The blades of a spinnerbait will vary in shape, size. Designed to like a flashing minnow, most spinner blades are made of metal and are silver or gold in color. There are also color variations available made of plastic or metal. Each characteristic will affect how the blade reacts to attract fish in the water. The following explains the four basic types of blades and the fishing situations they are best suited for:

Types of Spinner Blades

• Willowleaf Blade is long and narrow for fast spinning action stays tight to the shaft during rotation. The willow leaf blade makes the least amount of vibration of any spninner blade and is a good choice for fishing in clear or slightly stained water where fish can be spooked easily. For fishing a spinnerbait in heavy cover, the willow leaf blade is the right choice with the tight spinning action for minimal hang ups. This blade can be retrieved faster and will run deeper than all the other types of blades and is the most commonly used.
• Colorado Blade is almost round in shape. It spins much slower than a willow leaf with a wider rotating arc around the shaft. The loud vibration or “thumping” noise created by this blade makes it suitable for stained or muddy water. The Colorado blade is a good choice for fishing in colder water as the round shape allows the spinnerbait to be retrieved much slower. Due to the wider rotation, it is more likely to get “wrapped up” in weeds and not recommended for fishing in heavy cover.
• Turtleback Blade is not as round as a Colorado and is shaped much like the shell of a turtle, hence the name. It spins a little faster and tighter to the shaft than a Colorado blade making a “slapping” sound rather than “thumping”. Use a turtleback blade in the same fishing conditions as the Colorado .
• Indiana Blade is shaped more like a teardrop with a faster rotation and less vibration than the Colorado and turtleback blades. The turtleback blade also has less chance of hang ups with a tighter spin pattern therefore a better choice for fishing in heavy cover. The turtleback blade most resembles a quiet swimming baitfish.

Blades are sized by a number with 00 being the smallest up to 8 being the largest. The larger the blade, the more vibration will be created but be sure to size the blade in proportion to the weight and size of the spinnerbait body. Most spinnerbaits come with the blades attached but there are some models that have removable or interchangeable blades.

Spinnerbaits come with a single blade or tandem blades (2) with some models offering as many as four blades. Single blades are the most common and versatile. They can be used in a wide variety of fishing conditions and retrieved fast or slow. The tandem blades appear more like multiple baitfish providing more flash than a single blade. Two or more blades create less vibration than single blades and will not run as deep. They are great for shallow water because they can be ripped at fast speeds keeping the spinnerbait closer to the surface of the water. Retrieving a single blade to fast may cause it to tip to the side or roll over.

Spinner blades are available in many finishes. Smooth, hammered, dish shaped or any other variation will create a different sound or vibration in the water. Having a large selection of blades and spinnerbaits in your fishing gear will allow you to experiment until you find what the fish want and help you achieve success in any fishing condition.

Finally, be sure to use the right equipment for fishing a spinnerbait. Your gear should consist of a longer casting fishing rod (around a 7 footer) with a sensitive or “soft tip”. Use a medium action rod for lighter baits and a medium-heavy rod for heavier baits. Your reel should have a higher gear ratio for fishing the spinnerbait fast or slow.