[RickJames]

Hey guys I hope you can help me out? I just started making some large musky bucktails and I have a problem with the blades. When Im retreiving them, the blades tend to die (stop spinning) durring the retreive. Any thoughts what would cause this? I understand it happens but this seems to every cast. Thanks for the help, Rick

[Spike-A-Pike]

Rick,
Normally, it's something simple, like lure balance or how the components are arranged on the wire.

1. Loop
2. Extra Small Lure Body
3. Blade 1 & stirrup clevis
4. Blade 2 & stirrup clevis
5. Small Lure Body
6. Bead
7. Lure Body

Check that your using the correct clevis/blade/wire combo - the blades should spin very freely.

You mentioned blades, if your using a different arrangement, you need to add something between clevis, like a bead or extra small lure body.

Hope this helps.

[RickJames]

Thanks for the reply, I was thinking it probably is the arangement of the components. I will try as you mentioned. thank you, Rick

[Spike-A-Pike]

If your going for the twin bladed design, like a cowgirl, that arrangement should work. I found the Canadian Guide to Lure Making to be a helpful download for getting matched sized components for in-line spinners Download - Canadian Guide to Lure Making. Good luck and I hope you get your spinners spinning free.

[Fatman]

Spike

I used the stirrup clevis's for years and switched to the folded. What do you find best on musky spinners??

Fatman

[Spike-A-Pike]

Ya' know Fatman,

About 40 years ago, we used to use the folded clevis to replicate the Mepps spinners (and save $0.20 per 100). I don't remember any interlocked clevis designs from then. The present day dual bladed, interlocking clevis designs used in musky lures seem to favor stirrup clevis. It could be based on the notion that the folded clevis may be more prone to opening/jamming when interlocked - that would be my only concern. I don't know if that concern is valid or not.

Have you experimented making any dual bladed, interlocking folded clevis musky designs? I haven't and just don't have any folded clevises on hand. Try it and see if there are any problems that arise.

Now I'm curious... Good luck,

[Fatman]

Spike

Tried it with folded clevisis and some large willow leaf blades and it didn't work so good LOL, I tried it with the stirrup clevis and a real small plastic bead and it worked fine.

I think the size of the fold is what mess's it up just no room to put the bead and without it they just mash together. Now I don't make musky spinners but hey wire forming is wire forming, I might try some smaller inlines with the double blade setup and see how the fish like them.

Thanks,

Fatman

[Spike-A-Pike]

My pike double in-lines with the firetiger blades and skirts are picking off some nice pike in north central WI. The current cold front has slowed the fishing down, but the size is up a bit.