The Ultimate Guide to SPINNER FISHING for Trout in Streams & Rivers

[@Woodstock271]

Man, spinners are still my favorite and most fish-catching lure ever. As a little boy on vacation in Northern Wisconsin, I met my childhood fishing buddy who lived on a lake up there. I learned everything about lure fishing from him since my dad had moved to California while I was still fishing a bobber and worms. My mom would drive me and my little sister from Chicago to the lake up north where she’d befriended Jimmy’s parents and we rented one of their cabins every summer for two weeks. I was nuts about fishing and couldn’t wait to see Jimmy again. At 10 years old, he was a “professional fisherman” compared to me, since he lived on this lake. He didn’t seem to have any friends his age (I never saw anyone our age on the lake), so I really think I was his only real friend. Kinda sad but he really lived in the boonies with his family, miles from the nearest tiny town. I was from the big city and dreamed of living like he did. As soon as our car pulled up to their cottage, Jimmy would come running up. “You’re back! Let’s go fishing!” Jimmy was a spinner aficionado. Mepp’s was the top brand and he had a few of every size. I had a few spinners that didn’t have a brand name, but also a couple Rooster Tails, and Jimmy assured me they’d work as long as I could get them spinning. The trick was, to cast the lure out and give it a yank to get the spinner working. If you don’t feel any resistance and “hum” on the line, it’s not spinning and you just wasted a perfectly nice cast. So I learned how to get the spinner spinning and “perfected” the art like a 10 year old pro. We caught everything from bluegills, rock bass, crappie, and large mouth bass on spinners in that lake where trout didn’t live. Never caught anything on my frog lures, Rapalas, fancy spinner baits, but a simple Rooster Tail or Mepps 1 would always catch fish. Later in California, I caught trout on spinners. When I moved to Hawaii, nobody there had even seen a spinner before, and I caught Papio and Lai, in the ocean with them. So a spinner works everywhere. No question. I’ve gotten much more sophisticated in my fishing after 60 years but I started with spinners and they just work when so many other lures won’t. Thanks for the great content my friend and reminding me of my youth up in Wisconsin.

[@calebwistad]

That’s awesome!

[@whitewhiteboy89]

Great comment. What ever happened to Jimmy?

[@Woodstock271]

@@whitewhiteboy89 , Not sure what happened to Jimmy. I think I was around 12 when I saw him last. In the 70’s nobody had a telephone up in the woods. We just lost touch as everyone seemed to back then. But I picture him in his 60’s sitting on that same pier and wondering whatever happened to me? Life is fun my friend.

[@dlash4871]

Always used straight fluorocarbon and no swivel for so long and only had the issue of line twist and caught plenty of trout just fine… watched this video and thought I’d try it on my St. Croix 6’6” Medium Light fast action. Have never used braid much I wasn’t sure what to expect. Long story short I went out and was super pleased with the cast ability of the 10 lb braid and also felt the spinner thumping much easier with the barrel swivel on and ended up catching a new PB rainbow! Thank you for the great information and helping me mix up my rig/tactics!

[@calebwistad]

Good deal! Glad you were able to put it into practice and see results!

[@mitchvanier]

The biggest game changer that I have added to all my spinners, tie on a tail, maribou, flash, synthetic hair, anything, I found gold spinners with with maribou have caught me the most fish consistently, the ones that come with a pre-tied 'tail' don't work very good or at all, I run size 0-2 and 1/32 - 1/4 oz on almost all of the rivers and streams in northern Michigan, I got my master angler brookie in the pigeon river forest, 16 1/2 inch with a number 2 gold mepps with a white maribou tail I tied on two years ago

[@calebwistad]

I’ll have to try that!

[@thefishingpilot2681]

@@calebwistaddid you ever try out what @mitchvanier did?

[@davidberelson2925]

Started using Panther Martin’s a great many years ago on small, intimate streams and creeks in California’s Sierras. True ultralight rig: 4 1/2 foot one piece rod; Cardinal 752 or Black Max with 4# mono. Lots of underhand casting on deep pool heads, or longer, shallower runs punctuated with perfect rocks for voracious Browns (originally planted in ‘40’s!), Bows and Brooks. Browns dominate via aggression and smarts. One big change I make to the spinners is removing the trebles and replacing with single Siwash hooks. Does that make the fishing more productive and/or easier? Nope! But I find trebles make catch and release far more difficult in smaller trout tissue and lips, and I’m not out there to count catch, or return them exhausted. Those beauties pick the most beautiful places in the world to make a living, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of it.

[@calebwistad]

Definitely doesn’t hurt to go to a single if you plan to release most of your fish!

[@roberthikade9759]

Great video, I unfortunately didn't make it up to my northern Michigan trout steam this year to throw mine at them. Loved your content and will try some of your styles of fishing spinner baits for trout this coming summer. Getting ready to head up there to set up some deer stands now that trout seasons over here. lol

[@calebwistad]

Thanks and good luck!

[@johngil4453]

Excellent knowledge. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@ramonarmendariz1999]

Great Video! Would you be willing to do an Ultimate Guide for spoons?

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! I may, we shall see

[@springpistonriflefeverlone9611]

I miss this type of fishing 🎣

[@calebwistad]

It’s sooo relaxing.

[@leewaggers4733]

Great video, loads of good tips and advice - much appreciated 👍

[@calebwistad]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jasonlopez4855]

The best inline spinner is best in the smallest one you can find. Because most trout are smaller and have small mouth to eat there food. 😊

[@calebwistad]

Small spinner for small trout. Yes. Big trout will eat a #4 or even a #5 and ignore little one though.

[@MrGvs98]

Whats the best way to add weight for casting distance on small spinners?

[@calebwistad]

I like adding a split shot about 12” up the line. A small bullet sinker pegged in place at the nose of the spinner works too.

[@michaelmcknight9394]

8:40 that is my favorite lure that i have it always catches fish

[@calebwistad]

For sure!

[@nielslammerding9564]

Where did you buy them, i cant find the link. Nice Video, really informative!

[@nielslammerding9564]

Sorry, found them

[@calebwistad]

Glad you found them!

[@jasejuarezz]

Will this work with stock trout as well?!

[@calebwistad]

Absolutely!

[@alexkorneyko6792]

Swivels do not work on thin braids. You can test it by twisting the lure. The braid behind the swivel would twist, but the swivel would stay still.

[@calebwistad]

I believe that depends more on the quality of your swivels than the line.

[@alexkorneyko6792]

@@calebwistadYou can try the lightest and the best and see. :)

[@worker2004]

I noticed that often, when you retrieve, the spinner will spin one way and twist your line. On the next cast, it'll spin the other way and cancel out the line twist.

[@DCLfishing12]

Does anyone know why when I go fishing for wild brown trout in a river I never catch any. I see them jumping and being active but I never

[@calebwistad]

They can be finicky. Sometimes a well placed fly that matches what they are rising on is the only way to catch them.

[@DCLfishing12]

@@calebwistad ok thanks 👍

[@redsresearch]

you dont use a sinker?

[@calebwistad]

Only rarely if I need to get the spinner deep.

[@redsresearch]

@calebwistad when would you want to get it deep?

[@andrewkline1906]

1st babbyyyyy

[@calebwistad]

🙏

[@jasonlopez4855]

One thing some people say that the Cleve's on them spinn faster than the panther marten spinner then her from someone else that it the other way around ❓🤷🏼 what is like the Ashton on a rod people are all over the map with their sanctuary on a rod⁉️🤦 half of everyone is sounding not right with what they think it is and what it really is about. Power rod - Action fast two different things on one rod. My a nice action is moderate fast Action rod works great. And never used braided line is not worth the money. I'll go monofilament line and I can change it out when ever I won't too and is cheep. The spinner is #1 for all trout fishing. Like cutthroat, Brown, rainbow, lake trout to high bread trout. Just Use what you can buy to use... And say fishing even if is $10 slingshot or Ozark trail rod will smash the all day long. I still use slingshot combo that my son used to use back 30 year ago and still smashing the trout. Like I got it yesterday.

[@calebwistad]

Everyone has their preferences. Use what works for you!

[@Justin-zw1hx]

you didn't say anything about size choice, what a waste of my 2mins

[@calebwistad]

It’s a 20 minute video. If you had watched the whole thing and paid any attention whatsoever you definitely would have heard quite a bit about size choice.

[@Justin-zw1hx]

@@calebwistad so you summarize it now, what's the the conclusion?

[@joecoxmaul]

@@Justin-zw1hxdouchebag