Tarpon Guy,
As you probably know, I am a huge fan of spinnerbaits. A couple of things:
1. 1/2 oz spinnerbaits are just OK for the bay. 3/4oz & 1 oz work much better
because they stay in the strike zone. The lighter spinnerbaits run at a much shallower depth on the retrieve. More times than not this depth is out of the strike zone for the bass.
2. Chartreuse will out fish white. Stick with chartreuse.
3. Willow blades are the way to go! Colorado, Indiana, and other types of blades don't even come close!
4. Definitely use scent on all of your lures. I'm not talking once every hour. Definitely after every 3 or 4 casts. Not 1 or 2 drops either. Load it up every time! All over the skirt, and especially the blades! The blades throw the scent
all over the place!
5. The retrieve. Cast your spinnerbait out. I use a 15-20 lb 7 ft medium heavy
freshwater bass outfit. Let it sink to different depths before you start your retrieve. On the edges of the kelp this can be deadly! Keep the retrieve slow.
You want to just get the speed where that willow blade will just be thumping!
That drives the fish absolutely crazy!
6. Don't overlook trolling with that spinnerbait. Throw that spinnerbait out, put the rod in the rod holder, and start paddling. Not too fast though. Remember what I said about the retrieve? Just enough to get the blades "thumping".
By far, without a doubt, the spinnerbait that works the best for me is the Strike King Premier Pro 3/4 oz chartreuse model. It has a big willow blade and
a chartreuse with mylar skirt. The only place I have been able to find these baits is at Bass Pro Shops on line. THEY WORK CONSISTENTLY! Not only on
all 3 species of bass. Cuda, halibut, shark, sculpin, rockfish, and especially bonito will absolutely murder that spinnerbait. The strike on that spinnerbait is by no means subtle. It's more like stepping out into the freeway and having a big rig hitting it doing 80 mph. Give them a try. They have become my #1 confidence bait.
Robert