Beetle Spins and Jingle Jigs

[TubeDude]

[cool]I began using the little "Beetle Spin" spinners in the late 70's, on Pineview...when there were lots of big crappies and largemouth. Both species loved a smoke sparkle twister or shad attached to the "safety pin" spinner. I have since used them all over the place, and they have been a source of inspiration for some of the other "creations" I come up with.

You can buy these critters already made up with a spinner blade...or buy just the wire form and add your own swivel and blade. They are fairly inexpensive and make great little spinner baits for a lot of species.

Since I have been working with wire, blades and beads for a long time, I have experimented with a hundred different ways to add flash and wiggle to jigs...besides the Roadrunner. The "jingle jig" is one of my experiments that has really worked well. It is merely a short straight piece of wire, with a spinner blade and a couple of beads on it. The blade spins when retrieved and flutters when jigged. It is great for slow trolling and bottom bouncing...or for vertical presentations...with an occasional "shivver lift",

I suspected I had a winner when the first time I dropped one over the side of my tube, a ten pound channel cat intercepted it on the way down and just about took my rod out of my hands. Many more since then have whacked the heck out of them when jiggled enticingly just off the bottom. They have taken at least ten or twelve species over the last year or so.

As you can see in the pics attached, I fish the beetle spins with plastics, and the jingle jigs with my bait bugs. No reason why each sould not work with the other. Again, the main idea is to increase the visibility and vibrations of the jig and attract more strikes.

I have been thinking of making EXTRA LARGE sizes...with a buzz bait blade...to be used with large tubes for macks. I am also experimenting with pouring some new wire mold heads for some new buzz baits...to be adorned with bunny fur. How does "Bunny Buzzers" sound?

Man...I got too much time on my hands. I gotta go fishing. Hope they get our gasoline pipeline fixed soon.
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[yper]

hey Dude: I just resentley started using the beetle spins with curly tails. They work great on the perch and smallies up at nelle. Yesterday I caught a 19 brown on the Ogden River using it with a white head and 2" white curly tail, it was a nice fight. I am going to try them with the bait bugs.
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[Tincanfsh]

Hey Tube Dude,

Thanks again for the info. I have some of those small spinners in my tackle boxes. I have not used them lately because I have been using mostly buzzers. If you need some one to test your bunny buzzers prototype's for you just let me know.[]
[]Tincanfsh
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[Hellsangler69]

I got a few of those beetle spins . I remember using them back in 70's in Kansas on Milford Res. , when my boss took me out in his boat . I out fished him that day on the white bass and he took me to shore and called it quits for the day . Maybe thats why I never got a raise . LOL Worked pretty good for white bass .

TubeDude , you do have to much time on your hands . All the creations look great . I guess if I didn't read all the posts here i would find more time to tie up some bugs . Hope you get some fuel up there soon , so you can go fish . I bet its crazy down there .
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[TubeDude]

[cool]Hey, Mr. Fish. It is so kind of you to volunteer your field-testing services. Since you are such a buzzaholic I am sure my new creations would get a good workout and evaluation.

I have just finished wiring the hooks, and should get the pouring and painting done over the weekend. I'll post a pic before sending samples.

Thank you so much for your generous donation of time and talent.

(Who you kiddin'?)
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[TubeDude]

[cool]That's a good story...and not unusual. I first used the beetle spins on Pineview, as I mentioned. It was a late spring trip, with a fishing buddy who had a bass boat and fished Western Bass tournaments. He was demonstrating the fine art of fishing crank baits...one of the new models of Rapala' Shad Raps.

We eased back into a small bay that he had been doing well on, and began slinging the Shad Raps. The largies were there and we relaeased at least 10 fish apiece before they shut down. I have alsways been one to start experimenting if I know the fish are present, but not biting what I am offering. I took a small silver beetle spin out of my box and attached it to an 1/8 oz. head on a size 1/0 hook...to which I pinned a 3" smoke sparkle Sassy Shad, with a black back.

I caught several more bass in quick succession, including about a four pounder, which was the biggest of the morning. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I could not fish it wrong. Some strikes came while the rig was falling toward the bottom, with the spinner twirling all the way. Other hits came when I reeled it slowly, just off the bottom. Still others came when I lifted and hopped it, like a jig.

My fishing buddy was the kind who was far too competitive...but stubborn too. He would not accept a beetle spin from my tackle supply, and kept cranking the water to a froth. He started up the big motor and roared off to another spot before my little trinkets quit catching fish. I don't know why he kept fishing with me. Everytime he "gave me a lesson", I caught more and bigger fish.

Since that first use, I have used them everywhere, and the effectiveness of the tiny spinners has been the inspiration of many of my experimental lures...and the confident use of Roadrunner jigs too.
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