That's interesting Bob, its the same way I discovered it. I had caught a trout and didn't notice the wire had bent. All of a sudden it felt like I was pulling a half ounce spinnerbait instead of a 1/16 ounce roostertail! I watched that spinner coming through the water, and the body would rotate toward the top, then fall back down, creating a rocking motion that really thumps! I have never had the LURE BODY continue to spin after doing this, so maybe you're fishing in heavier current, which may render this tip useless. On the other hand, in heavy current, blade spin shouldn't even be a problem...but line twist would be amplified also. A good snap swivel might be the only way out in this case.
                                                                                                                                                                          

LOL. Variances in rooster tails. Just like how one lure spins awesome out of the package and another is just headache.

Are we using 'rooster tail' as a generic term here? Sure sounds like it! I have gotten consistently better performance out of the Panther Martin and Mepps spinners that I own.

I don't know about the other guys, but when CQ started the thread with the word ROOSTER TAILS, that was my clue as to what we were talking about....Or any similar spinner. Your panther martins don't count...different blade stile. Mepp's is the same as the Rooster tail, anything that will improve one will help the other. I hate losing a Mepp's in the rocks...I can buy three Rooster tails for the price of one Mepp's!

I posted a picture at the top to avoid such confusion. Yes, i am referring to the Rooster Tail brand lures. Not Mepps or Panther Martins. I have never had a single problem with my Panther Martins they are actually my preferred choice of lure over a Rooster Tail. The blade on them seems to spin every time. But there is a time and place for a Rooster Tail as on several occasions I had been using a Panther all day and then switched to a Rooster and hooked a trout! You just never know what those trout are gonna wanna strike sometimes!

  I went fishing and while on the water I tied on a Rooster Tail. As per a few of your suggestions (If I interpreted them correctly) I bent the blade slightly into the opposite direction. I guess the theory being it would produce more friction against the blade and thus create more spin. It seemed to work! My lure had more of a "wobble" as mo65 mentioned and the blade definitely spun more than usual! Thanks everyone!

Hey guys, check this out. This is an early version of the "bend the wire" trick...It's an original ABU-REFLEX...still in the package! Note the off center hook...same idea...no line twist. These dudes were top of the heap when I was a kid. I know, I know, it's not a Roostertail...just thought you guys might like to see it.


 

I get a kick out of the price! But to put things in perspective, at the time that same $0.68 would buy 2 loaves of bread or possibly a gallon of milk. 2 gallons of gas for sure!

Pegsguy, at that time, my dad would give me 50 cents to buy him a pack of smokes...they were only 35 cents. I had 15 cents left, which bought me a candybar. Can you imagine that? A five year old kid buying cigarettes!

My dad also used to send me to the store when he ran out of smokes. He bought his smokes at a local independent pharmacy that was run by the owner and his wife who both knew my dad and I and there was never a problem. I remember smokes being 28 cents a pack and a candy bar a nickle. Anyone else remember when cigs went up to 31 cents and you put 35cents in themachine and there were 4 pennies taped to the pack?

Ha ha! I must have just missed that, a little too young. I also got them from a machine, but they were 35 cents.

Rooster Tails, yellow ones in particular are great on white bass also.

Posted By perchjerker47 on 15 Dec 2011 09:07 PM
Rooster Tails, yellow ones in particular are great on white bass also.

Yes, I have heard from many a angler that yellow is THE color. I have also had tremendous success with yellow Rooster Tails myself.

Gotta agree, probably half of the fish I have caught on inline spinners have come on yellow or chartreuse. And yes, Mepps are more expensive but at least where I live the selection of Mepps is much better as far as size goes. Seems smaller Rooster Tails are everywhere but nothing in larger sizes 1/4 oz and up.

Same here...yellow and white are big producers...BUT...my best producer is the ol' Mepps Black Fury. I usually buy a new one every spring because those little stockies actually chew the hackle off the hook! Does anyone know if Roostertail makes a copy of the Mepps Black Fury? I could save some bucks if they did.
                                                                     

Don't know about Rooster Tails but I like my Panther Martins in black. (with or without spots)

South Bend tackle made spinners with the "reflex" blade and triangular line tie which was angled to one side.

Yes indeed AZ, I had forgot about those South Bends with the off center line tie...yet another version of the "bent wire" modification. I even used to have some! Do they still make them?
                                                                          

This is my latest tackle related acquisition. A yellow and black Rooster Tail. It is the most productive color in my experience. I guess it's time to "bend the blade!"

Also, it has a bee pattern on it. Literally. There is a bee painted on the side.