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Barb Catch Fishing

Underspin Bass Fishing

The underspin is quickly becoming one of the most popular and effective lures in bass fishing. 

But you shouldn’t just tie it on blindly. 

First, you need to understand underspin bass fishing to the fullest.

What is an Underspin?

An underspin is a jig head or weighted EWG hook with a blade hanging below the bait. 

The underspin is designed to be used the a paddle tail swimbait, and adds some extra flash and vibration to the presentation. 

Think of the underspin as a more compact and natural looking spinnerbait. 

Underspin Styles

Jig Head Underspin

The jig head underspins are made with the same jig heads that you would normally rig a paddle tail swimbait on. 

They just have a small arm and blade attached to bottom of the jig head. 

These are ideal for open water and clear water fishing conditions.

Weedless Underspin

When fishing around grass or wood, you need a weedless variation of the underspin. 

These EWG, weedless hooks have a blade attached to the shank of the hook and hang just below the body of the swimbait. 

These underspins aren’t quite as natural looking, but are necessary for fishing around cover.

Finesse Underspin

Finesse underspins come in both the jig head and weedless styles. These are really effective in very cold water conditions. 

Or when fishing for smallmouth and spotted bass that prefer a bit smaller forage.

When to Use the Underspin

As with pretty much any bass lure or rig, the underspin can work all year round and in all water conditions. 

However, these are the best scenarios where underspins really shine and can be incredibly lethal.

The Fall Season

Without a doubt, the fall season is the most popular and effective time of year to use a underspin setup. 

During the fall and late fall, bass start to school up a bit and feed on the huge school of baitfish that are transitioning into winter. 

These bass will be suspended and looking for flashy prey. For years, the spinnerbait was the go-to lure for these bass. 

But bass have been conditioned to avoid spinnerbaits a little bit. The underspin is a much more natural presentation. 

The soft plastic swimbait is subtle, enticing, and realistic. 

And the small blade gives the lure a bit more flash and sets it apart from all the other shad and baitfish that the bass are hunting.

Pre-Spawn

The pre-spawn is actually very similar to the fall season. Water temperatures are fairly cold and bass are feeding up. 

Of course, water temps are going upwards and bass are feeding up for different reasons. 

But their behavior is actually very similar. One big difference is that bass will be much lower in the water column compared to the fall. 

So fish a heavier underspin to get the bait a bit farther down. 

Cold Fronts

You are probably noticing a bit of a trend here. Cold or cool water temperatures. 

Yes, underspins really shine when the water temps are a bit lower. 

There are only two scenarios where I will fish an underspin setup in the warm months like the post-spawn and summer. 

The first scenario is cold front fishing. When a summer cold front rolls through, bass get a little bit confused. 

The normal power baits like spinnerbaits or crankbaits might spook these cautions bass a little too much. 

But an underpin is still very natural and relatively subtle. It allows you to cover lots of water while not relying on reaction strikes from aggressive bass.

Overcast Weather in Clear Water

This is the second time where I will use underspins in warm water. 

Remember when I said that underspins are like more natural spinnerbaits. Overcast situations are ideal for spinnerbait fishing. 

But in really clear water, the visibility is still a bit too high for spinnerbaits in my opinion. But an underspin is absolutely perfect. 

It has the flash that gets bass’s attention in cloudy weather, but also has a natural swimbait body and action that looks great in clear water.

Where to Fish an Underspin

You can pretty much fish an underpsin anywhere. 

It works fantastic in open water for suspended bass and also works great around cover when using the a weedless underspin. 

I would say that underspins aren’t really shallow water lures. Under 2 feet of water, I wouldn’t really use them. 

They are best for catching suspended or cruising bass that are feeding on bigger schools of baitfish. 

Ultra shallow water bass are usually ambushing bluegill or crawfish. 

But outside of really shallow water, you can use a underspin pretty much anywhere with tons of success.

How to Retrieve an Underspin

Your retrieval is going to be very simple. Fish these the same as you would a swimbait or spinnerbait. 

A straight reel with occasional jerks. Retrieve a bit slower in really cold water and a bit quicker when the water temps are still rather high.

Gear for Underspin Bass Fishing

  • 7′ – 7’4″ Medium Heavy Casting Rod
  • 12-17 lb Fluorocarbon Line or 30 lb Braid with a 12-17 lb Fluorocarbon Leader
  • 7.1:1 – 8.1: Gear Ratio

Key Points

  • An underspin is a jig head or weighted EWG hook with a blade hanging below, enhancing a paddle tail swimbait’s flash and vibration.
  • There are different styles of underspins: jig head, weedless, and finesse, each suited for specific fishing conditions.
  • Underspins excel during fall, pre-spawn, cold fronts, overcast weather in clear water, and around suspended or cruising bass.
  • Retrieval methods mimic swimbait or spinnerbait techniques, with gear recommendations including a medium-heavy casting rod and appropriate line and gear ratio.

Reeling this In

Underspins offer anglers a versatile and effective tool for targeting bass in various conditions and water depths. 

Whether fishing open water or around cover, adjusting retrieval speed based on water temperature, and using the right gear, underspins can consistently attract and catch bass throughout the year, making them a valuable addition to any angler’s arsenal.

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