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[canucksfan233]

What's your take on copper vs silver blades for spoons/spinners?

I've heard copper for cloudy, silver for sunny. I feel like its more luck and if a fish is willing to bite.

[RalphH]

Great question and I'd add gold into the mix. I think gold and copper are very similar though I realize some are fanatics about copper.

From what I can find gold (and copper?) absorbs blues and green while it reflects more orange and red plus much more into the UV spectrum. That should be more effective in lower light and colored water.

Silver reflects light across a a broader spectrum so looks "whiter".

I am a fanatic about gold flash in my flies particularly in the fall through spring. I also prefer gold for spinners and spoons for salmon and steelhead. Still I carry examples of both (and copper).

Yet on days when I had really good action and ran out of gold, switching to my stock of silver spinners I did just as well as with the gold. Best I recall that was also true of cloudy days later in the fall. My guess is spinner design may be  more important or perhaps it's just the willingness of the fish to strike!

[RockyShowers]

I've caught some nice trout in rivers on copper spoons but never a salmon. I have caught salmon on "crazy hot" spoons with silver/white sides and green/pink/black accents. I've caught some large female white springs floating silver colorado blades when the roe bites turned off. Cloudy or sunny it seems the whites take the silver. Have not personally had success with other colours.

[banx]

Kind of like the same idea about bright days, bright presentation.

I am the past vice president of the colorado blade fan club.  I used to make them at home with quality components.  Especially good siwash hooks.

copper, brass and silver.

Brass was my go to and worked most conditions.  Brass or Copper in the morn, silver from the afternoon till dusk.  They work well under a float as well, but I preferred to cast and feel the bump.
They work exceptionally well for coho in frog water.  They also troll great on their own with a split shot tipped with worm or shrimp on our coastal and interior lakes.

[canucksfan233]

Do you feel like the shape of the blade matters? Colorado vs Indiana

[jim]

Indiana blades are for faster speeds, colorado for slow speed.

[RalphH]

Indiana blades are for faster speeds, colorado for slow speed.

or fast vs slow currents or retrieves. I personally favor French and Colorado blades. Some people prefer heavier gauge metal on blades, hammered vs non, etc.

[clarki]

They work exceptionally well for coho in frog water. 

Agreed. Costs a fraction of what commercial spinners cost so you are less reluctant to toss it into woody hidey holes.  Also they are unweighted so less of a splash hitting the water which I think helps with a stealthy approach. With unweighted you sacrifice casting distance but hidey hole fishing is often close quarters anyways.

[RalphH]

the simplest way to make a spinner with a Colorado blade is with 2 swivels and a split ring:



most commonly fished under a float. You can of course use a spinner harness (wire) as commercially available spinners are made. Requires a few more components and a little more manual dexterity.

from: https://www.bcfishingjournal.com/project/how-to-build-colorado-spinner-blades/

[canucksfan233]

the simplest way to make a spinner with a Colorado blade is with 2 swivels and a split ring:



most commonly fished under a float. You can of course use a spinner harness (wire) as commercially available spinners are made. Requires a few more components and a little more manual dexterity.

from: https://www.bcfishingjournal.com/project/how-to-build-colorado-spinner-blades/

Does the blade shape of this matter?

[RalphH]

I would think size and shape matter so this is when you have to do a little research and experimenting.

Another style of spinner that is easy to make is the Wedding Band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=889cTYAL6t8&ab_channel=WESTOFI-5

[canucksfan233]

Do you cast or drift those? Those blades are about the same shape as mine in the video.

[RalphH]

As I said you need to do some of your own research. I primarily fly fish so am not an expert on blade types. Generally Colorado blades work well with less less motion. French blades are similar. Basically the more narrow and long the blade the better it works with faster speed or current.

some info to look at:  https://www.fishandsave.com/blogs/gofishin-journal/a-guide-to-spinner-blades-types-and-application?srsltid=AfmBOoqWvhRpbYV3M_tr-pJb6QOyFOe4nOWTSQCi6McJR0BZvdhn-eOi

[clarki]

Do you cast or drift those? Those blades are about the same shape as mine in the video.

Wedding bands are meant for trolling. Their length and light weight makes them impractical for casting.

The Colorado blades that @RalphH described above are best suited for drifting. You can certainly cast them (which I do) but since they are unweighted your casting distance is limited, as is the depth of water that you can effectively fish. I typically use them in areas of close quarters fishing where there is minimal current.

Does the blade shape of this matter?

@Jim answered that well. Although that little rig is nicknamed a Colorado blade, you aren't restricted to just using a a Colorado-style blade. I most often use a French-style blade. You can use any style or colour of blade that you think works best under the circumstances.

[RalphH]

I can cast the colorado swivel rig in sizes up a #3 with a #6 SH fly rod. Two handed rod it's no sweat. I often add a Siwish hook with a bit of hackle & sparkle chenille. The Wedding Band was very popular on the Fraser during the '23 pink run. I have also caught coho on them. Just need to add a few split shot or a worm weight or something similar just above the your swivel and anyone can chuck it 50 to 100 feet no sweat.