Anybody that is a self proclaimed fisherman knows what a Rooster Tail is. It is arguably one of the most effective lures when it comes to targeting trout. Not to mention effective when angling for other game fish like bass and even pike. But my question or concern regarding this lure is it's one potential weakness: The lure's blade and it's lack or performance while in the water. The blade is very inconsistent. Sometimes it spins and sometimes it doesn't! It even says on the packaging that the "Blade does not need to spin to attract fish" which, in my experience, is certainly true. I have caught many a trout while the blade was "jammed" or simply not spinning. But my question to my fellow members is, do you know a way to modify the lure in such a way that the blade spins EVERY TIME on every cast? I am eager to know if there is. Also, feel free to post any stories or experiences you have had with this unique little lure. Regardless, I will continue to turn to this lure when the bite is hard for trout. You will always find one in my tackle box!

Yes, you flatten the blade some right in the middle of it. It will make the tip catch just a little more drag to get the blade spinning everytime. It will fish just a little slower too.

CQ, here's a tip that will end your woes. I do this to eliminate line twist, but it has the added benefit of helping the blade spin. Bend the wire upward a little right above the blade. You're done! Now the line tie loop is higher than the body...when the body tries to spin, it can't...ending up rocking back and forth while enhancing blade spin. You can even feel the difference, and so can the fish. The more a lure vibrates, the more fish it attracts. Modified this way, this old classic is deadly!
                                                                                                                     

I was going to suggest your knot...maybe tie a rapala knot or loop knot so the lure moves more freely. Some knots actually restrict the lures movement. But then again, I'm not a self proclaimed fisherman. Or trout fisherman for that matter.

Another observation- inline spinner blades tend to suffer from inertia. They are harder to get started spinning than to maintain it. I find a quick snap of the rod tip often will get the blade moving.

Posted By Pegsguy on 08 Dec 2011 09:34 AM
Another observation- inline spinner blades tend to suffer from inertia. They are harder to get started spinning than to maintain it. I find a quick snap of the rod tip often will get the blade moving.

Yes, that certainly works and that is what I do. But you can't tell if the blade is spinning when it is deep underwater so it's hard to know when you should snap the rod tip to get it going.

Posted By slipperybob on 08 Dec 2011 04:47 AM
Yes, you flatten the blade some right in the middle of it. It will make the tip catch just a little more drag to get the blade spinning everytime. It will fish just a little slower too.

That certainly seems to make sense. The blade will catch more water thus creating more resistance and thus the blade should spin more frequently. Thanks! I will try that.

Hey Mo....I guess were not self proclaimed fishermen as the Captain. BTW CQ...Captain is an earned title...

Posted By Barresi on 08 Dec 2011 11:29 PM
Hey Mo....I guess were not self proclaimed fishermen as the Captain. BTW CQ...Captain is an earned title...

"Self proclaimed" is meant to be mildly humorous in this context as it simply means that you yourself go fishing on a regular basis and thus would call yourself a fisherman per say. No need to be so sensitive.

Posted By mo65 on 08 Dec 2011 06:55 AM
CQ, here's a tip that will end your woes. I do this to eliminate line twist, but it has the added benefit of helping the blade spin. Bend the wire upward a little right above the blade. You're done! Now the line tie loop is higher than the body...when the body tries to spin, it can't...ending up rocking back and forth while enhancing blade spin. You can even feel the difference, and so can the fish. The more a lure vibrates, the more fish it attracts. Modified this way, this old classic is deadly!
                                                                                                                     

Hey mo, not really sure exactly what you mean on this. Do you simply bend the top "wire" of the lure either way and this will make the blade spin more? Maybe you could post a picture of one of your Rooster Tails for me!

What ever _q, Your comment didn't come off as humorous, sounded more like hot air. That matter at hand was, Mo and I gave a good tip/ advice, which u dismissed, which is fine. However I do know a thing or two regarding knots and how they would affect a lures movement/presentation. If u do your homework, you'll discover this. Mo's advice was pretty good as well, Bending the wire of the blade upward will prevent line twist and get the blades moving, and that I learned from watching Bill Dance. And I'm not the sensitive type. It takes a lot more to get under my skin.

Posted By Barresi on 09 Dec 2011 02:18 AM
What ever _q, Your comment didn't come off as humorous, sounded more like hot air. That matter at hand was, Mo and I gave a good tip/ advice, which u dismissed, which is fine. However I do know a thing or two regarding knots and how they would affect a lures movement/presentation. If u do your homework, you'll discover this. Mo's advice was pretty good as well, Bending the wire of the blade upward will prevent line twist and get the blades moving, and that I learned from watching Bill Dance. And I'm not the sensitive type. It takes a lot more to get under my skin.

I did not create this particular thread or any other to instigate or experience any kind of conflict or drama, so i am sorry if you have mistaken or misinterpreted my intentions as such. I merely wished to discuss fishing and, pertaining to this topic, Rooster Tails and their performance, specifically. Because I did not immediately address your comments, as I work quite frequently and for extended periods of time, does not mean that I "dismissed" them. It was that I was unable to reply to them, due to the constraints of time, at that given moment. I am sorry if I have offended you in any respect.

Not offended bro...now go take that rooster tail and catch a fish!
lol

Posted By Barresi on 09 Dec 2011 04:04 AM
Not offended bro...now go take that rooster tail and catch a fish!
lol

That's the idea!

Hey CQ, I started to take a pic of the lure modified...then it dawned on me...it doesn't matter if you bend the wire up, down, left, or right. The end result is all the same, the line tie point will end up higher than the body upon retrieve. If you still need a photo, let me know, but I think you'll get the picture(hee hee...pun intended).
                                                                                            

Posted By mo65 on 09 Dec 2011 04:49 AM
Hey CQ, I started to take a pic of the lure modified...then it dawned on me...it doesn't matter if you bend the wire up, down, left, or right. The end result is all the same, the line tie point will end up higher than the body upon retrieve. If you still need a photo, let me know, but I think you'll get the picture(hee hee...pun intended).
                                                                                            

Yeah! I get it! I will have to brave the 30 degree weather and try it out against the trout in our fine city's river!

By the way...I staggered onto this by accident...thought I invented it. Now I've learned that darn Bill Dance beat me to it!

Posted By mo65 on 09 Dec 2011 04:56 AM
By the way...I staggered onto this by accident...thought I invented it. Now I've learned that darn Bill Dance beat me to it!

Nah, don't worry too much about it. Go on to Youtube and watch the Bill Dance bloopers and you will feel a lot better!

Yep...I have one of his blooper DVD's...he's my hero!

I do the bend the wire trick on some of my rooster tails too. LOL, actually a big pike did it to me at first. Originally I thought it would weight the rooster tail bottom heavy so it wouldn't twist the line. However, I found out that my retrieve speed to get the blade spinning still cuased the entire lure to spin. It does, alter the spin performance enough to sometimes give off a different vibe.