Beetle Spin; the best freshwater fishing lure?

Is the Beetle Spin spinnerbait the best freshwater fishing lure? That is subjective and maybe hard to quantify. However, I am going to make the case that it is. One thing for sure, it is my personal favorite freshwater fishing lure!

My name is Capt Jim Klopfer. I grew up fishing in Maryland and surrounding states before moving to Florida in my mid 20s. I now summer in the North Carolina mountains. I have fished many years in a lot of locations and the Johnson Beetle Spin lure has produced for me everywhere.

The Beetle Spin spinnerbait

The Beetle Spin comes in several sizes, 1/32 ounce, 1/16 ounce, 1/8 ounce, and 1/4 ounce. It is also available in a variety of colors. I use black with a red stripe most of the time. Green and white are my other favorite colors. The grub body may not look like much, but this simple and inexpensive lure catches a lot of fish.

One of the keys to the success on the Beetle Spin is the fact that it is so easy to use. In most situations, a slow steady retrieve is best. The lure is cast out, allowed to sink, then reeled in at a slow, steady pace. I usually give it a sharp twitch in the beginning to get the blade turning. The lure is fairly weedles like most spinnerbaits, but will snag occasionally and load up on weeds. Finally, it is very economical.

Many anglers consider the Beetle Spin a panfish lure, and for good reason. In the smaller sizes it is deadly on bluegill and panfish. However, it is a versatile lure that has but a variety of species in the boat for me. These include bluegill, sunfish, crappie, brown, brook, and rainbow trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, spotted bass, pickerel, pike, catch, and more!

Best rod and reel for fishing the Beetle Spin

The Beetle Spin is made for ultra light and light spinning rods. I use a 6′ ultra light rod and 4 lb test monofilament line for the smaller sizes. I use a 7′ light rod with 6lb monofilament or 10lb braided line on the larger sizes. Here is a link to an article on the best fishing rod and reel.

Fishing for bluegill and panfish with the Beetle Spin

As mentioned above, the Beetle spin is an incredible panfish lure. Aggressive bluegill devour it! Spotted sunfish, redear sunfish, red breast sunfish, warmouth, rock bass, yellow perch, and crappie will all take a well presented lure. If I want action and numbers, I go with the smallest 1/32 ounce size. When targeting larger panfish for a meal, I usually opt for the 1/16 ounce bait, it weeds out the smaller fish.

Generally speaking, I retrieve the lure only as fast as needed to get the blade turning nicely. Slow, steady retrieves often produce best. Fish will hit it on the initial cast as the blade will spin on the fall. Fallen trees and brush are prime spots. Weed edges often produce. Trolling slowly along weedlines is an extremely effective technique that will help anglers locate bluegill and other species.

Fishing for crappie with the Beetle Spin

Crappie will most certainly hit a Beetle Spin! I do go up to the 1/8 ounce size as I often fish deeper water. The 1/8 model has a larger profile and sinks faster. I troll for crappie as often as I cast for them. Sunken brushpiles, channel edges, docks, and shoreline cover are all good spots.

Fishing for bass with the Beetle Spin lure

Anglers can catch plenty of bass of all varieties on the Beetle Spin. Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass will all be fooled by anglers casting these lures. They are fished like any other spinnerbait. However, there are situations where they produce best.

While they can catch fish at any time, bass fishing with Beetle Spin lures shines in several situations. These are in clear water, pressured waters, and post cold fronts. If that sounds a bit like finesse fishing, you are correct! The Beetle Spin really is a finesse spinnerbait. Scaled down, smaller profile, more of a subdued thump of the smaller single Colorado blade.

Beetle Spins produce best around cover when bass fishing. Weedlines, falled trees, brushpiles, docks, and rip rap are all good spots. I use the Beetle Spin quite often when fishing rivers for smallmouth bass. It is very effective and is relatively snag free.

Trout fishing with Beetle spin lures

Not a lot of anglers specifically target trout using the Beetle Spin. That is a mistake! It does well in trout streams, even in some stronger currents. I moved to western North Carolina a few years ago. I have caught plenty of trout using them.

Most anglers east of the Mississippi River are fishing for stocked trout, Generally speaking, they are not that wary. However, they do see a lot of lures and flies. Spinners are quite popular. Often times it is the angler casting something a bit different who gets the strikes, Trout do become accustomed to seeing the same offerings. Trolling can be very effective in lakes.

In conclusion, this article on fishing with Beetle Spin lures will hopefully get anglers to give these simple yet versatile and effective lures a try!