Retrieve:
While it
is already entertaining to customize your own lures the excitement really begins
once you start reeling the spinnerbait back to you. Anglers used to fishing
spinnerbaits will notice that these lures create more commotion in the water
than your average bait. The secret rests in the unique arm and blade design.
Unlike other spinners that rely on swivels the inline blades produce greater
vibration and track better while at the same time emitting a wake unlike any
other spinnerbait. The lure can be customized to be a slow roller or a burner.
We noticed that during our tests the SWL rolls over less than our traditional
spinners. We attribute this to the higher position of the blades coupled with
the fact that they are inline and free floating. When it came to fishing drops
we also observed that both of the SWL’s blades would spin during the drop which
is unusual, since with most spinnerbaits only the rear larger blade will rotate.

Just hours after fishing
the SWL baits I was already a fan of the interchangeable system. In varying
parts of the Delta the water clarity can vary greatly, as well as the
vegetation. During our initial tests JIP fished a traditional spinner and I was
able to draw more strikes with a few minor tweaks right on the water. When in
murkier water in the sloughs we noticed how much less effective JIP’s smaller
bladed bait was. In this situation high vibration and greater sound output is
desirable. I upsized both blades in my setup and sure enough my strike ratio
increased.

Another interesting
observation is that on six out of seven field tests the SWL showcased a higher
hookup ratio when fished by the same editor. We turned our engineers back to the
lure to find out why. Other spinners we used featured many of the same sized
blades and even an identical hook. The answer is the design of the arm/blade
design. If you look at most spinnerbaits they feature a symmetrical “V” shaped
design. The metal arms that hold the blades on the SWL also act as spacers
between the blades themselves. This entire arm is flexible, like a joint, and as
a result can be knocked in any direction during the strike, whereas with a
normal spinner if a fish hits the blade high the fixed wire can get in the way.

Durability: The SWL
spinners we tested were put through the ringer. Because most anglers
intentionally put their spinnerbaits in harms way in an effort to pull fish out
of structure we stress tested the spinners by casting them repeatedly into rocky
shorelines. The lures held up very well under duress, and even after weeks of
fishing the lures the powder coated paint job looked excellent. There were the
normal kicks and scratches but no flaking or gouges in the head. The Mustad hook
point remained very sharp on our test lures, no sharpening was required, and
there was never any sign of rust.

Overall the lures held up
as good as the average spinnerbait, but when it comes to maintenance they really
shine. On a traditional spinnerbait the quality of bearings has a lot to do with
how true and how well the bait runs without rolling over. With the SWL design
each and every lure we tested ran very true, even when piggybacked with some
vegetation. Conventional spinnerbaits are also harder to keep in pristine
condition. All spinners take on damage to both the blades and the skirts, but
unlike the SWL these components cannot be swapped out in a matter of seconds.

Price & Applications:
Secret Weapon Spinnerbaits are sold by a number of retailers and online via the
company’s own store. The baits come in a variety of different configurations
ranging from a single bait for $7.99, to a mini kit which is a single spinner
plus 4 interchangeable blades for $10.99, to complete 57 piece Pro Pack for 99
dollars. My recommendation is to start with a mini kit, and move up to a Pro
Pack if you like the mini kit. The Pro Pack is a tinker’s dream. You can mix and
match skirts, blades, and heads in countless configurations. The Pro Pack comes
loaded in a Plano 3650 box which fits nicely in many bags. Premium spinnerbaits
routinely sell for 7.99 and up, and while 99 dollars for the Pro Pack may seem
like a big investment it really isn’t when you consider what you are getting for
your money.

This one kit can replace
all your other spinnerbaits and give you the ability to tailor your baits
anywhere. So for the price of roughly 10-12 normal spinnerbaits you have a
complete system of baits that can actually do more than the average off the
shelf lure. The ability to really get creative is what I like most about these
lures. You can choose to run a single blade, a tandem, or even build yourself a
triple blade to simulate a school of baitfish. The ability to up and downsize
the lure quickly makes this a fantastic spinnerbait for Largemouth bass,
Crappie, Walleye, and even Pike, Muskie, and even Redfish and Snook. When it
comes to versatility no other spinnerbait even comes remotely close.

Ratings:

Pluses and Minuses:

Conclusion: There
are baits that we say are designed to catch fisherman more than fish. In the
case of Secret Weapon spinnerbaits I can honestly say these baits manage to
appeal to both anglers and their quarry equally. These lures are the first
spinnerbait that I can honestly say I have gotten excited about testing. Not
only do they offer a unique new tool to really “match the hatch,” they also are
engineered with many advantages. Superior action, increased displacement, better
hookups, and extreme versatility are all functional advantages of the Secret
Weapon Spinnerbaits. The overall implementation of this bait is exceptional.
There are many products that are engineered well in theory, but not implemented
well. The SWL bucks that trend in a big way. Not only does the lure function
well but the blades, skirts, and heads showcase a premium design and finish.
While they may cost more per unit than the average spinnerbait they also offer a
lot more and can actually be more economical than a box full of baits
if you consider how quickly and easily you can create vast assortment of
spinners. Bob Rickard, the inventor of Secret Weapon Lures, has a real gem on
his hands with the radical SWL design. So good in fact that we are doing
something we previously thought would be unachievable, awarding our esteemed TT
Innovation Award to for a spinnerbait! The SWL is just that good, and bass
everywhere beware, the "Secret" is out…

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