Spybait Gear Guide
Often overlooked by anglers, but not by bass, spybaits are a highly effective finesse bait that excels even when the bite is tough and the fish are less active. Built with two spinning props on a small minnow body that's normally 4” or less in length, spybaits generally weigh around the 3/8 oz mark, making them a finesse bait that's easy to cast long distances and cover water. The two metal props are designed to spin and create an underwater commotion, sending out more vibration and flash than what most anglers realize.
Why Spybait Fishing Works
Shining in clear water where the minimum visibility is at least 3 ft, spybaits deliver a sinking action that allows them to be fished at a range of depths. An excellent option for targeting fish that are feeding on tiny baitfish, anglers can utilize a spybait to catch suspended largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass in various environments. Featuring a unique build that looks like a propbait and jerkbait hybrid, spybaits are designed to create a rolling body action that ignites the predatory feeding instincts of nearby bass.
Quick Gear Guide
If you're just looking to get started spybait fishing:
| Category | Recommended |
| Spybait | Start with 2 Standard (70-90mm) Spybaits & 1 Large/Heavy Version. Colors: Ghost, Metallic, and Solid. |
| Rods | 7'-7'6" medium-light/moderate fast spinning rod |
| Reels | 2000 to 3000-size spinning reel |
| Line | 15-20lb braid with a long (10-15ft) 4-8lb fluorocarbon leader |
Choosing the Right Spybait
Spybait Sizes:
- Small (70mm and smaller) - when bass are feeding on smaller forage, higher up in the water column, or when you're targeting other species like panfish or trout.
- Standard (70-90mm) - Most common spybait size. Best size for imitating baitfish and targeting bass in the middle of the water column.
- Large/Heavy (90mm and up) - when bass are eating bigger baitfish, or you are wanting to reach deeper depths with the heavier weight.
Spybait Colors:
- Ghost/Natural/Translucent Colors - Work best in clean water when the water visibility is greater than 4ft. Also an excellent choice when fishing pressure is high.
- Metallic/Flashy Colors - Colors with a metalic or prism base add a touch of flash and are ideal for clear-to-stained water, anytime fish are feeding on baitfish, or there's a little wind.
- Solid/Bold Colors - Reach for solid colors any time you have some stain to the water or you are looking to fish a little deeper. Light penetration decreases in deep water, so you want a solid or bold color to create a strong silhouette, like solid white, black, or chartreuse, that's easy for fish to see.
Featured Spybaits:
Spybait color tip:
Match the hatch
Whatever color you choose, let the local forage be the guiding light. Whether bass are feeding on shad, bluegill, or yellow perch choose a color that is close to what bass are targeting.
Choosing the Right Spybait Rod
When building your spybait setup the right rod is essential to ensure you generate adequate casting distance and a solid landing ratio. Traditionally, a spinning rod is the norm, one that is similar to the rod you would use for fishing a drop shot.
Suggested Spybait Rods
| Type | Length | Power | Taper |
| Spinning | 7'-7'6" | Medium-Light to Medium | Moderate Fast |
What is the best length for a spybait rod?
7' to 7'6 is the perfect length range to ensure you are able to generate enough distance on your cast while maintaining control of your lure.
What's the right power for spybait rod?
A medium-light to medium power lets you handle big fish while not being too stiff for the light weight of your spybait. We recommend spending a couple extra bucks to make sure you have a sensitive rod that can detect subtle bites.
What's the ideal taper for a spybait rod?
A moderate-fast taper is best since most spybaits come with sharp, lightweight treble hooks. You don't want to overpower the bait with a rod action that's too fast and will rip the treble hooks away from the fish. A moderate-fast taper also allows the bait to load up so you can get a longer cast, which is critical for fishing a spybait.
Suggested Rods:
Choosing the Right Reel for Spybait Fishing
Suggested Spybait Reels
| Type | Size |
| Spinning Reels | 2000-3000 |
What size spinning reel is best for spybaits?
For spybaits, most 2000- to 3000-size spinning reel will get the job done. Pay close attention to the reel's IPT (inches per turn) as spybaits are a slow-speed technique and it may be difficult for some anglers to maintain the steady crawl that allows them to excel.
How much drag do I need for spybait fishing?
As with most finesse techniques, the smoothness of the drag system is going to outweigh the importance of overall stopping power. A high-quality drag is critical to prevent big fish from bending out light wire treble hooks, breaking your line, or ripping the hook out of their mouth. Consider spending the extra bucks on a premium spybait reel that will deliver a seamless perfromance with light line.
Suggested Spinning Reels for Spybaits:
Choosing the Right Line for Spybaits
Suggested Line for Spybait Fishing
| Type | Test |
| Braid + Fluorocarbon Leader | 15-20lb Braid & 4-8lb Fluorocarbon |
Can I Use Straight Fluorocarbon for Spybaits?
Yes, you can use a straight fluorocarbon line for spybaits. Some anglers actually prefer fishing with a straight fluorocarbon line due to its sinking properties that help get their spybait down to deeper depths quicker and easier.
What type of braid do I need for spybait fishing?
A thin-diameter, 15-20lb braided line provides a couple of key advantages for spybait fishing, like increased sensitivity and casting distance. Avoid lines that are too big
Suggested Spybait Line:
BFS for Spybaits
Can I Use BFS Gear For Spybaits?
Yes! For lighter spybaits, bait finesse gear is a super fun alternative to a spinning setup. The lower IPT (inches per turn) is perfect for fishing a spybait with a slow retrieve. Spybaits are easy to cast a long distance, so just pay attention to line capacity when selecting a BFS reel to ensure you have enough line to accomodate a country mile cast.
Spybait Modifications & Rigging
Check your hardware and see if you need an upgrade. Stock hooks on hardbaits are sometimes not the best, so check the quality and sharpness of your hooks to see if you need to swap them out for something better.
Split Rings
Replace weak stock split rings to prevent failures out on the water and ensure the best connection that won't bend, break, or open up during the fight.
Hooks
Check out your stock treble hooks, and if they are dull or weak, switch them out for some premium sticky-sharp trebles that you trust. This will ensure a better hookup ratio, especially when you are fishing with light tackle.
Swivels?
No, not for spybaits, as they disrupt the bait's action. Always avoid using swivels with a spybait.
When Do Spybaits Work the Best?
Water Clarity
- Spybaits work best when the water is clear and visibility is above 3 feet.
Time of Year
- Summertime when fish are schooling offshore
- Wintertime when bass want a slow moving finesse presentation
- In the fall when baitfish move to the back of pockets
- Post spawn once fish start moving back out to deeper water
Zones
- Mid column- when you can see suspending fish on your graph
- Points when fish are staging on the outside of key structure
- Offshore humps and bait. When you want to get underneath schools of bait or creep over humps
- Flats, spybaits are a great bait to cover large chunks of water, especially when you are dealing with roaming smallmouth or spotted bass
How Do You Fish a Spybait?
- Make a long cast.
- Count the bait down to the desired depth.
- Slowly begin reeling with a steady cadence.
- Avoid twitching or popping the rod, as this will interfere with the natural action of the bait.
The Keys To Spybait Fishing
- Depth control
- Get used to the fall rate of your bait
- Use line or electronics to accurately gauge where your bait is in the water column
- Try not to overpower your bait, a slow consistent retrieve allows your spybait to create a natural rocking action
- Remember this is a finesse technique, slowly reel it and let the bait do the work
Key Takeaways
Spybaits are unmatched when the water is clear and the fish are less active. Bass find it hard to resist a singled-out baitfish that's stranded from the pack, and that's exactly what a spybait imitates. Also great for targeting aggressive bass, a spybait can mimic a recently stunned baitfish, making schooling bass that are blowing up at the water's surface think they got an easy meal. If you frequently fish pressured waters with clear visibility, try keeping a spybait tied on to ensure your success when the fishing gets tough.
