Fishing a spinner in a river

[OldTimer]

As requested------

How I fish an in-line spinner (example: Mepps Aglia) when casting in a river:

I suppose these lures are one of my favorite all round river lures.

Your thoughts and methods may vary – please share them……………

Mepps are best IMO. I do not like Panther Martins much (they twist lines badly). Blue Fox makes a cheap knock off but lately the quality has slipped and the weighted core isn’t – but these cheaper lures are great for exploring new spots and discovering the snags before you put the expensive stuff out there.

Silver and Red/White I find most productive………… After that the Comet Minnow is good.

#0, and #1 are for pan fish, mooneye, small stream trout and such.

#2, and #3 are for larger trout, bass and walleye.

#4, and #5 are for pike and Muskie or lake trolling and really aren’t for the river.

Squirrel Tail dressings are nice but bare works fine.

Use an improved clinch knot to attach them.

Being right handed I prefer fishing a river with the current coming from above me and to my right… so I’ll describe things using this setup positioning. (Just reverse all when fishing the other way around)……………… So straight upstream is 12:00 to my right, and I am facing the far bank which is at 9:00, downstream is to my left at 6:00.

Casts directly upstream at 12:00 are low percentage. You’ll have to reel like a mad demon to get enough relative velocity to make the spinner blades rotate in the water moving toward you. Plus – the spinner will hang up A LOT!

Casting downstream is a waste of time - the lure will ride way too high due to the current madly spinning the blades.

I fan the area in front of me concentrating my casts from 8:00 to 11:00 with most being at 10:00 to 11:00. My selection of targets is based on the various slips, sloughs, and current breaks (rocks, logs, bars, riffles to drop offs) I see in front and to the right of me.

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It’s all about reading the water and making a classic spinner presentation to the holding fish…. The lure drops in the water above the fish’s position…… you reel immediately – just fast enough to get the blades spinning well and still let the lure sink a bit till it’s just “ticking the bottom” once or twice on each retrieve cycle…… the lure travels to/through the holding area……. and at about 7:00 – it sweeps a bit and then begins to travel back upstream toward you.

Take time to read the water……. and then get in a good position (close enough, and at a good angle) - then fan cast,… not before.

In most wade-able rivers or small streams the classic larger aglia (French) blade is suitable. On SLOWER currents or deeper river runs you will find that the longer willow leaf blades are more suitable.

Most fish don’t take a spinner softly – it’s usually quite aggressive. A “snatch and run” hit.

After a while of doing this you will get a sense of what is happening on the end of your line…… You will feel the ticks on bottom…… You will learn how to vary your retrieve speed to keep the spinner in the strike zone , yet not snag bottom …… You will be able to distinguish when your lure is fowled with weeds……….. Much to your chagrin you will learn the difference between a snag hook up and what a hard hit by a fish feels like………… But there is another thing: ---- sometimes suddenly you will feel nothing – just like the lure’s been cut off – REEL QUICKLY & SET THE HOOK HARD, a fish has woofed the bait and is swimming towards you!

Fishing spinners in a river can get expensive due to snags and resultant break offs. Removing one of the trebles (I take off the welded on wire) or replacement with single Siwash cuts losses. Both Mepps and Blue Fox have models that come with, or have, Siwash replacements.

That’s all……. Hope it helps…………

Cheers,

OldTimer