How to Tie a Spinner Bait

Spinnerbait is undoubtedly one of the most popular fishing lures in angling. Both seasoned and new anglers like it, and for good reason. As you’ll soon see, even learning how to tie a spinner bait is an easy exercise.

What makes the spinnerbait set up so great is the fact that it provides you with a reflective device that lures fish in with constant activity. That’s why it’s so effective out of all the different types of lures out there.

Now, without further ado, here’s our guide on how to tie on a spinner bait so you can get out there and start fishing!

How to Rig a Spinnerbait

As mentioned, spinnerbait lures are unique because they’re not only highly effective but incredibly versatile as well.

What’s more, it’s super easy to set up same as how a downrigger works. All you have to do is type it to the blade using a line. This is what creates the sound that attracts even lunker fish or mudfish. That’s why it’s so important to tie it the right way otherwise you won’t benefit from it as much.

Part of learning how to set up a spinner lure is to know which knot to use and there are four to choose from:

Clinch Knot

The Clinch Knot is by far the most popular knot because it’s so easy. Plus, it’s super sturdy because it’s made from monofilament so you’ll be able to use it pretty much any time, no matter how tough the conditions are.

To tie a clinch knot, start by grabbing the wire arm with one hand in order to hold the lure firm. Then hold the end of the fishing line on the other end. Most anglers refer to this as a tag.

Then, pull the line over the eye by passing it through the eye first. While doing this, you want to make sure that the line is kept between your pointed finger and your thumb. Your other hand should be holding the blade all this time.

Ideally, you want your lure to move freely on the water without the need for you to tighten it. The next thing you need to do is to twist the fishing line.

You can do this by spinning the lure a few times and making sure to keep it at a safe distance from you. Another safer way to tie a clinch knot is to do so manually by wrapping the tag end around the mainline.

Then, pass the end of the line through the loop while keeping the end of the line in the same hand. Lastly, cinch the knot tightly and if you’re having a hard time tying it really tight, wet it beforehand so you can tie it in the way that it needs to be tied.

San Diego Knot

This knot is commonly referred to as the improved clinch knot because it’s particularly effective for different fishing lines as well as larger lures. That’s why it’s essential to master it when learning how to rig a spinnerbait.

Instead of sticking with a single tiny loop like the other knots, this one requires you to make yet another loop by making an “S” shape about 5 inches from one end of the loop to the other end. That’s how you connect the eye and the line together.

Next, you want to take the line end and wrap it around the rest of the fishing line. You should have what resembles a dumbbell line at the end of this, with smaller end loops.

Keep the tail end of the fishing line as close to the lure as possible the whole time. Then, get the tag to go through both loops as carefully as possible.

Lastly, wet the knot before you pull the end of the line and mainline. Once you have a nice and tight knot, you can then remove the excess fishing line for a neat finish.

Palomar Knot

When learning how to tie a spinner bait you’ll also want to try your hand at an overhand knot, also known as the Palomar knot. This strong knot utilizes a double line to tie spinnerbait lures using braid fishing and fluorocarbon lines.

As the name implies, a double line knot requires you to create a loop using the tag and the end of the fishing line. You start with a double line and pass it through the eye.

Then, you should create a second loop which you will tie, overhand knot style. The most important thing is to make sure that the first loop is long enough for you to move on to the next step which is to pass the first loop over the lure.

Again, it’s important to work with a wet knot here so you can get that knot as tight as possible and also to reduce friction. In the end, pull and tighten to create a tight, clean knot.

Trilene Knot

Lastly, on your journey to learning how to tie and attach spinnerbait, you have the Trilene knot. Also referred to as the two-turn clinch, this type of knot is made from the combination of fluorocarbon and monofilament.

It’s one of the most reliable knots you’ll come across and you can bet that it will never let you down. That’s why a lesson on how to tie a spinner rig can never be complete without learning this knot.

It can handle huge amounts of tension without snapping and all you have to do is follow these steps to make it happen:

Pass the tag through the eye twice to form a loop. Then, take the tag and wrap it around the braided fishing line five times over. You want it to form a balloon shape while leaving space for the following step.

Lastly, you want to pass the tag end through the loop that you made earlier before you tie the end of the line into place.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to tie and attach a spinner bait, which knot will you tie first?

Well, whichever one you go with, you’re guaranteed a fun fishing experience and we hope that you’ll follow the steps we provided you with to the tee for the best results.