Make your own spinners!

[Brian]

Here is another tutorial on making your own spinners. This tutorial will cover assembling a spinner from start to finish. In this example we are using Pen-Tac components, but the steps are basically the same for making spinners out of any components you may choose to use.

The first step is to gather all your components...


then start by adding a split ring or hook to the spinner shaft, in this example we are using a split ring to allow easy hook changes.


Next, add your body and slide it down over the preformed end...


and then add your bearing.


After that add your blade & clevis.


The next step is to make the eye of the spinner, start by grasping the shaft approx. 1/4" - 3/8" above the clevis...


and form a loop with the tag end of the shaft.


add your swivel and twist around the shaft...


two complete revolutions.



use your pliers to center the eye on the shaft...


and then trim the excess with your wire cutters.

 
On this spinner we are adding adhesive tape to the back of the blade. Cut a rectangular piece of tape to fit the back of the blade.


Peel the backing off of the tape and apply the tape to the back of the blade...


so that it looks like this.


Mike thinks this next step is most important.   Moisten the tubing so that it will slide over the hook shaft easily.


Push the tubing over the eye of the hook...


so it looks like this.


Add the hook to the split ring on your spinner and you are finished.


I hope this tutorial helps any of you who have been thinking about trying this. Making your own spinners is very easy and you end up with a better quality spinner than you can buy in the stores, for about half the price. After you've made a few you can easily complete a spinner in only a minute or so. I want to thank dardevle for assisting in the making of this tutorial. I think you will all agree that he has a promising career ahead of him as a hand model if he ever decides to leave Bushwood!

Thanks Mike!

[bugnuts]

Great tutorial guys...though I do feel compelled to offer an alternative picture for step #14:



 

[Andrew]

I knew you guys would come through on this. 

I think you pretty much hit on everything I needed to know to get started, but I do have some follow-up questions:

I've listened to the back and forth debate on siwash vs. treble hooks for quite sometime. I've typically opted for the siwash, but it looks as though you guys went with the treble here. Do you think treble is the way to go on these spinners, or is that just what you happened to have on hand?

You used Pen-Tac components. Is there a difference between Pen-Tac and Mor-Tac such that you prefer Pen-Tac or is this, again, just a matter of what was on hand?

The colored tape and tubing is obviously optional, but I'm sure it gives an advantage sometimes. I know the Jed Davis book is highly recommended, but, if I don't get around to it before I find myself making spinners, what are a few of your best producing color combos for summer-runs beyond plain brass and tarnished brass?


With that additional information, I should be good to go with spinner building, and ready to fish with a second rod (carried by none other than the Third Ball™) on June 1st.

Thanks again.

Andrew

Nice alternative scenario, there, Matt. Who knows what went on in that garage?

[Brian]

Andrew, heres my take on  your questions:

Trebles vs. singles: On smaller spinners I prefer trebles. I think they balance the spinners better. In addition, for my summer fishing I am using lighter tackle and a soft action rod. I have had trouble driving the larger siwash hooks home with this lighter setup. With the trebles I have lost far fewer fish.

Pen-Tac, Mor-Tac, Fishermans Shack all make quality components, this is just what we had on hand when taking these pics.

For summer fishing I usually use brass, tarnished brass, or black. You can add whatever colors you like,  but I prefer to tone down my summer spinners and rarely add any extra color to them. If you do add color I would stick to greens, blues or black, nothing to flashy!

I'm sure others will have their opinions as well, good luck!



Somehow I knew bugnuts would have fun with that pic!

[dardevle]

I kind of threw on the treble to raise some eyebrows.  Some think it is taboo but in the smaller summer-run spinners in size 0-3, I believe you achieve the proper gap while maintaining the balance of the spinner with the treble.  I would highly recommend pinching the barbs so as to not hurt the smolt and smaller trout that sometimes can be a nuisance to spinner fishing.

I think both companies make quality products and finishes.  I think the Pentac spoon has a slight edge in design but with the spinners I don't see any huge difference.  During salmon season, I like the 4.5 size Pen-tac offers.  For my summer-run spinners I chose Pen-tac because they offer the dingbat blade.  It is a little longer and narrower which helps the small 1's and 2's get down a bit easier than the traditional french blade.  Pen-tac has a new ownership that I really like dealing with that is kind of "mom and pops", for now, and I really like working with Bobby Killingsworth and his wife.  My last order was a few days late and they threw in 30 free blades for my trouble, plus they are great people to chat with on the phone.  All that being said, Mor-tac has been totally great to deal with also.

To simplify the spinner choices for summer I would think about 3 things.  Low light, brass and kelly green tape and tubing (sizes 3 sometimes 2).  Bright conditions but overcast or mid morn early evening go with tarnished brass with dark green prizm tape ( size usually 2 but maybe 1).  It's noon and sunny, go with black blade with a tarnished brass body, no tape or tubing ( size 2's and 1's).  This is a oversimplification but I'm sure a guy would do just fine all summer with this formula, as long as he is fishing the right water.  Of course the lighting affects wher the fish lay also.  To simplify this, the more intense the light the more likely fish with hold in the fast shallow riffles and heads of holes.  The lower the light, the fish will hold in water that is more consistant with winter-run fish.

[Fllyfishy]

Nice Tutorial Boys!

Too Funny Matt.

[bluenote]

Great tutorial fellas...now it'll be even HARDER to wait for my components to get here!! 

One thing that concerned me though...when I placed my order with Bobby last week, I asked for sz 3's (you guys beat me to the punch - he was out) but said he does well with the 4.5's  ...am I correct in thinking that may be TOO big? 

He's calling me when the 3's are done so I ordered some 2's just in case to tide me over.  We'll see how it goes.  Maybe I'll tarnish some of those bigger ones before I try em out.

[dardevle]

I had the same problem.  I just ordered size 3's from Mortac.  I got them fast and they are exactly the same.  The 4's and 4.5's will definately be too heavy.  Get you mortac order in today.  I used their online catalogue with good results.

edit:  I was talking about bodies.  He had everything I wanted except #3 bodies.  If you are talking about blades, for summer-run, I wouldn't fish anything bigger than size 3 and my favorite size would be #2.

[bluenote]

Thanks Daredevle...thats what I thought.  Will be calling Mortac for the 3's today! 

[rvrfshr]

Bluenote,
             hopefully you get the correct size #3 bodies as there seems to be some confusion as to what the difference between a #2 and a #3 is with them lately (Mortac). Don's bodies at F. Shack are my new favorites.
                                                                                                             Joe
                                                                                                                           

[Eric]

I want to make some summer spinners out of Pen-Tac components.  What size bodies should I use for #2 dingbat and #3 dynamic blades?

[Brian]

I just put together this quick video tutorial on building spinners as well. It is a pretty big file so you dial up users may be in for a wait on the long download, sorry. I plan on updating this outdated pictorial on building spinners using rvrfshr componenets instead of the now defunct MorTac stuff soon.

And no complaining about the Dave Edmunds soundtrack, thats is some killer vintage stuff from Dave! If you don't like it you can turn your volume down.

http://www.steelheadnotebook.net/videos/rvrwhirler.wmv

[Steelie Maniac]

That is sick brian.... i might have to get loaded on some spinners after christmas 

[BigCohoTom]

Great video.  Love that rock 'n' roll.  And a fantastic end product !