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My first post. Have been a striper and largemouth fisherman for 40 years. My brother in law got me into crappie fishing about a year ago. We catch most of our crappie with jigs with a spinner. I have struggled finding a jig that spins at a slow retrive. Just started tying my own jigs and looking for a jig with a spinner that will work. Would appricate suggestions. Thanks, Don
Road Runners are popular and many fellers “tie” them up.
I make my own.
Attachment 406503
In order to achieve spin at slower speeds, you should be looking at willow leaf blades. Fins Spin jigs by Crappie Magnet claim to spin at slow speeds. They use a Shad Dart style jig head with an under spin.
In a contest to see which spun best, the Road Runner or the Fin Spins….I would guess Fins Spin as the swivel is at the optimum position to twist. Road Runners tend to have swivels at angles which would limit spin. Also, Fin Spins say the shape of their jig head concentrates water flow towards blade.
Quality of swivel also plays a role. I have ball bearing swivels that are not as slippery as my roller swivels. That will play a role, too. Swivels can always be swapped out on bought jigs, but hard to fix a bad angle. You could diassemble a Road Runner, add a split ring and alter the angle of the swivel…perhaps.
Blade size, quality of materials and craftsmanship will also play a role. The faster a blade will turn, the slower the speeds at which it will turn. At some point though you will reach a speed where nothing will rotate.
My jigs spin well, but the speed doesn’t really interest me because I longline troll. Speeds are usually sufficient. I am concerned with the jig’s attitude. Is it cocked, is there yaw or pitch, is the jig horizontal or pitched up due to too much spinning activity.
I am experimenting to see if there are preferences to be discovered. Sounds and vibrations are different with a small change in what appear to be similar blades. Painting blades changes things even if we are unable to detect that.
I am studying UV light and reflectivity and have read that a UV reflective spinner blade with black squiggly lines makes the visual sensation of it being alive. However fish may think it looks like a creature poised to pounce upon them. Experimentation determines things and has deflated many of my ideas.
So good luck and everyone here is really nice. I am sure they will have something for you. They have tolerated me pretty well so far.
Good post Micanopy and very informative.
Bob
I feel that a blade that even flutters at slow speed is very effective.
Roadrunner or Pony heads is my fave.
Skip
1/32 Oz. and I long line troll these in spring at .4 MPH, very slow and works like a charm. I started doing this in 1979 and still do with the same kind of jigs.
A few of my favorite colors.
Attachment 406537
Try the Bone Head brand. From my experience they spin a lot better than the RoadRunner
Barlows is having closeout pricing on their Road Runner jigs. These have maribou bodies. $2.29 each….sizes 1/32, 1/16/ 1/8, 1/4
When I use swivels I only use ball bearings. I’m not big on barrel/crane swivels.
What size head are you looking for? Eyes, no eyes? Painted, not painted? Lastly how many?
No mention so far of the tail gunner, beetle spin or whirly bees. Lots of options and my advice is to try a few of each and see which one suits the way you fish. Any of them will work well under some conditions. As Dr Nip asked, size matters. Remember also that there are days when the flash doesn’t do as well as a straight tail, then the next day or week it’s all different again. Hope you find what you look for, and keep us posted on your results. You’re teaching everyone too.
But most of all, welcome from Central Florida.
I fish spinners differ my than most I believe. Only use them when dipping with long rod. I never cast/retrieve or troll them.
Leland's Lures Fin Spin is touted as designed specifically to spin at very slow speeds.
According to the Fish Eat Live show this past week, the Finn Spin tied with squirrel tail is a very hot combo. They are bringing it out soon.
Sent from my SM-T580 using Crappie.com Fishing mobile app
I make my own pony heads and use crane swivels that turn well and have gotten some easy spins from china that are turning well on my home made beetle spin frames.
To expand on what has been said, the Beetle Spin is a classic spinner:
Attachment 407024
The Colorado blade spins at the slowest retrieve and many soft lure designs can be used with light jigs. Recently I did well with a Mo Magic grub I poured & spinner to catch this:
Attachment 407022
2 Mo Magic grubs on the right but the others also do well with the spin which makes the lure vibrate and the tail flutter.
Attachment 407023
I use this to make my own:
American Fishing Wire (AFW) Tooth Proof, Stainless Steel Single Strand Leader Wire, 32# test. (Amazon.com)
Plus a decent swivel and Colorado blade which produces the most resistance to forward motion and the slowest speed.
Note: I also use the wire in a different gage to make some of my jigs weedless.