by John Delaney, December 15, 2008

To 'Stare'
a) to gaze fixedly; especially with eyes wide open at fishing lures!

I was a kid that loved to fish. When I got to the local hardware store's fishing racks, I stared a lot and gazed fixedly for sure! I scanned the lure choices searching for my favorites, the right color, a new blade, a style that I may not have. Spinner choices were limited during my earliest days in central Wisconsin. Hungry brook and brown trout, on the other hand, were plentiful in the Rib River.

Growing up in Wisconsin, I found French spinners in the local hardware stores and immediately grew to like fishing with spinners. They gave me a way to cover more water, to see, smell, and hear more nature. Walking through the shaded woods from one fishing spot to the next offered exciting solitude. Bounding from rock to rock to cross a stream out in the riffles and rapids were lessons in agility and balance.

My favorite spots along the streams all had names; the Dells, Sandy Bottom, Black Bend, Behind the Old barn and the Rock Crossing. Fishing brought a mind clearing excitement and passion that refueled the next trip back to the water, there was just no escape!

I still fished bait because we loved to catch night-crawlers! At night after a light rain or a heavy dew we'd be out with our flashlights crawling around getting dirty, trying to be quicker than the worms and stock our worm box. We didn't mind digging for worms but catching night-crawlers was just more fun!

Fishing with spinners became my summertime passion. I never minded getting my feet wet, and fishing streams in deep brush always provided an opportunity for a splash or two (a habit that's endured the years). Later after leaving Wisconsin, I discovered Panther Martin, then Blue Fox Vibrax and now days, Fish Creek Spinners.

Granted, I design and make Fish Creek Spinners, so what would you expect me to say!
My life's experience fishing with spinners has taught me a few things about them that I'd like to share. What I have recognized is that many times, you want 'Noise on the Line'.
More components = more noise on the line = more fish attraction.

That said, here's my summarization of popular spinner component counts. I picked what I believe are popular models for several familiar companies. They are my old favorites or more familiar models in my opinion. Then, with the noise on the line argument on my mind, I counted components.

Panther Martin = 6 components; imported by Harrison Hoge from Italy, now China
Mepps Aglia = 9 components; imported by Sheldon's, Inc. from France
Abu Reflex = 6 components; imported from Sweden by Abu Garcia
Blue Fox Vibrax = 8 components; Made in USA, Minnesota
Wordens Roostertail = 6 components; Made in USA, Washington
Fish Creek Spinners Armadillo = 14 components; Made in USA, Colorado
Fish Creek Spinners Paddlefish = 18 components; Made in USA, Colorado



The more components on an inline spinner, the more noise there will be during rotation, as the blade rotates, collides and grinds against the spinners body parts, the more the better. In the case of the Armadillo, you'll notice wear marks on the inside of the blade, where the metal discs have worn contact lines. Those wear marks don't come without vibration under the water and reflection and vibration attract fish.

I’m convinced that noise is an essential component often overlooked when it comes to fishing. Overlooked by trout anglers, that is. Bass anglers have known for a long time that rattling, clacking, and attention getting devices can make the difference for catching bass. Maybe trout anglers learned long ago “shhh – you need to be quiet, you’ll scare the fish!” Sometimes it’s good to challenge conventional wisdom – which is just what Fish Creek Spinners do.

If this sounds like an advertisement, I guess it is. All I can tell you is trout anglers throughout America are discovering another edge in their battle with the noble trout.

That's my story, and I'm sticking with it, because it's the truth!

Try some Fish Creek Spinners - alternative lures that catch fish! And put some 'Noise on your Line'!

*Editor's Note - check out the Holiday Special Fish Creek Spinners is offering to readers of WL.com HERE.