It was one of those summer mornings you dream of in winter. The water was smooth, the air was warm, and there was nothing on the agenda except fishing. The bass had been exploding on the surface, and silver minnows were shooting out as they were chased. I immediately reached for a topwater, assuming that would be the answer. However, after a few perfectly executed casts, my sexy little popper had only elicited a few half-hearted boils. So, then I began thinking: what could best approximate the silver flash of a minnow swimming just under the surface? I cracked open another Plano container and saw a selection of Mepps Aglia spinners. The silver bladed #4 looked to be about the right size and would certainly make some flash. The spinner was clipped on, the cast out towards where the bass were making mayhem. The first retrieve was met with a hard strike followed by an immediately hooked cartwheeling bass. A good start. The second cast made it a little further, before another smallie inhaled it. This fish stayed deep, and after a good tussle I managed to bring the three-pounder to my hand. For the next hour, I hooked a dozen bass of various sizes with no hesitation. It was a good reminder of the enduring appeal of the inline spinner to smallmouth bass. Spinners like... Spinners like the Mepps Aglia, Panther Martin, Blue Fox Vibrax, Williams Vortex, and EGB have proved their worth for all manner of trout as well as pike and muskie. However, in 2025, not much is said or written about inline spinners for smallmouth bass. This is unfortunate, as when it comes to covering water, and triggering strikes, the spinner is right up there with the best of them. It is also a lure that can be used in a variety of ways. Spinners are a lure that tournament anglers — at least in northwestern Ontario — quietly throw when everyone else is fishing cranks or plastic. In lakes where minnows are primary forage, spinners may be one of the best choices. Here is a guide to fishing spinners for smallmouth bass. Blades spinning In-line spinners are a simple and versatile presentation for bass. There are very few situations you will bump into where a spinner won’t produce. For instance, when bass are shallow, or on the prowl, the spinner covers water and attracts with equal power. The vibration and pulse of a spinner
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