Inline spinners (e.g. rooster tail) -- how to make?

It chaps my tushy to see rooster tails for over $2 and mepps and panther marlins for 4+. I think it's time to start making my own. I've watched videos and it looks fairly easy. However, my concern is the specific wire, clevis size, and blade size needed for 1/16 ounce size. If you can recommend good spinners (I prefer a gold blade and would love suggestions on spinners that actually spin well. I love firetiger color. I'd prefer something with a little more drag than a standard rooster tail blade -- something I can retrieve even slower and stay at the same depth. I haven't tried mepps or panther marlins due to the price.

I'm getting to the point on my rooster tails where I need to replace the wire. One decent size fish and the wire gets bent. I keep trying to straighten it back up so it runs true, but the fact is, it's kinked up pretty bad.

So, if you've made these for yourself, I'd appreciate guidance to keep me from making the same mistakes you did when starting out (buying the wrong stuff).

Thanks!

I do make them but getting it right the first time and not winding up with stuff that does not fit you needs is hard to do and it lays there forever. One tiers likes are not always anothers. It is fun to experiment and learn too. Good luck and enjoy

A great company is Jannsnetcraft

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

Here's a good video. It's very important to use "French" blades, which spin easier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-lF8mYJKI

I use 0.024 wire for a 1/16 oz. spinner. Experiment is the only way to get what you want. If it doesn't work you loose the cheapest component, the wire. I've been making spinners off and on since the 70's and I'm still not satisfied. They work but.........Well it's a disease, an addiction, a hobby and I don't golf.

Fatman has done a bunch of this and I think he would be a wealth of info on the subject. What I know about this would just muddy the water and confuse you. What I do want you to look into is a spinner called an Evans Shyster. It has an offset tie point that negates most, if not all of the line twist associated with inline spinners. I have worn out many of them in years past and caught more gills and bass than I could count. Then I got married and had kids, and you know the rest.

go to Janns netcraft , they have every thing you need , and they have a video to show you how , good luck

Found it.
The shyster. Very interesting. If it works that way. An help eliminate line twist. Why in the world isn’t that design used more?

Attachment 374612


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

I really like the shyster to fish with. I just have a difficult time duplicating it. My tie end never turns out that well.

I've bent some wire but got no idea where to start on that triangle. I wonder if a person went to a heavier and slightly longer wire. Heavier so as not to be bouncy or want to straighten easily. Maybe even 0.035. Then take and bend the conventional eye & wire down that approximate angle. The offset is what allows the spinner weight to ride lower than the line direction. This must create the limited amount of line twist....or not.

Yes mchech that is what I use, .035 but it is the final wrap that messes me up. Keeping it perfectly in line with the tie changes when I make the last wrap. If I drop to a lighter wire then I can get it to come out right it it's just too springy. My last wrap just needs to come out better. Any of you folks got any ideas. We could sure try it. Schmoopie, I am not trying to take this thread over just help us along.

I also do not want to steal Schmoopie thread. Thinking this twist problem thru without swivels gives me a headache. Fortunately these things are what I love about tackle making. Going to try a few things and share my results in the future. Two ideas I found. One I don't believe from the pic and two is no longer made.

From Outdoor Life, bent shaft and claims it works. Not what I can see.

Attachment 374667

Vintage stuff, I saw where they just sold the keel. Not anymore.

Attachment 374669

That first one you show is just about exactly what I wind up fishing

[QUOTE=Smoltz;4004601]Found it.
The shyster. Very interesting. If it works that way. An help eliminate line twist. Why in the world isn’t that design used more?

Attachment 374612

That is the exact color I used so much in years past. The offset doesn’t eliminate all twist but if retrieved slow it took the majority of it away. Never having made one I don’t know how tough it would be to copy.

Maybe take a pair of long needle nose plyers and grind one side into the shape of the bend? This could allow for the perfect bend each time and you have the wire held in place to make the twist. Could also allow for any size end bend depending on where you tie it on the pliers.


The hard part would be grinding the pliers into the correct shape.

Go to your local orthodontist. Ask him to order you some wire bending pliers. Tell him what you are trying to do, show him one, and he can order the best tool for making any bend you would want in wire.

hey guys, They call them nesting pliers and they work real well with light wire but not too good for .040 wire and above. Barlows have a couple in their catalog.

I get lot's of messages about wire forming so this is going to be a basic start if you want to try so take it for what's it's worth. Trust me I'd have killed to have the charts when I first started!!!! LOL

I’m listing the charts only as a help. This is a learning thing that everyone has to go through. I do use the Jann’s wire former but also a Worth hand wire former but I’ve been making them since I was in Junior HS so it’s just what I use!

I’d love a Hagen’s but I’m cheap!! What that thing cost’s I can buy lots of parts!!

Real Pro Spinner making download. The dumb part of this is they don’t have a download for the bodies so you can see what they are so you might want to print out a copy of the page on bodies.

Download Real Pro's SportFishing's Lure Making Tip Sheets

Jann’s part sizing list
https://www.jannsnetcraft.com/Conten...zing_chart.pdf

Jann’s spinner making parts chart but the wire is for preformed wire so you’ll have to go in the catalogue and check the preformed wires and what wire size they are.
Building your own Spinning Lures, Make fishing lures with Netcraft

You’ll need a wire former unless your REALLY good at bending wire!! I started out with the Netcraft (now Jann’s) wireformer, I mounted it to a board and I have a set of clamps to clamp it on my table. It was only $5 bucks when I bought mine with the book and YES you want the book. It comes with what looks like a preformed wire!! Paint it, wrap a ribbon around it but don’t lose it!!! It’s used to make sleeves for open spinners. You will take a lot of time making good eyes with this as it takes practice. Netcraft Tackle Tool kit, fishing tackle wire bending and forming tool

They have formers that can go up to a couple hundred dolla’rs but the main complaint is they all don’t make the small eyelets on the wire.

I also use a worth wire forming tool which looks like this. But the one from Jann’s doesn’t have the wire forming pins on the angle piece and you need them. Wire Forming Tool For Fishing Lures

Gold Blades are going to cost you A LOT!! I order blades from Hagens, you can get around the 1000 or 500 price by following the sheet and buying a 100 of each then add a $1 for each size blade it does work out good. But check around!!

I use all types of blades and even have a bunch of old no longer in business companies. These I get on ebay or at flea markets when I can find them.

Wire I buy in ¼ lb. spools. A lot depends on what you’re fishing for as to what size wire you’ll want Overall I use .029. But I also have .024 thru .035

I use a of Folded Clevis’s but I do have stirrup. I use size 1 and 2.

I traded a buddy for lead lure bodies and I powder paint my own. But then you have to make trays and wires for holding them so you can cure in the oven. I also have silver and brass bodies all size’s.

Treble hooks or single hooks your choice but try to stick to the charts to start but you’ll learn as time goes on. But I’ve found you can go up or down one size.

Bead I use plastic, metal and glass.

Feathered trebles you can buy but I tie my own. Or I use colored tubing on the hook shank.

Been waiting for you to chime in Doug. You’ve got the most experience of anyone I know and I’ve seen some of your work, very nice. Thanks for the post and all the info you give, and I’m not going to get into it. I have enough addictions already. We all already realize the satisfaction of catching fish on home grown baits, nothing better, except the folks that help us learn.

Thanks! That's what I say about plastics!! I will not go there!! LOL Here's one I copied for my nephew. Attachment 375108

I know a really old post but...

Put a 45 degree bend just behind the loop for the line tie and/or attach a very small swivel to the loop.

Attachment 378619