By Kevin VanDam

Everyone fishes spinnerbaits shallow, but have you tried fishing them deep? You should. It’s deadly for catching big bass when they’re feeding on shad around deep structure. It’s one of my favorite tactics for summertime fishing, but it shouldn’t be overlooked when fishing in early fall.
There are two presentations I use, depending upon the water depth and mood of the fish. The first is a basic slow-rolling tactic for water that’s 10 to 20 feet deep. I allow the bait to go to the bottom at the end of a long cast and keep tension on the line. Once I begin the retrieve, I’m feeling my way along the bottom, trying to keep the bait just above whatever cover is there.
If I feel the lure bump something, I will speed up the retrieve momentarily, then return to my slow speed and allow the lure to get back to the bottom. That brief, yet sudden burst of speed as the lure glances off an object is a key to triggering reactionary strikes.
For this technique, I prefer a spinnerbait with two smaller willow-leaf blades. Large blades provide too much lift in deep water, making it difficult to keep the lure near bottom.
When fishing deeper or if I think the fish are suspended off the bottom, I switch to a large single-blade spinnerbait.
For this tactic, I modify a 3⁄4-ounce spinnerbait to get the action I need. The lure I use comes standard with a Colorado and a willow-blade combination, but I remove the Colorado blade and shorten the wire arm by about 3⁄4 inch. I remove the No. 5 willow, cut down the wire, re-
attach the willow blade to the back and I’m ready to go.
I make a long cast over the structure and let it sink to the bottom with some tension on the line because a lot of the strikes will come on that initial fall and I want to be able to feel them. When it hits the bottom, I pull it up and let it flutter back down. The single blade helicopters on the fall much better than two blades.
Most people prefer to use a slow yo-yo motion, but I have discovered explosive movements get more bites, especially in warm water. I literally rip the spinnerbait the same way I do when setting the hook and then let it flutter back to the bottom.
I use a 7-foot-plus heavy-action rod and 17- or 20-pound fluorocarbon for both presentations. Because of the big rod, I am moving that bait several feet off the bottom when I rip it. I always follow the lure back down with the rod tip because that is when most strikes are going to occur and I want to feel them. The technique essentially resembles a dying shad, and that is why they hit it.
The fluorocarbon is dense, and it sinks, which helps keep the bait down and gives you a good feel if you are fishing it in a slower presentation.
I also add either a plastic twin-tail or twin grub on the back of the bait to increase the size and action, and I always fish this with a trailer hook to improve my hook-ups. I use natural shad colors in clear water, and chartreuse and white in stained water.
Both of these techniques are big-bass tactics worth trying any time you have been catching bass with other lures on deep structure. The big spinnerbait gives them a different look and one you should try before leaving a good spot.

Filed under: Fishing Tips by admin