What size spinner do you use for steelhead?

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I picked up a couple of size 3 Blue Fox spinners for steelhead fishing but am wondering if I should have went a size bigger. Any advice would be great. Thanks...
 
size 3 is good go-to size for most steelhead fishing but in clear water for summers I like size 2 and smaller. I hooked 2 steelhead last week in small, clear streams using a size 0 blue fox brass spinner. The hooks on this lure were small and I did in fact lose both fish, but a size 3 wouldn't have done anything but spooked these fish, in particular. The additional bonus is that the smaller lures will attract different species, adding to the fun-factor of your outing. The larger, size 3 and up will accommodate deeper holes, as it is difficult to get a little, light-weight spinner down to the bottom of these holes, so I do sometimes use them. I hope you catch a bunch this summer.
 
Have you ever tried a siwash hook on those smaller spinners? I've heard they can penetrate deeper and hold better but have never tried it...
 
yes Kodiak just said what i was going to say! good job! lol
 
I have yet to catch a steelhead, so I probably don't know what I'm talking about, but everything I read tends to lend itself to changing up the size and the color depending on water conditions - depth, clarity, temperature, etc. So I've been using darker (blue, purple, black) #2s and #3s lately since the water is clear and warming up into the low-to-mid 50's. In the winter when the water is a little cloudier and much colder in the low 40's, I go with brighter (pink, red, orange, etc) #3s, #4s and sometimes #5s. Again, yet to catch a steelhead, so take that for what it's worth!!
 
The number 3 blades on the BF's are the right size but the weight just isn't there... I have a buddy that uses nothing but number 6's and still slays fish. I've always just stuck to 4's when the water is lower and 5's and 6's when it's high. Blue fox needs to start making solid brass bodies that actually get the spinner down. I've taken a few apart and rebuilt the body with more weight. As long as you fish 8lb test line the #3's work good.

The way I look at it is, there's always a fish or two around that will bite metal, whether the spinner is a #3 or a #6... It get's in the fish's zone and they will either smack it or move out of their holding area. I've finally come to realize the size isn't that important. IMO. BLADE SPEED is the important issue. And a lot of the time those small spinners have way TOO FAST of blade speed. It's all about the angle.
 
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I'll use a swivel and 3' of leader with a piece of pencil lead pinched to a tag of line above the swivel to get a #3 down at times. And #2`s can be deadly in smaller/lower water.
 
i think its just a matter of the conditions...theres been days where i could catch them on #4, and the next day they would only hit #2, probably has to do with water quality, or number of fish in the hole....but truthfully any size 1-4 will work, ive caught some tiny fish on some big spinners!!! all about conditions
 
This has been said many of times, but do yourself a favor and get Jed Davis's book about spinner fishing!! Its full of info to cram your cranium with and it dramatically improved my catch ratio!! Cheers, Bob
 
I live in springfield. Where could i get this book? (the best) published one anyways. i have caught all my steelhead on spoons and a few nooks on spinners, but i want to get more steelies on spinners!
 
Bi mart usually has a few copies : )
 
Thanks for all of the replies everyone! I am going to stick with the 3's and 4's where I'm fishing and will pick up the Jed Davis book-can't get enough fish porn...
 
Brass kills them!
 
It depends on the size of river that you fish.
I fish bigger water and I need a properly weighted #4 to do the job.
I agree with mike123 (and Jed) that Taco Bells (Blue Foxes) are not properly weighted.

Tacos will work over aggressive fish because they will come up to attack it.
It is still always better to get in his face.

Also, as stated, the secret is in controlling spinner blade RPM and depth.....that's it.
It's not easy, but that's it.
Master that and you will be addicted to brass for life.

Thump, thump, thump, bang!
The 2010 summer campaign......game on.

DD
Who loves to fish behind a Tacoman or a featherflicker :whistle:
 
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I like a #3 colorado blade. The blade allows the spinner to ride higher in the water and spins with the lightest retrieve.

Mark
 
ive fished the north coast rivers for years and i can tell you our best success has been #5 blue fox spinner any color i do prefer brass this last weekend my son and i landed 2 steelhead and lost 5 people think we are crazy for using #5 they tell us all the time the river is to low for that big of spinner but we slay every year on the summers in the lowest flows of the year my theory on why the number 5s work so well is the spin of the blade but i think the most important part is in low river conditions for the fish to waste energy on a smaller bait or waste it on a bait that going to fill their stomach of course i catch my share of summers with boober and jigs as well as something fisherman forget to try in low water and thats to use the ole corkies and yarn in deepr holes another problem is people forget a steelhead is a trout and acts the same as a trout good luck
 
Another theory that i think works, is that in low clear water conditions. Anglers mainly throw spinners from the size 0-3 and 4 for steelys. So they see those sizes a lot. Throwing a bigger spinner may spook the fish, But it also may increase your chances because its a different size being tossed (something different for them steelies to get at!)
 
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