A hook dressing, be it a palmered hackle, dyed bucktail or a synthetic material like Flashabou, adds fish-attracting action to a spinner. (Photo courtesy of Dusty Rhoads)
August 04, 2025
By Kade Gewanter
Carpenters have hammers, bricklayers have trowels and trout anglers have inline spinners, the classic lures that get the job done. Invented by French engineer André Meulnart in 1938, the spinner’s design is quite simple yet incredibly effective: a stainless steel shaft, a spinning blade attached via a clevis, a brass body for weight and a dangling treble hook often dressed with a palmered feather or fur for added attraction.
These timeless fish catchers have likely brought more trout to the net than any other artificial, proving that simplicity is often the key to success. And while it’s pretty difficult to fish a spinner ineffectively, there are a few tricks that can ensure consistent success, especially as water temps rise throughout the blue-chip trout fisheries of our country’s Southeastern states. Below is all the info you’ll need to know to get started.
Bright colors are often the key to triggering bites in murky or stained water. (Photo by © Alexander Lukatskiy/Dreamstime) FEEDING WINDOWS As most devotees know, trout thrive in cold water and feed most actively in temperatures ranging from 40 to 70 degrees. While these ideal conditions are common throughout the Southeast during fall, winter and spring, the transition from late spring to summer brings a rapid rise in water temperatures that often puts the brakes on trout feeding during the hotter stretches. Those slower periods are precisely when spinners shine, producing reaction strikes even when trout are not in a feeding mood.
“Spinners attract fish with the flash and vibration from their revolving blade, triggering their predatory instinct,” says Nik Kolbeck, communications director for Mepps , a leading producer of inline spinners. “Like a cat chasing a toy, fish can’t resist the urge to attack a passing spinner.”
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While there are no silver bullets in fishing, trout anglers can improve their chances of success by picking the best windows of opportunity. For instance, during the summer months, water temperatures drop slightly overnight and during the low-light periods of dawn and dusk. These cooler stretches tend to result in more oxygen-rich water conditions that give trout a boost of energy and often spark feeding activity.
Another great time to target trout in the summer is after a light rain, which provides a desired water-cooling effect. There is, however, a delicate balance, as too much precipitation can quickly turn your favorite trout stream into a muddy, unfishable mess.
When water temps rise in summer, trout hole up in areas with the coolest, most oxygenated water. (Photo by © Alexander Lukatskiy/Dreamstime) CONDUCIVE LOCATIONS Spinners can be fished at various depths, from as much as 12 feet to less than a foot. This versatility is especially useful in the summer, when trout can be found throughout the entire water column. Nevertheless, a good starting point is always the deepest water available, where some of the biggest fish often lurk, usually out of the swift current.
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As mentioned above, trout don’t feed as heavily during the summer months, so conserving energy can become a concern of theirs. One way they achieve this is by staging in spots like pools, undercut banks, current seams and confluences, where they won’t miss easy pickings served by the current but don’t have to constantly face its brunt.
Pools are deeper sections of a river or stream, often found below a series of rapids. The term “deep” is relative, as even 3 feet of water can be hard to find in some mountain streams. But trout are drawn to these areas for the cooler water and reduced current, and many baitfish also gather in such spots, further adding to their draw.
When fishing a pool with a spinner, it’s important to use one heavy enough to effectively cover the bottom portion of the water column. With a slow retrieve, work both ends of the pool, as well as the deepest section in the middle. If one pass doesn’t result in a hookup, don‘t give up. It may take a few times for a trout seeing a spinner go by to finally commit. Undercut banks are formed when the current gradually erodes the riverbank, creating a shaded pocket underneath. Heavily wooded riversides increase the likelihood of these features, as robust root systems help prevent shoreline collapses. Along with shade, these areas also offer cooler water, making them superb ambush points from which a trout can quickly dart to grab a disoriented prey species swept by the current.
To effectively fish an undercut bank with a spinner, focus on angles. Start by casting upstream and parallel to the bank. Follow that with continued casts, gradually moving closer to the main current and using varying retrieve speeds. Lastly, it is always worth trying to skip the spinner underneath the undercut bank to force any hidden fish to react.
Remember that the current acts as a conveyor belt, constantly serving a buffet downstream. Predators like trout often position themselves along the edges of the current, in areas called seams, where the faster water meets slower or still water. These seams let trout stay out of the current while keeping an eye out for passing forage. As with undercut banks, effectively fishing seams requires casting the spinner in a way that will mimic the movement of naturally occurring prey. Begin by casting directly up the seam, then thoroughly explore both the current and slack sides. Since trout tend to cycle through current seams over the course of a day, consider hitting particularly promising areas at different times during a single outing.
Quality trout waters often have numerous tributaries that bring in fresh nutrients, create complex currents that disorient a trout’s prey and, most importantly for summer fishing, bring cooler, swifter water from higher elevations. I like to fish my way upstream at any feeder streams or creeks I come across, as trout often follow the cooler water. Almost always, a deep pool forms where the two currents meet, so take your time and fish all the features of a confluence point.
By the way, should a cast result in a bite or a hooked fish, repeat it. Wherever there’s one trout, there are often more of them nearby.
A rainbow holding motionless along a river seam will often spring to life when a flashy inline spinner flutters by. (Photo courtesy of Rob Mackesey) PICKING YOUR ARSENAL Inline spinners come in a variety of colors and weights, with most models ranging between 1/8- and 1/2-ounce. Anglers intent on targeting trout should carry a good assortment to handle any situation they may encounter, including some with gold blades and some with silver blades. Beyond that, it’s wise to include some louder color options such as fire tiger, chartreuse and red to fish in stained water, and glow-in-the-dark if you’ll be fishing after sunset. Nighttime is when some truly gargantuan trout—especially browns—often hunt. Experimenting with both dressed treble hooks and naked ones can also be worthwhile, as trout sometimes show a distinct preference for one or the other.
When it comes to weight, remember that if a spinner is too light, the current can disrupt its blade rotation, greatly diminishing its attractiveness. I usually go for the heaviest that will still produce bites, as I’m typically targeting the biggest fish in the system, and there are plenty of times when a heavier spinner is necessary to reach productive depth and garner a bite. Of course, there are times when a finesse approach is necessary, like when fishing a small, ultra-clear stream, so I always have spinners as light as 1/16-ounce on hand for those occasions.
TACTICS AND TACKLE To fish a spinner effectively, start by making a long cast and giving the lure a moment to sink before beginning the retrieve. Reel just fast enough to feel the vibration of the blade spinning, adjusting your speed depending on the situation and depth. Throughout the cast, I’ll occasionally pause the retrieve to let the spinner sink before engaging again, which helps me stay aware of its position in the water column. Don’t hesitate to vary your speed; sometimes a subtle increase in retrieve speed or a well-timed snap of the rod tip can coax a big bite.
When it comes to your rod-and-reel selection, I recommend a quality spinning setup that will handle any situation you’re likely to face. I find a 6-foot, light or medium-light rod with a fast action paired with a compact reel perfect for spinner duty. My personal choice is a G.Loomis GCX Lite series rod matched with a 500-size Shimano Vanford A . And since trout often inhabit areas with dense timber and rocks, a light braided line, typically 5-pound test, is essential, as is a long fluorocarbon leader (about a rod’s length) to fool line-shy fish.
This article was featured in the June-July 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe
