Spinnerbaits are one of those lures that can be fished just about anytime and anywhere.
They are super versatile and great for beginners and experts alike.
Spinnerbaits can be fished on a steady retrieve or hopped around like a jig.
Not to mention they are pretty resistant to snags thanks to the wire design or the lure.
If you are looking for a way to switch things up and go after fish a little higher in the water column consider a technique known as waking your swimbait.
Have you ever been out on the water and saw little ripples on the surface that stem from a ball of baitfish?
Those ripples, or wakes that get created are what gives this retrieval its name.
There are now lures on the market specifically sold for this purpose but thanks to the use its blades the spinnerbait has the built-in ability to get the same outcome!
It takes a bit of practice but once you get the hang of it you'll be presenting your spinnerbait in a very natural fashion and hooking those fish feeding near the surface!
Waking a Spinnerbait
There are two things to focus on for waking a spinnerbait...
Lure Hits Water = Start Reeling
The first talking point is being able to quickly engage your reel and impart movement on the spinnerbait as soon as it hits the water.
Literally, as soon as it hits the water.
This is important for the purpose of keeping your spinnerbait high in the water column and, when done right, just below the surface.
This begins the "wake" process the instant your lure hits the water and the blades start spinning.
Not to mention it can trigger a lot of reaction bites from nearby fish.
Think about the outcome if you were to take a bucket of minnows and throw them into the water.
The very instant those minnows hit the water their natural reaction is to quickly disperse - oftentimes creating small wakes.
You're creating the same moment by quickly engaging your reel and beginning your retrieve as soon as your lure hits the water.
TIP: If you can't seem to get the timing right try slightly lifting your rod tip when your lure hits the water. This will pick up any extra slack line to help keep your lure near the surface.
Control Lure Speed
The second thing to focus on is controlling the speed of your lure to achieve a constant waking action.
Too fast of a retrieve will cause your spinnerbait blades to break the surface of the water and too slow of a retrieve won't allow for any wakes to be created at all.
Lighter spinnerbaits and/or Colorado blades typically work best for slower retrievals whereas heavier spinnerbaits and willow leaf blades oftentimes require faster retrievals.
Give this technique a go the next time your fishing a spinnerbait and believe the fish are feeding higher in the water column.
You'll become a believer once you see your lure creating a beautiful wake and then out of nowhere you see another wake coming right towards your lure.
That's when you better be ready to set the hook!
Time to go catch 'em!
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