This smallmouth bass fell for a tailspinner at Dale Hollow Lake. Tailspinners are one of the most effective winter lures for black bass in reservoirs. They also fool walleye and sauger below locks and dams during the cold months.
By Lee McClellan, Kentucky Afield Outdoors
Some lures on the market have stood the test of time, catching fish decade after decade. The Dardevle spoon, the Panther Martin and Rooster Tail in-line spinners, the Jitterbug and the Hula Popper still catch fish today like they did when swing music topped the charts.
The tailspinner is another old-time lure that still catches fish consistently, and one of the best winter lures for black bass.
“The tailspinner is one of the only lures to catch a documented 10-pound smallmouth bass and a documented 10-pound largemouth bass,” said Chad Miles, administrative director for the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
They are not just bass lures, however. They...