| There are a couple of mini spinner baits that pop into | | | | drop in fall. The bait is available in a number of colors |
| my head every time I hear someone speak about | | | | although I think that they for the most part are not |
| light tackle bass fishing. These two baits bring back | | | | all that important. I go with yellow or green on bright |
| fond memories of years past and all out bass brawls | | | | days and black for dark days. I concentrate its use |
| on light gear. Perhaps no other baits are as | | | | around shallow water. All you need is a slow steady |
| synonymous for light tackle as the Beetle spin or the | | | | retrieve. |
| Road Runner. Both of these little powder kegs are | | | | The bait is versatile because you can switch up the |
| spinner type baits. They may not be known | | | | soft plastic bodies. There are many styles to choose |
| exclusively as bass baits but both of these dynamos | | | | from. The original beetle is a stubby plastic body with |
| are definitely successful bass catchers and have been | | | | two small tails. You could use a panfish tube Branson |
| for years. They are inexpensive and available just | | | | bug, minnow or shad body or curly tail grub. |
| about anywhere. I tend to use tiny braid with these | | | | Roadrunner |
| baits. I also employ a light action rod that has a little | | | | No, this isn't the Hemi powered muscle car of the |
| give to it. I like setting up on fish with this rig. The | | | | late 60's. It is a small horse head jig that can |
| braided line instantly telegraphs a strike and can | | | | generate just as much horsepower though. This little |
| wrestle fish out of dangerous places. The softer | | | | spinner jig features a small blade on the under side of |
| action rod helps throw the bait and the braid adds to | | | | the head and a slew of different soft plastic bodies. |
| the sensitivity you may lose with the lighter action | | | | From small minnow shaped bodies to the many |
| rod. | | | | armed Branson Bug or the tube like Turbo tail, the |
| Beetle spin | | | | Roadrunner is a versatile little bait for light line bass |
| This little bait is a simple light jig head tipped with a | | | | fishing. |
| small straight twin tailed beetle body combined with a | | | | The bait will literally catch anything that swims, it |
| spinner harness. It is a scaled down version of the | | | | certainly is not just for bass. "You can't fish it wrong |
| more popular safety pin style spinner baits that are | | | | as long as you fish it slow" seems to be the slogan |
| so common today. Fished on 4lb test and a rod with | | | | behind the bait. This little lure is very effective in the |
| a whippy action, the Beetle Spin makes a devastating | | | | early spring. I use it on the same combo that I fish |
| early season bait. Even in cold water, the beetle has | | | | the beetle spin on. I tend to jig the bait along and |
| a knack for producing tremendous numbers of bass | | | | use it more in deep water situations. You can reel it |
| along with a few good sized bass as well. | | | | in steadily but I prefer to lift and drop it. I sometimes |
| I fish the beetle on a homemade 6-6 light action | | | | use it in areas where some anglers would slow roll a |
| Helium spinning rod that features a split Tennessee | | | | spinner bait. A recent introduction to the line up is a |
| handle. I prefer 4lb test on a Tica SB500 reel | | | | Roadrunner head that feature Gamakatsu hooks. |
| matched with that rod. This sweet smooth little | | | | These should be dynamite for hooking and holding |
| combo telegraphs everything the beetle spin is doing | | | | bass more efficiently. |
| and transmits it back to me. The light rod is a blast | | | | Both of these little baits are tailor made for small |
| when battling fish. For all around fun, you can't beat | | | | creek smallmouth bass fishing any time of the year. |
| this set up. | | | | The baits simply get blasted by the highly |
| The beetle spin is a year round bait. It will catch fish | | | | competitive stream bass. If you want to have fun |
| in all seasons. For me, it shines in the spring, the heat | | | | and catch a mess of fish, give either of these baits |
| of the summer and again as the water temperatures | | | | some time on your next float trip. |