Spinnerbaits/Crawler Harness

[manitoubass2]

For the past 2 winters I've been making spinner rigs and crawler harness's at home in my spare time. It's quite addicting, and very fun to alter the baits specific to your application of the rigs. Being able to experiement with blades, colors, hooks, line etc has proven well worth the time, even though I don't troll all that often.

Anyone else making their own? I'd like to see what some other members have made, as well as tricks, tips etc. Or your personal preferences and why?

I like to use a lighter line when I can, but have made rigs ranging from 8lb mono to 25lb fluoro. My favorite is 12lb Trilene XT, at least so far. Most of my rigs have #2 hooks, I like the Gammy octopus hooks over others I've tried.

I use alot of different beads. My girlfriend crafts, so we often shop at large or small craft shops, looking for different types of beads. They tend to be alot cheaper this way too, often getting 1000 beads for around $3-$4.

A few pics to get started...

 

[hightechdecks]

nice work on the crawler harnesses.......do you ever add floats to them?

 

[manitoubass2]

nice work on the crawler harnesses.......do you ever add floats to them?

Absolutely!

I like to make a variety of rigs, as I`m still experimenting on how to make things better, and what catches the most fish. I never really used any floats until about a year and a half ago.

And many thanks as well!

 

[Porter86]

That is pretty amazing there!! Nice work on that, what do for getting the designs? I never thought about this process before, although I would prob not have patience for that lol.

 

[manitoubass2]

That is pretty amazing there!! Nice work on that, what do for getting the designs? I never thought about this process before, although I would prob not have patience for that lol.

It's very easy, and very cheap, especially if you buy bulk components and look around at craft shops for deals on beads. It costs me about 25 cents per rig.

Here is some supplies. I normally use Berkley XT or Berkley big game, but I was tying some rigs for my kids so I was using up some Southbend 12lb mono.

You can choose whatever style hooks you prefer. I use about 5 different kinds in all, but prefer #2 Gammies

Choose your line you want to use, and cut a 2-3ft length to give you plenty to work with. It can be cut to size at the end of the process. I make rigs from 14" to 24".

Have your supplies laid out and ready to go. 5mm beads, colorado baitfish image blade, quick change clevis, 2 barrel swivels and an egg sinker. This particular rig had an egg sinker because I'm making it so it's castable from shore.

To snell the hook, hold it upright as pictured. Run the line through the hook and give it about an inch and a half past the eye of the hook. Hold that tight between your thumb and forefinger.

Keeping the line tight, wrap the line 5-7 times around the shank of the hook. Keep the line tight, and keep your loops around the hook nice and tight and inline. Then pull the end of the line back through the eye of the hook the opposite way it went in.

Wet the knot and sinch it tight. Then dab a small amount of crazy glue on the knot and again pull the knot tight while it dries. It's not really an issue, but this prevents the knot from pushing the snell loose.

Then, add 4-6 beads of your color choice and size. Make sure to add enough beads so the the blade will not touch the hook while spinning. Put your blade on the quick change clevis, and slide it on the line. Then add another one or two beads to the top.

Now, I take an extra piece of line, about 12" inches or so. Tie to a barrell swive on one end. Add on bead, then the egg sinker of your choice, then another bead. Tie to another barrel swivel.

Then tie the egg sinker line, to the spinner rig. Viola, you have a castable spinner rig to use from shore for walleye!

When making spinner rigs for trolling, just omit the part with the egg sinker part of the rig.

 

[manitoubass2]

The orange/black sparkle rig was actually a copper blade. I used nail polish to paint it orange, then used a binder sticker to paint a black cirlce on it, again with nail polish. Then I applies some glitter nail polish, then 3 clear coats.

lol

These are nail polished colorados as well

Craft store beads (way cheaper then "fishing beads", hehe

My 10 year old daughter made this rig, start to finish.

 

[Brian]

nice post...i need to make some myself...

 

[Porter86]

That is absolutly amazing there man!! Thanks for sharing your tips with us on how to make some. I have bookmarked this page so that when I start working and can get supplys, I will be doing so and will start making some of my own!! How does it feel going into a beauty store and leaving with multiple types of nail polish?? Your daughters pretty good at them too!!!

 

[manitoubass2]

That is absolutly amazing there man!! Thanks for sharing your tips with us on how to make some. I have bookmarked this page so that when I start working and can get supplys, I will be doing so and will start making some of my own!! How does it feel going into a beauty store and leaving with multiple types of nail polish?? Your daughters pretty good at them too!!!

Thansk Brian, yes you do need to make some yourself! lol

No problem on the tips sharing, thats how we learn! I have alot of other tips as well, like trolling speeds, which types of blades etc.

The pics here kinda suck, maybe I'll take some more and give a more detailed account of how to make them.

Both my oldest daughter, and my oldest son make spinner baits. They do make em pretty good, they even tie the snells on there own. Some of them have very questionable bead selections though, lol, but as long as their having fun, right?

Buying nail polish is pretty funny. I usually go in geared up pretty good too. I always get a few extra looks, hehe. My girlfriend works alot, and I fish alot. And she does crafting/sewing in her down time. So we actually shop for alot of this stuff together, even borrowing from one another. It's a good way to spend some time together after the kids go to bed, as we both enjoy it.

 

[Porter86]

hehe...the only pic I was more curious about is the one thats all fuzzy of tying the line around the hook lol. For me, at least, the rest made sense on how you did everything lol. haha, eventually theyll grow out of their questionable colours, until you use of them and it lands you some trophy record fish!

Quality time is what matters right. For me it would give me something to do when the girlfriend comes over and falls a sleep at like 930 and im still up till midnight/1 lol.

 

[manitoubass2]

hehe...the only pic I was more curious about is the one thats all fuzzy of tying the line around the hook lol. For me, at least, the rest made sense on how you did everything lol. haha, eventually theyll grow out of their questionable colours, until you use of them and it lands you some trophy record fish!

Quality time is what matters right. For me it would give me something to do when the girlfriend comes over and falls a sleep at like 930 and im still up till midnight/1 lol.

Lol, thats a bad pic. I was trying to show how the snell actually looked once tied around the hook shank.

Like I said, I'll put together a better set of pics as soon as I tie some more.

And yeah, the kids will probably slay em on their rigs, it always works that way, haha

 

[Porter86]

And that is what I REALLY need to see, so I could get a better clarification on how to tie it haha . I really look forward to seeing your next post about it. I look forward to using your techniques and trying this out my own. lol.

 

[manitoubass2]

I'm not sure if your being serious, or sarcastic, lol.

I'll post some more either tomorrow night or sunday.

Depends how well I do with the ice out pike this weekend :blink:

 

[Porter86]

hahaha...I was being serious. I don't know how to tie that not haha. Well good luck on the ice out pike!! I hope you have lots of success

 

[grubman]

I just found this thread. Those are great looking harnesses. Have you caught fish with them yet and which colours work best? Have you thought of using weedless hooks, since most walleyes are in the weeds or weedlines? $rama also sells craft and beads.

Great work, waiting for updates. Thanks for the encouragement and tips.