The Beetle Spin: Slayer of Fish
Posted on July 30, 2008
The beetle spin is probably “the go-to” lure in my tackle box. I carry this bait, along with a light rod and reel setup, everywhere I go. The beetle spin is my “fail safe” lure. Whenever I am having one of those days fishing where it is like the Dead Sea everywhere I go I can always count on the beetle spin to land something, maybe not a bass, but something.
For those not familiar with the beetle spin, it is usually on a 1/8 or 1/16 ounce small jig head. More traditional the jog head is baited with a soft split tail body. Various color assortments are available for the bodies and the jig heads. What really sets the beetle spin apart is the spinner. The spinner is a safety pin looking design that can be easily removed from the jig head so different colors can be fished without retying line. Spinners can be found in the traditional round type and some even come with small willow leaf blades.
I typically fish the beetle spin on a light spinning reel and rod using 4-6 pound test, but have went up to 10 pounds in thicker cover and lost very little action.
During the spring, the beetle spin can produce a pot-luck of fish. From smallies, largemouth bass, crappie and other pan fish, this little fish slayer can make a fisherman out of anyone. Even the larger bass can’t ignore this little morsel.
Keep in mind however that for the paper mouth of the crappie, a lighter line and tackle setup is preferred fishing the beetle spin so that the action and strikes are felt much easier. Fishing with lighter tackle is also more challenging and fun, especially when hooking bigger largemouth bass.
It seems to be most effective in spring, but this is an all season lure as well and very versatile. With the jig head and safety pin type spinner one can easily change bodies from the traditional split tail beetle spin to a small auger tail grub or fish body with tail action. All of the fore mentioned can be very effective depending on what the fish are hitting. That said the ease of changing out bodies makes it much easier and quicker to test what the fish are looking for as well, from color to body type.
Other advantages of the beetle spin are the hook on the jig head. The hook bends and reforms easy when hooked in thick cover like that you find when fishing for crappie. You can also remove the spinner and use the jig head and body like a normal jig.
However you use or present this bait, the beetle spin is a tremendous and fun tool for any fisherman to have in their arsenal.
» Filed Under Bass Fishing Lures Tags: Tags:beetle spin, beetlespin, crappie, jig head, jighead, largemouth bass, rod and reel, spinner
Comments
One Response to “The Beetle Spin: Slayer of Fish”
Leave a Reply
Hi, I’m looking for some of your beetle spins that r impossible
2 find n e whr round here!!! They’re about 2- 2 1/2 inches long, solid white wth 2rows of black spots down the belly. Can u direct me to n e beetle spin dealers near Pocahontas , ark…? Wal mart seems to b the only 1’s who carry n e thng lk them…bt as expcted- they only carry a few varities that aren’t quite to my liking. So I hope u can help me-sincerely, a true beetle spin fisherman!!! Thanks