I'm a new subscriber , good channel . I pour my own and use that gold , copper combination a lot . I get 20 to 30 fish on a bait then retire it .I dont want to take the chance of a wire breaking . If I have to straighten the wire a couple of times , that bait is finished . Remove the components , reuse them , melt the lead and reuse the hook .
Thanks for opening up my brain to the available options to customize my spinnerbaits. I certainly have the time and over 40 years of spinnerbait purchases to choose from!
I'm with you Todd, I love tinkering/tweaking baits in winter. I still have some old Strike King spinnerbaits from back in the 80's, some of the first Terminators, L.C.'s, Hawg Callers... I guess I'm a tackle pack rat! Great video Todd, keep 'em coming!
G'day from Australia mate... Finally someone after my own heart...I not only make my own spinnerbaits by using a do-it mold and buying parts in from your country...I always make differing recipes in my spinnerbait making by fitting differing blades and have them perform with those differences in place...Of all the blades mentioned I note no mention of the best blade style ever produced in the U.S.A....That blade would be called a Doc Shelton blades with some people calling them hatchet blades...Now I also note that you tend to use conventional spinnerbaits forms...Ever tried fishing twin spin styled baits whereby you have two blades running in a parallel formation??? I bet your Smallmouth bass would go crazy after them...Now most people would use Colorado's in the twinspin formation or willows but I run those Doc Shelton blades instead usually in size 4...The upshot of it all is the sonic signature left in the water column by using differing blade combinations and I feel running Doc Shelton blades in a twin spin formation will catch you more fish than you ever realised....Now skirts I have replaced them with rabbit fur zonkers using crosscut for around the body and straight cuts for the tails...By gee you just cannot go past the seductive allure those baits now put out to prowling fish species...Now if I wish to create flash but maintain a baitfish illusion I will tie in polar flash strands for my skirt...under power the strands will combine to make a solid shape but once you stop cranking just like your silicone skirts the polar flash will flare out and trigger those following wary fish to bite...If your really interested mate maybe you would be interested in trying some of my custom made spinnerbaits...I love your content on this channel and yes I do subscribe... For the record I have a great friend out of Pryor Oklahoma who I speak regularly with via the internet who has tried my recipes on small mouth and largemouth bass with great success...Take care mate...best regards from Down Under... B.J.s.Custom Baits Australia...
How do you pull off a skirt and put it back on without the tabs?... it always takes me forever, do you just pull it off line it up and slide it on or you have a trick go make it quicker?
I just got into making my own chatter baits and spinner baits. Like you said being able to make yours just a little different from others makes a big difference to the fish sometimes. One thing you didn't mention. You can make your own skirts with skirt material. That is a way to be different, more bulky skirts. The manufacturers make all the skirts similar. I think most are too thin and skimpy. With a skirt tool you can make yours more full and will flair just a little different from the others. Being able to change blades in just a few minutes is very valuable out on the water. if the fish are just swiping at it and wont commit, try making a few little changes in blade color or size. It may make a difference in getting a few extra bites or a bigger fish will commit to your bait. Great info!
You probably won’t see this comment done in November 2021, but I sometimes modify the separation of blades with 1 bb then use a small red coffee stir straw cut to whatever length I want between the blades. The inside diameter of them fits perfect onto the shaft. You just have to find the right ones. Sometimes they are black in color too. Thanks man great video. P. S. You stole my old secret. I know because I’m 62 and your way behind me. Lol.
Just bought 25 Zorro Bango blade spinner bait heads and parts. I know the .0030 wire will break but the extra vibration is worth it IMO. Did it mainly to come up with my own combinations. Also fish the bottom dweller, thanks for the tips. Good luck next season, look forward to watching you, Upshaw, and Hallman join Scott on the elites.
Todd I bought a cheap academy black spinner bait 3\8 with a skirt I made the colors are chartreuse - clear with black flake. I took and put a extra small silver willow blade on the front and a #5 gold willow blade on the back. It gets hammered on running across shallow beds.
I like a heavy bait with big blades when fish move up in spring. In stained water, sometimes painted blades. Copper is good on cloudy days. A #6 or #7 depending on speed you want.
Hey Todd I think I seen you at the boat ramp at NAC the other day but wasn’t sure. I caught a 12.6 Sunday I ain’t gonna say how many double digits that I have caught there but it’s in the double digits. Really enjoy your videos and if I think I see you again I am gonna ask
You kept saying how you like that “turtle back” blade, war eagle makes a finesse spinnerbait that has that same style blade and it is a KILLER late in the fall on rivers on Indiana smallmouth! Great video
Love the vids Todd! Something I do this time of year is peel the skirt off and thread a keitech swing impact 3.8 on instead. Especially in situations where the arig is not an option. Its alil different and works. Noticed the other day at bass pro they had some without skirts and swimbaits guess its not only my secret....
Cool info. Will save me cash and gives me new life to some old baits. Already using red Colorado mini blade. I experimented and used a mini red Colorado and I painted a big willow electric blue. Was great for small pockets holding smallies. Using short casts 2 feet of depth and fast retireive. I think it pissed em off into hitting it. Lol.
Good stuff....I'm always looking for ways to modify baits to be differet from the the norm. Also heard the more comments you get it helps the video algorithm....so just trying to help a little. Appreciate it 👍👍👍
Great video Todd, I like the War Eagle brand myself, especially 1\2 ounces. With the red Colorado blade with Gold Willow leaf. Wish they had stronger wire.
Back in the 90s we used to bend the very end of a Colorado blade toward the cup and it gave it a different thump. I won some $ in my old club doing that
Living there in Texas, have you ever tried Terry Oldams Spinnerbaits or his Jigs they are great. Nichols Spinnerbaits are great also. Jason Christie has a great spinnerbait system through Booyahyou might want to try. All your videos are great to watch, especially when you beat those boys from Oklahoma LOL.
Great video Todd! I’m always trying to find the perfect spinnerbait for the conditions and this was really helpful. Are there situations where you will shorten the arm that the blades are on? Thanks!
If you could get Strike King to sell those Raz-R blades in small packs that would be great. Those super thin blades aren't always the deal but they definitely have times and places when they are the ticket. Edit: Also when swapping blades around, use a set of split ring pliers and take the blade of of the split ring on the swivel and you don't have to open the wire to get it off.
Great video Todd. One thing that irritates me more than anything else is a spinner bait that won't run true. One that runs off kilter to one side or the other just makes me crazy. Is there an easy fix to make them run straight, meaning with the blades directly above the body when it's coming through the water? Or does it even matter if it runs off center a little?
I have the same box set-up and build my own spinnerbaits. The turtle back blade will make that rod tip thump hard and bass can't help but find it in muddy water.
Capt. Kirk _ good timing on spinners .. will be throwing dark brown w/ large CO blade up in the buck brush along w/ Jack hammer , rattle trap and fluke .... eyeing for hydrilla up to 8' deep. I have 6 spinning rods w/ ABU MGX's w/ the XPlasma 16lb & 6' leader Sunline also. My question is "Dielfer D braid .. new .. have you used it ... looks good & costly .... have had problems w/ wind knots and the XPlasma de threading around leader ... so I re tie. Maybe this Deilfer D will solve both those problems. Let me know ... looks to be a winner ... and not wear out after 3 months ... also I do throw light lures often . Thanks, .. "Champ"
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 Congrads on the tournament ... we were pulling for U ... saw U at weigh-in .. I'll stick with Plasma ... Good Luck this Year .... we'll be on Rayburn for 3 weeks ... I calll it "Buck" time .. getting the beds ready for sows
I started using thin copper wire to replace the bands around the skirts. This way they stay together when that band starts to fall apart. I have been doing it for like 10 years now. I haven't had one skirt come apart.
I have a spinnerbait on at all times, I like to shorten the wire up the dirtier the water gets, I have found they get it better and deeper in the mouth. I feel if they can only feel it they hit the blade more and with it shorter they get the hook more.
Real nice. I come home and my girlfriend is watching your videos. Dude. And she set my search to Castlefine not Castledine. I’m just going to have to beat you in a fishing tournament to stop this madness.
If you put the first blade on the clevis the other direction would it matter, seems like if the cup of the blades were in opposite directions it would thump harder.
I was just showing everyone how to do it that way. Lots of times with older spinnerbaits they rust and they used cheap barrel swivels. I know you can do that on the newer ones but I was just showing different options.
I started with a rockit shad. On the bank smashed some bed fish and didnt kn they was on bed back then and did good in fall with them. Changed over to war eagle. But had a co angler destroy me all year with a strike king. I do bend all my spinners. Have 2 local guys that i use aswell but i bend them to.
I'm not gonna lie I toss them, once its in my head I have no confidence and if I lost one I'd be pissed even if it wasn't the hooks fault. I'm weird like that.
Great video I keep all my spinnerbaits to for the same reason,I just love making different stuff,I use a lot of the smaller blades on underpin type rigs,or screw lock 1 on back of sinko
I had a terminator titanium tiwn spin i couldn't wait to use my woman at the time just had to cast it to out fish me and she made the best long cast id ever seen. I was like wow nice cast turned around to her and she had her head down at that time i realized she tide a bad nott. Never found another to replace it.
I would love to do that, however when I'm 600 miles away fishing a new lake and they start hitting a spinner bait and I have no way of making them other than to piece them together I do what I can. Not everything is as it seems.
U the man Todd. Best u tube series around in my opinion. Best fishing instruction and explanations I've seen from a credible source.
I'm a new subscriber , good channel . I pour my own and use that gold , copper combination a lot . I get 20 to 30 fish on a bait then retire it .I dont want to take the chance of a wire breaking . If I have to straighten the wire a couple of times , that bait is finished . Remove the components , reuse them , melt the lead and reuse the hook .
Thanks for opening up my brain to the available options to customize my spinnerbaits. I certainly have the time and over 40 years of spinnerbait purchases to choose from!
You bet!
Always wondered how and why people modified spinnerbaits now I know thanks!
You bet
I'm with you Todd, I love tinkering/tweaking baits in winter. I still have some old Strike King spinnerbaits from back in the 80's, some of the first Terminators, L.C.'s, Hawg Callers... I guess I'm a tackle pack rat!
Great video Todd, keep 'em coming!
Right on!
G'day from Australia mate... Finally someone after my own heart...I not only make my own spinnerbaits by using a do-it mold and buying parts in from your country...I always make differing recipes in my spinnerbait making by fitting differing blades and have them perform with those differences in place...Of all the blades mentioned I note no mention of the best blade style ever produced in the U.S.A....That blade would be called a Doc Shelton blades with some people calling them hatchet blades...Now I also note that you tend to use conventional spinnerbaits forms...Ever tried fishing twin spin styled baits whereby you have two blades running in a parallel formation??? I bet your Smallmouth bass would go crazy after them...Now most people would use Colorado's in the twinspin formation or willows but I run those Doc Shelton blades instead usually in size 4...The upshot of it all is the sonic signature left in the water column by using differing blade combinations and I feel running Doc Shelton blades in a twin spin formation will catch you more fish than you ever realised....Now skirts I have replaced them with rabbit fur zonkers using crosscut for around the body and straight cuts for the tails...By gee you just cannot go past the seductive allure those baits now put out to prowling fish species...Now if I wish to create flash but maintain a baitfish illusion I will tie in polar flash strands for my skirt...under power the strands will combine to make a solid shape but once you stop cranking just like your silicone skirts the polar flash will flare out and trigger those following wary fish to bite...If your really interested mate maybe you would be interested in trying some of my custom made spinnerbaits...I love your content on this channel and yes I do subscribe... For the record I have a great friend out of Pryor Oklahoma who I speak regularly with via the internet who has tried my recipes on small mouth and largemouth bass with great success...Take care mate...best regards from Down Under...
B.J.s.Custom Baits Australia...
Very cool changes. I like your creativity.
I'm digging the fishtank in the background with the trophy hanging above it. Haha.
How do you pull off a skirt and put it back on without the tabs?... it always takes me forever, do you just pull it off line it up and slide it on or you have a trick go make it quicker?
nope thats all I do just slide it off its ok if some get messed up
Good Luck this weekend!! Day one put you in the hunt. Rooting for you Bud!!
Thanks 👍
I just got into making my own chatter baits and spinner baits. Like you said being able to make yours just a little different from others makes a big difference to the fish sometimes. One thing you didn't mention. You can make your own skirts with skirt material. That is a way to be different, more bulky skirts. The manufacturers make all the skirts similar. I think most are too thin and skimpy. With a skirt tool you can make yours more full and will flair just a little different from the others. Being able to change blades in just a few minutes is very valuable out on the water. if the fish are just swiping at it and wont commit, try making a few little changes in blade color or size. It may make a difference in getting a few extra bites or a bigger fish will commit to your bait. Great info!
You probably won’t see this comment done in November 2021, but I sometimes modify the separation of blades with 1 bb then use a small red coffee stir straw cut to whatever length I want between the blades. The inside diameter of them fits perfect onto the shaft.
You just have to find the right ones. Sometimes they are black in color too.
Thanks man great video.
P. S. You stole my old secret. I know because I’m 62 and your way behind me. Lol.
Good tips todd 👍 the orange blade is a must when its all about red. Early season they hate it.
Yes they do
Just bought 25 Zorro Bango blade spinner bait heads and parts. I know the .0030 wire will break but the extra vibration is worth it IMO. Did it mainly to come up with my own combinations. Also fish the bottom dweller, thanks for the tips. Good luck next season, look forward to watching you, Upshaw, and Hallman join Scott on the elites.
Thanks
Todd I bought a cheap academy black spinner bait 3\8 with a skirt I made the colors are chartreuse - clear with black flake. I took and put a extra small silver willow blade on the front and a #5 gold willow blade on the back. It gets hammered on running across shallow beds.
Never tried a black spinnerbait that much
Pretty awesome info and tip's! That's something I really need to work on is my spinner bait fishing and these tips will help out for sure
You bet!
Cool video. Love the modification options you have on a spinnerbait.
Thanks!
I like a heavy bait with big blades when fish move up in spring. In stained water, sometimes painted blades. Copper is good on cloudy days. A #6 or #7 depending on speed you want.
Love that copper blade
Lol... "I won't have to buy a spinner bait for the next 5 years". Walks into Bass pro... Oooooo new spinner baits!
Hey Todd I think I seen you at the boat ramp at NAC the other day but wasn’t sure. I caught a 12.6 Sunday I ain’t gonna say how many double digits that I have caught there but it’s in the double digits. Really enjoy your videos and if I think I see you again I am gonna ask
No way!
You kept saying how you like that “turtle back” blade, war eagle makes a finesse spinnerbait that has that same style blade and it is a KILLER late in the fall on rivers on Indiana smallmouth! Great video
Yea that blade is awesome
Love spinnerbait fishing prolly my favorite technique
The best
Yes sir. There is something magical about feeling those blades stop and leaning back on one.
Good ideas. Don't have any old Hank Parker Classics you need to get rid of do you? 😀
I might
This is a great tip! It’s something I’ve wanted to get into!
you bet
Love the vids Todd! Something I do this time of year is peel the skirt off and thread a keitech swing impact 3.8 on instead. Especially in situations where the arig is not an option. Its alil different and works. Noticed the other day at bass pro they had some without skirts and swimbaits guess its not only my secret....
Been around for a little bit it just hasn't really caught on
Cool info. Will save me cash and gives me new life to some old baits. Already using red Colorado mini blade. I experimented and used a mini red Colorado and I painted a big willow electric blue. Was great for small pockets holding smallies. Using short casts 2 feet of depth and fast retireive. I think it pissed em off into hitting it. Lol.
Thats cool
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 what’s cool is you always respond. Appreciated brother.
Wow this is great information thanks.
You bet
Great video thank you Todd for your time
You bet
Good stuff....I'm always looking for ways to modify baits to be differet from the the norm. Also heard the more comments you get it helps the video algorithm....so just trying to help a little. Appreciate it 👍👍👍
Right on
Great video Todd, I like the War Eagle brand myself, especially 1\2 ounces. With the red Colorado blade with Gold Willow leaf. Wish they had stronger wire.
Yes it’s a good spinnerbait
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 I wished I would have saved alot of the broken spinnerbaits over the years. After your video I know better now lo lol
Back in the 90s we used to bend the very end of a Colorado blade toward the cup and it gave it a different thump. I won some $ in my old club doing that
That’s cool
Living there in Texas, have you ever tried Terry Oldams Spinnerbaits or his Jigs they are great. Nichols Spinnerbaits are great also. Jason Christie has a great spinnerbait system through Booyahyou might want to try. All your videos are great to watch, especially when you beat those boys from Oklahoma LOL.
Yep tried them all
hey Todd, great video and learning lesson. One question, do you use some type of trailer on your spinnerbaits? Also do you use a trailer hook? Thanks
rarely do I use a trailer, and trailer hook only if I'm not fishing cover, like over grass or down rocks.
Great video Todd! I’m always trying to find the perfect spinnerbait for the conditions and this was really helpful. Are there situations where you will shorten the arm that the blades are on? Thanks!
Only if I think it doesn't look right.
Good stuff Todd.
Thanks 👍
I wonder if you got a tip from the same man I did about using that blade on Livingston back in the early to mid 90’s. 🤔🤔 those were such good times!!
probably not I was just a kid and walked the bank I just figured it out on my own.
If you could get Strike King to sell those Raz-R blades in small packs that would be great. Those super thin blades aren't always the deal but they definitely have times and places when they are the ticket. Edit: Also when swapping blades around, use a set of split ring pliers and take the blade of of the split ring on the swivel and you don't have to open the wire to get it off.
Great video Todd. One thing that irritates me more than anything else is a spinner bait that won't run true. One that runs off kilter to one side or the other just makes me crazy. Is there an easy fix to make them run straight, meaning with the blades directly above the body when it's coming through the water? Or does it even matter if it runs off center a little?
I have the same box set-up and build my own spinnerbaits. The turtle back blade will make that rod tip thump hard and bass can't help but find it in muddy water.
It's my favorite blade
Capt. Kirk _ good timing on spinners .. will be throwing dark brown w/ large CO blade up in the buck brush along w/ Jack hammer , rattle trap and fluke .... eyeing for hydrilla up to 8' deep. I have 6 spinning rods w/ ABU MGX's w/ the XPlasma 16lb & 6' leader Sunline also. My question is "Dielfer D braid .. new .. have you used it ... looks good & costly .... have had problems w/ wind knots and the XPlasma de threading around leader ... so I re tie. Maybe this Deilfer D will solve both those problems. Let me know ... looks to be a winner ... and not wear out after 3 months ... also I do throw light lures often . Thanks, .. "Champ"
Nope I love the Plasma
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 Congrads on the tournament ... we were pulling for U ... saw U at weigh-in .. I'll stick with Plasma ... Good Luck this Year .... we'll be on Rayburn for 3 weeks ... I calll it "Buck" time .. getting the beds ready for sows
I started using thin copper wire to replace the bands around the skirts. This way they stay together when that band starts to fall apart. I have been doing it for like 10 years now. I haven't had one skirt come apart.
I'm to lazy. LOL
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 lol nice
I have a spinnerbait on at all times, I like to shorten the wire up the dirtier the water gets, I have found they get it better and deeper in the mouth. I feel if they can only feel it they hit the blade more and with it shorter they get the hook more.
Good info
The video I’ve been waiting on
you bet
Would like a video on s/b trailers. Thanks Todd.
Noted!
Good one. Thanks. I sure wish I would have bought more of them original Terminator Titanium T1 spinnerbaits before they quit making them.
You and me both!
Real nice. I come home and my girlfriend is watching your videos. Dude. And she set my search to Castlefine not Castledine. I’m just going to have to beat you in a fishing tournament to stop this madness.
You might😂
you were talking about using a spinner bait on lewisville. what type of spinner bait would u recommend for that lake.
I was throwing that same 3/4 in the deeper 3 to 5 foot and the half ounce premium plus in the 1 to 2 foot
If you put the first blade on the clevis the other direction would it matter, seems like if the cup of the blades were in opposite directions it would thump harder.
Why do you open the wire to take off the full barrel swivel & blade rather than just take off the blade from the split ring on the barrel swivel?
I was just showing everyone how to do it that way. Lots of times with older spinnerbaits they rust and they used cheap barrel swivels. I know you can do that on the newer ones but I was just showing different options.
Have you ever thrown a spinner bait? ;) That little difference can go a long way. Great advice.
yes it can
I started with a rockit shad. On the bank smashed some bed fish and didnt kn they was on bed back then and did good in fall with them. Changed over to war eagle. But had a co angler destroy me all year with a strike king. I do bend all my spinners. Have 2 local guys that i use aswell but i bend them to.
that wareagle is still a good spinnerbait
The first one you showed looked like an old Stanley Vibra Shaft.....they used to catch em haha
Thats why I still have it. LOL
Will you sharpen the hooks on the older spinner baits or just toss them?
I'm not gonna lie I toss them, once its in my head I have no confidence and if I lost one I'd be pissed even if it wasn't the hooks fault. I'm weird like that.
What your thoughts on a loose head spinner bait where the head and hook swing from blade wire
Not much experience I'd love to hear why it is better or more efficient. Different does not mean better for me
Great video I keep all my spinnerbaits to for the same reason,I just love making different stuff,I use a lot of the smaller blades on underpin type rigs,or screw lock 1 on back of sinko
oh yea that works
I know you are a Sponsored by StrikeKing. You will do yourself a favor by looking at HawgCaller.Here in the Carolinas HawgCaller rules.
Do you ever add a rattle? Just curious or is that hush hush🤫
No never really have
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 it works good in some situations and like you said it's different
I had a terminator titanium tiwn spin i couldn't wait to use my woman at the time just had to cast it to out fish me and she made the best long cast id ever seen. I was like wow nice cast turned around to her and she had her head down at that time i realized she tide a bad nott. Never found another to replace it.
Oh no!
And I thought I was the only one with 20+ year old spinnerbaits. Lol.
We have problems don't we
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 lol. Amen brother.
Do you have a tornado spinner bait ?
No I don’t
Can’t believe you gave up the little red Colorado blade secret 🤫😂... Good info Todd, thanks 👍
Gotta mess with those Oklahoma boys since Hallman is always messing with Texas
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 right, he does talk a bit of trash on Texas lol. Jason sure wracked em yesterday! Hope he does it again today🤞
Is it still Christmas in Texas? :)
Is it my house. LOL
Hooks can be sharpened so might as well keep them until they can't be sharpened any longer 🤷
Yea I have a weird thing about sharpening hooks, I just don't trust it
I usually go to Walmart, they have spinner baits for a dollar, I would buy the ones with the different blades. Then I get blades for a buck.
Smart!!!!! I buy spinnerbaits for all kinds of reasons like that
Thought I was the only one who left baits in the package
Heck no they never get ruined
buys $8 spinnerbait just to rob the parts from it???...bro just buy a bunch of blades and and skirts. this makes absolutely no sense 🤔
I would love to do that, however when I'm 600 miles away fishing a new lake and they start hitting a spinner bait and I have no way of making them other than to piece them together I do what I can. Not everything is as it seems.
@@toddcastledinefishing5924 i do it in a pinch also
Please quit saying RIGHT all the time. Like what your doing but saying right is getting redundant.
I do it on purpose
Not really I'm sorry that I don't speak the way you want me to I'll work harder on my speech so its acceptable to you.