Underspin
A jig head with a small spinner blade hung beneath it, dressed with a swimbait - a subtle, flashing swimming lure that shines on schooling and clear-water bass.
The underspin is a swimbait jig head with one addition that changes everything: a small willowleaf or Colorado blade hangs on a swivel beneath the head, spinning as the lure swims. Paired with a soft swimbait, it delivers a natural, baitfish profile plus a flash of blade underneath, all while staying compact and easy to keep in the strike zone. It's a favorite for schooling fish and clear water, where a subtle swimming lure with just a touch of flash out-produces louder options.
What it is & how it works
A weighted jig head with a spinner blade attached below on a swivel, dressed with a soft swimbait or fluke. On a steady retrieve the swimbait paddles and the blade spins, throwing flash and a little vibration under the bait. It reads as a single fleeing baitfish with a flickering, injured-looking shine - subtler than a spinnerbait, more visible than a plain swimbait.
When & where it shines
Schooling bass chasing shad on points, flats and open water, clear to lightly stained lakes, and cold-water or pressured situations where fish want a natural swimming profile with restrained flash. It shines fished around suspended fish, over ledges, and any time you spot bass busting bait and need to match a lone shad with a little extra attraction.
How to fish it
Cast to schooling or located fish, count it down to their depth, and retrieve steadily so the swimbait swims and the blade spins. Slow-roll it deep, swim it through a school, or let it flutter on the fall to fish reacting to bait. Add occasional twitches or speed changes to trigger followers. Keep the retrieve smooth so the blade never stops turning.
Tackle & rigging
Medium to medium-heavy spinning or casting tackle with fluorocarbon, matched to head weight. Rig a paddle-tail or fluke-style swimbait on the head's hook, keeping it straight so it tracks true. Match head weight to depth and the size of the swimbait. Keep the blade swivel free-turning.
Colors & sizes
Shad, pearl and natural baitfish tones for clear water; a nickel or gold blade to match light conditions. Downsize for pressured and schooling fish keyed on small shad; go bigger for larger forage. Keep it natural - the underspin's edge is subtlety.
Common mistakes
Reeling too slow so the blade doesn't spin, rigging the swimbait crookedly so it rolls, fishing above or below schooling fish instead of at their depth, and choosing a blade or profile too big for the small shad the bass are keyed on.