We troll in-line spinnerbaits here on St Clair on a regular basis. Over weeds, subtle humps and breaks and do quite well with them.

Yes they will work over open clear water.  If you think about it, why wouldn't they?  They're still creating the vibrations that make them effective over the weed.  I troll them over deeper water here when I want a bait that will ride high and/or not be so affected by the floating, cut-up weeds. 

Check my new SST Spinnerbait (Super Speed Troller) at Big Wood Musky Lures under MM Baits. Runs up to 7 to 8 mph without corkscrewing. Super alloy wire also. Ask Kyle from Big Wood how to rig them.

V

dang it steve now i need more, thanks alot dude..lol...we catch alot of fish here in indiana by trolling these alot in open water or shortlineing them in shallow water too...bill

I think that there is some confusion at times with the term "spinner-bait."  It seems that most of us will use that term when speaking about a "bent-arm" or "L-shaped" bait that usually has a single hook that points upward and is uniquely suited to dragging through the weedy areas that often turn the in-line spinner baits into a tangle. I think the questioner was referring to those types of baits and, if so, he would be more benefited by switching to the in-line variety of spinnerbaits more often called "bucktails" if wishing to pursue an open water bite. Since there is no real danger of getting the bait hung up in open water, there seems to be no reason to give up the ability for the better hook-ups you will achieve with the usual twin trebbles offered on most of the in-line variety. I'm not in any way saying you can't entice an open water musky to go after the bent arm variety, you will just not get as many of them in the boat. The math is a simple as six times one. Marty Forman

My biggest to date "52" was caught trolling an inline spinner. My wife and I were trolling 4 of them and we hit a double. I landed mine but she didn't and hers was the biggest. I will allways have at least one in my spreads. In the mornings I try to use about a 4 ounce wieght 6 feet out in front with about 35 feet of line out. And try to get them deeper as the sun gets up. A very good way to get them deep is with a one pound ball 6 feet out in front. You can experiment with line footage and really get them down where you want them. I like using one on each side of the boat on my foremost boat rods. They will be deeper than the other rods and way closer. The best ones I have found are the "St. Claire Hounds" I am not saying others don't work but these have put many large fish in my boat alone this year. You can check them out at "Dog River Lodge". An older guy told me"Don't leave the dock without them" And trust me, I have not since.

Yea, Travis is right, it's a good technique, kind of taking the "Slow Rolling" method to the max. I just know that, for me, certain baits have a bigger potential to let go of a fish than others and the heartbreak of the experience leaves a long sour taste--kinda like when you throw up inside your mouth just a little. Give me a DCG with two great big #7's nice and sharp, and I feel like I can hold on to whatever comes around. Marty Forman

2 of the top 5 baits for 50"+ Muskie in Muskies Inc. history were single hooked baits. The EagleTail and the M/G Spinnerbait. Pretty short sighted statement to say trebles are more reliable than singles on hookups. Appears it could be just the opposite.

Also you can vary the head weight on spinnerbaits to run at different depths.

I think you need to be a tad watchful with statictical accounts. You might find that the greatest tally of all muskies caught were taken on a jig'n minnow by walleye fishermen who were otherwise engaged. That would not support setting out on your musky hunt with 6-pound florocarbon and a pail full of flatheads. I am not trying to dis the conventional bent-arm spinnerbait. I know it catches fish, and I know it's far easier to keep moving in the water, which for the non-skilled angler greatly increases catch rates. I just really don't think you believe that six sharp points don't make it easier to hold on to a fish than one. You can easily argue that in-line baits catch so many fish simply due to the vast numbers of anglers who are using them, and there is clearly truth to that. There is also a whole lot of truth to the fact that there is no better bait for getting a hooked fish into the net. Marty Forman

I would have to agree with Marty about the spinnerbait vs. bucktail debate, but when I start to think about my bass fishing experience the best hookups always seem to come with single hook jigs or texas rigged worms.  I wonder is that because a bass has a softer mouth that you can really sink a single hook into, or is it because those fish are really inhaling the bait where with spinnerbaits/bucktails you get more nippers vs. inhalers (which maybe is a situation where the extra hook points really helps stick a few extra fish)?

Watchful. ????? Exactly were did you did you find your info on jigging Walleye fisherman leading the pack. hahahah Give me a break. if you actually believe that spinnerbaits are only for beginners, you my friend are missing an entire game plan on catching big Muskies and limiting yourself in the process. Spinnerbaits are the most versatile bait ever made and it's not just me saying that.

 I contend that single hooks  hooked in the roof of a Muskies mouth is not only a better hook up but is better for the fish and makes it much easier to release than cutting trebles out of their tongue. Of course I still use trebles on jerkbaits and cranks but if there is a choice I'd rather use a spinnerbait when I can.

 Also the roof of the mouth isn't movable vs. the lower jaw, It's  harder for them to get leverage on you hooked in the roof of the mouth vs. the hinged lower jaw hook up. Just my experience. You can believe what ever you want.

Heres my thoughts. You are applying one force to the bait through the line. In a single hook rig all of that force is transfered into one single point making the hook drive home much harder than a force that is spread out over 6 points assuming the fish has the bait  all the way in its mouth. A case could definatly be made for better hook ups with a single hook vs a treble on that basis.

To add to Josh's point (haha) here is a tutorial I wrote on sharpening big single hooks.

Like I tried to point out, (in a nice way) I'm not against the spinnerbait.....you'd have to be against Kevin VanDam to be against spinnerbaits and that would be like looking at Mrs. Chuck Norris like you wanted to get to know her a whole lot better. I was just saying, and am still saying, that in the musky sized versions, you have a better chance getting your fish into a net with cowgirls and the strategically placed #7's that went through musky angling like Grant went through Richmond. I'd also add that the better musky angler you speak to, the higher percentage of fish he'll say that he gets on figure eights. They all say at least 50% and a lot of them will claim 70% boated fish were caught on eights. There again, the ability to hook a following fish, especially with the shrink-wrapped more stationary rear hook on the original DCG makes it a clear winner over the spinnerbait that is notorious for being short-striked. Again, I have a few dozen really nice spinnerbaits in the boat including the brands mentioned above, and I am not putting them out on E-bay, I just recognize that each bait (like each angler) has his strengths as well as his weaknesses. Marty Forman

Ah man here we go. Just try one of these!

For whatever reason i prefer an inline bucktail trolled behind a trolling weight. 

I don`t think they hook em up any better.  I just like the profile better and i don`t have to worry how fast they will track. I have done pretty good on big weighted spinnerbaits too. IMHO eagle tail hooks are way too big.  They are dangerous for the fish and angler. Saw a well known guide kill a fish with a barbless eagletail. The hook went too deep and hit an artery killing the fish. I got nailed by an eagletail hook releasing a fish myself and got a huge gash on my hand. Pluss you need a huge compound bolt cutter to cut one. I just change the hooks to something more reasonable. Real fun way to catch them. I once got a fish trolling 11mph with a 14" Ghostail. 

The trolling weight system isn`t the safest thing to do either. they bait can swing wildly when you bring it in the boat so be careful.

Junkman I think the reason why people jumped all over you is because the way you gave advice to the original post. You made it pretty clear that there was no advantage to fishing spinnerbaits in open water when it seems like other people think differently, especially on the basis that you have less ability to hook up and stay hooked up. I have no idea how much muskie experience Jigger has but I know that I am relativly new to the sport and advice like that would have totally turned me off to the idea of throwing big spinnerbaits in open water a year or two ago when a case could be made for either. Bottom line is just make sure you dont post opinions like they are proven fact because in muskie fishing there is way to much of that, I think anyways.

Single hook lures hook very well!  Andy made that case for the Eagle Tail.  I never had an issue with hooking, and keeping fish on when I used Eagle Tails as well.  Same goes with using a very large shad tail with a jig head.  Once pinned you usually boat the fish.

Also, not sure how much suspended water fishing some of you guys do.  The nature of those fish in open water is not being nippers.  Those fish usually slash at or inhale baits, period.  I say usually as there are always exceptions.  Anyway if you were to throw a spinnerbait over open water you likely won't get a following nipper like you may when fishing structure.  Those fish out in the abyss aren't wanting to chase a bait around.  They usually see it from a distance (usually from way below), and rush up and inhale baits.

Hey, I don't mind folks jumping all over me.....I just prefer that they be female :-)  Marty

Hey, I don't mind folks jumping all over me.....I just prefer that they be female :-)  Marty

Something to add to Steve’s method of hook sharpening as I pretty much do the same method, but with all hooks just not the single hooks.  I start my swipe with the file at the point and push it into the point towards the barb.  Most start at the barb and push towards the point.  By starting at the point you don’t end up leaving a burr at the point like you would going in the other direction.  Same method you would use if sharpening knives.  Push into the edge not drag away from it.

You get very sharp hooks by creating that knife edge leading into the barb!

finally something we can all agree with junkman. hahaha

Well, we stirred up the hornets nest didn't we.  Nice discussion on inline vs spinnerabits and that St Clair Hound does look sexy.  My original though was for spinnerbaits in open water situations targeting Pike.   I leave the Muskies to others.  How does it work, do Pike prefer spinnerbaits and Muskies prefer inline bucktails?

I don't think you stirred a hornets nest. Just people responding with what has worked best for them. I included. I have fished Red lake Ontario with reletives for the last 15 years and when I brought a St. Claire Hound with me 2 years ago and used it everyone wanted to know where the hell i got it. I think when someone introduces a new bait to an area that has not seen that bait it creates a stir. And alot of the time it is just that the fish have not seen it before. I was litteraly catching 3 fish to there one. I am not the best caster in the world but it made me look so. I think because of the new presentation and new bait. You will find a ton of baits and peoples favorites and that is all this is. This has worked for me but maybe not everybody. Just my 2 cents

Hey Marty ask this fish what she thought of the single hooks on the fig 8 then ask the guys that got the hooks out. Absolutely nothing holds like a single 8 or 9/0.

I guess the answer is that when the fish is so big that you have to make that big a mess out of your shirt.....you must be doing something right! That pig looks longer than the boat is wide. Nice fish! Marty