Keeping a Spinnerbait Tight

[Hawg]

I'll start by saying I don't like R bend spinnerbaits but it seems all the good ones are R bend these days. I've tried different knots but they always seem to slip by the time you get a bunch of casts made and pretty soon your line is pulling the bait in by the blade wire end. I've tried crazy gluing a small o-ring on the R but it slips off. I'm going to try a wrap or two of braid around the R with crazy glue in hopes it will work. Am I the only one that has this problem or has some figured out a cure besides retying every 20 minutes? Even though I usually have 7-8 rods tied up it always seems I find myself without a spinnerbait when I need one. It would be nice to be able to use a clip sometimes even. I like Terminators T1's but Titanium would be hell to bend around I think. Anybody know of a titanium bait in the traditional wire? This is one of those problems I only think about between Ice house season and boat season.

[53orbigger]

What I do is put a small piece of surgical tubing over the R and then clip my swivel on and have not had a problem. I think the key is to get the correct size surgical tubing since it needs to be pretty tight and have a swivel/clip that is large enough that the tubing cannot slip over it.

[delmuts]

Hawg. For tubing you can also use rubber auto vacuum line, gas line for mowers or bikes, or tubing for archery peep sights.

[Hawg]

So you push about 1/4-1/2 inch of the tubing, whatever the distance is, onto the R? It then covers both sides of the wire but the opening is still in the front, basically making a traditional wire? Sound like it would work if it doesn't slip, or do you not care if it slips because it still holds because it can't move. That way the clip is just pushed to the front of the wire from behind? Thank you

[h8go4s]

I use electrical shrink tubing. Holds tight, lasts a long time. You can do it in the boat with a match or lighter. Same thing with bottom bouncers.

[Hawg]

With all your suggestions, why not put a drop of glue to hold them there forever? I would think the shrink tube stays pretty good doesn't it? Even if the glue slips on the wire, a drop in the gap between the wires would hold the sides together. Thanks to all 3 of you guys, I should have thought of those cures.

[delmuts]

I use about a 1/8 pc. They stay in place quite well with out anything else. Just slip it over the "R" bend. I keep extras with my lures incase one falls apart, or a toothy critter grabs the head. ( Northerns can be tough on a 3/16 oz. spinner bait )

[Hawg]

That's why I've switched pretty much to all titanium.

[Hawg]

Delmuts, you were right 1/8 inch is plenty. It seems like a long time ago that I used one and not just 7 months. I have to say H8, the shrink tube really worked awesome. Does it stay on in the water? Thanks again for the tips guys.

[h8go4s]

Delmuts, you were right 1/8 inch is plenty. It seems like a long time ago that I used one and not just 7 months. I have to say H8, the shrink tube really worked awesome. Does it stay on in the water? Thanks again for the tips guys.

Stays on fine. I've used it for a couple of years now and haven't had to replace it very often. But I'm not a tournament fisherman, just a retired geezer who fishes more than some guys do.

[delmuts]

" But I'm not a tournament fisherman, just a retired geezer who fishes more than some guys do."

Amen to that!!

[Todd S.]

this might be an off the wall question, but what kind of knot are you tying? I tie a Palomar knot and it holds pretty well in place, not saying that it never slides up, but not continually. If your knot only goes around the R bend once, it might not bite enough. Just food for thought.....

[Hawg]

Todd, same knot.

[delmuts]

When tying direct to a line, there is no problems. It's when trying to use a leader it becomes a problem.

[Hawg]

Or when using Toothy Critter in rivers. Even good knots slip though if you cast enough times, sometimes it's a couple hours each use, put it down, and pick it up again when you get to another spinnerbait spot. During team tournaments the guy in the back of the boat sometimes uses a spinnerbait the whole time. This going to help a lot.