump; often, a side-to-side wobble is sufficient. Experiment through a range of options to determine which matches the walleyes’ aggressiveness and preference on any particular day.

Colorado blades—Carry sizes 00 through 8, though most often you’ll use 3, 4, and 5. Exceptions are larger 6 through 8 for open-water suspended Great Lakes giants and tiny sizes 00 or 0 as flikker attractors on slipsinker snells.

Colorados spin at a wide angle for lots of thump and vibration, even at slow speeds. They’re probably the most common blade style for spinner rigs. Popular colors include fluorescent orange, red, chartreuse, yellow, and lime; gold, nickel, copper, and brass. Hammered nickel (dimpled for more surface area and reflection) or silver-plated (more expensive and shiny) maximize flash. Northland’s Rainbow Baitfish, Bait Rigs’ Astro Brite, and Lindy-Little Joe’s LinFleck offer two-tone and three-tone colors, scale patterns, and other various effects. Cupped blades vibrate harder than flatter models. Most blades are metal, though plastic is growing in popularity.

Indiana blades—Similar in sizes and colors to Colorados. They’re a bit narrower than Colorados and rotate at a shallower angle, creating less vibration but more flash due to a faster rotation. Fish them a little faster than Colorados to keep them spinning.

Willow leaf blades—# 2, #3, and #4. Sized differently than other blades, willows leafs rotate tight to the line, creating subtle vibration but lots of flash. They must be fished at high speeds to rotate properly.

Custom blades—In-line blades rotate around a hub in the middle of the blade, rather than at the end, creating a more subtle vibration and action. They’re available as components or on spinner rigs from Ray’s Custom Tackle. French blades as found on the Mepps spinner are heavier and require speedy presentations. Swing (hammered) and rippled blades have elongated shapes to achieve an effect between Indianas and willow leafs. Presto blades have deeply cupped ends for more vibration. Fluted blades have long depressions for added flash and vibration. Lindy-Little Joe’s lopsided Hatchet Blade, available as a component or on pretied Hatchet Harnesses, creates a distinct thumping vibration.

Clevises

Folded metal clevises—#1 or #2, for attaching spinner blades to line. Metal, the traditional choice, spins easier than plastic to maximize blade rotation at slow speeds. Holes on stamped (stirrup) metal clevises often have rough edges that wear light line. Plastic snap clevises, originally available from Lindy-Little Joe (X-Change) and Quick Change, and now available from a growing number of tackle companies, allow for snapping blades in and out, to experiment without retying rigs. Quick Change offers two sizes—Quick Change (small) for blades and Weight-Change (larger) for detachable bottom bouncers and slipsinkers.