Tips for making lindy rigs and spinners

[Ski from FF]

I'm going to try my hand at making lindy rigs & spinners. What type of line would be good to use for this? Any suggestions welcome.

Thanks

SKI

[walleyeguy7]

I like to use 6 or 8 lb. berkley vanish flourocarbon for both spinners and live bait rigs.

[picksbigwagon]

I have used 6-10 pound fluro on rigs, depending on where I am fishing and what my other line is....If I am using a rod with 6-8 pound flouro, I use 6 pound line for my rigs....If I am using spider wire, or something similar, I use 10 pound flouro just because of the lack of stretch has caused me to break 6 pound leaders easier.....

[kslipsinker]

I have all of my rigs tied for Canada. I use 10# Vanish because of the rocks. I start with a 6' to 8' length of line. I tie the same rig, but add few variations just in case old faithfull doesn't work. My favorite rig is a #4 or #6 red hook, four beads, small colorado blade on a metal clevis. I tie on a small barrel swivel for the final end. The blade size and type can be varied to have different colors at your fingertips.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I also use a snell knot on all of my hooks.

This is a very strong, neat, and easy knot.

Cliff

[fish2live]

i put those plastic quick change blade holders so i can switch the color of the spinner without retying

[beer batter]

I also use a metal clevis with spinner and often times end up with a twisted up snell. Would barrel swivels at the end help with that?

My stand-by is a single red hook with 3 red beads followed by a small hammered silver spinner on a metal clevis.

During mayfly hatch lose the spinner and cut the beads down to 1 red one with a piece of night crawler.

[Northlander]

Spinner rigs dont need to be flexible so 10# is a norm for me when tieing up spinner rigs. ( Lindy rigs are different and 4#-8# is a norm for me, usually Trilene XL )) I also use the quick exchange clevis's and I wouldnt use anything else. I cant count how many times I switched blade color, size or type and started catching more fish. All in seconds without cutting any lines.

I tried Vanish but had to many break offs so I went back to my old mainstay and thats Trilene XT.

I always use a snap swivel on the end of my bottom bouncers or on the end of my line. Quicker to change out bouncers etc. and less line twist.

The only way I have found to tie spinners etc. easily and neatly is with the snell knot as well.

I didnt really believe in colored hooks on my spinners but after experimenting quite a bit I found that I do catch more fish with the colored hooks on my spinners. Especially in dark waters wich almost all our waters up here are dark and stained.

One thing with spinners is some days you can really cook around at lets say 1.8mph and still hit fish. This allows you to really cover water. Most days though I find 1.0 to 1.4 seems best. Another thing is blade size can make a huge difference so play with that.

Most blades I pull are Colorado's but a hatchet or Indiana may find its way on my line on some days.

One other lure I like when Im going slower than normal with spinners is the Spin N Glow's. On some days those little buggers trolled slow can be deadly when spinners just arent cutting it.

I find a line counter reel to be very handy when trolling eyes. Diawa Sealines in the 17 or 27 at the biggest are what I use unless Im on the big lake then the 47's may come out. Mostly I would say the 27 is a ideal compromise if your looking for a sort of due it all trolling reel.

As far as rods go I like a soft tipped rod with good backbone in the 7.5'-8.5' range. Graphite rods arent a must when bottom bouncing because most often my rods are in the holders. 3 or 4 ounce bouncers arent fun to troll in your hand all day so thus the Ram Rod Holders. If Im trolling Lindy Rigs or Spinners with 1 ounce of lead or less Ill hold it. Lindy rigging I do like a good quality Graphite rod. St.Croix, Midwest Rods, Fenwick, Shimano, Loomis all are great rods. Expensive though. If your on a budget check out Gander Mt.'s new line of rods. Also St. Croix has a new line of rods out that are only $59 and look nice and have good actions for trolling.

Man I got carried away there. Sorry but I love trolling and making my own spinners. Cheaper and its fun catching fish on something you made. Good fishing.

[Fishin Beast]

There are lots of options to use than just spinners or beads also. On some lakes I fish I really like to put a pill float or 2 on instead of beads or spinners and they work great.

Or they have those spinning floats that you can put on also.

I always carry an extra 8# test trilene spool in my tackle box, with all the accessories.

[Ski from FF]

Thanks for all of the usefull information. I picked up the basics to get started and my son is excited to start making some custom rigs.

Ski

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Ski,

A great project for this time of the year! Especially if you have the kids helping!

Good Fishing!

Cliff

[fishkab]

Tips for Spinners,, Very good information by all.. I also snell the hooks and make lots of varieties of colors and combinations.. You never know what will work. My tip is this.. Once all these things are made. I get low nap paint rollers and fill each one with a color...In the old days, the center was paper so getting them wet wasn't good, now the center of the rollers is plastic... Wrap the line over itself and secure the hook in the nap. Simple to put in one of the storage spaces in the boat and then very easy to get at and use. I have lots of them in the boat and a cheap, effective way to store them... Just another thought.. Have fun!! Fishkab

[Northlander]

Fishkab I do kind of the same ting. I get those long foam swimming noodles the kids play with in the summer and cut the 6' noodle down into 16" pieces and use that for my spinners and lindy rigs. I like it because the noodles are thick enough they dont leave coils in the line and they float. Different colors and cheap on sale. I think I got 3 at $1.99 a piece and have used them for about 4 years. Keep 1 in the storage in the boat at all times. I wind up giving so many away I just cut more off another noodle. Problem is the spinners usually go with.

[Borch]

For lindy rigs I use 6# flourocarbon like Vanish. For my spinner rigs I use 12-14lb abrasion resistent lines like Trilene XT or Stren Big Game. The heavier line helps prevent line twist of the leader and wear from the spinner clevis. The walleyes don't appear to mind the heavier line even in very clear water. For leader lengths I run 5-10 ft on livebait rigs and 3-8 ft on spinner rigs.