JDM Spinners Shop

The JDM Spinners Shop brings Japanese lure design to American anglers who prefer spinners. In Japan, spoons are more popular in lakes, and minnow plugs are more popular in streams. In the US, spinners are more popular by far!

Given that Finesse-Fishing has carried a wide (and growing) selection of spoons and plugs, but up until now no spinners, you might think that I am dead set against spinners. That is not the case. I've just never been happy with spinners that are readily available in the US.

Nearly all come with the predictable barbed treble hook. If you look hard enough, you might find some single hook spinners, but only with ungainly barbed Siwash hooks.

The spinners I've chosen to carry have a different design philosophy. First they come with a built-in swivel to reduce line twist. Second, they come with a single barbless or micro-barbed hook.

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Smith Niakis

Some months ago I got a nice compliment on the site from a truly international angler (lives in South Africa but has fished all over the world). However, he said that he didn't understand why I didn't stock the Smith Niakis spinner. I replied that I had a bias against spinners because they cause line twist. He said the Niakis doesn't. In his words they "genuinely don't twist line and are lethal on panfish, bass, trout you name it. Clever design, built in power swivel and offset bodies. These Smith spinners are the real deal, fished them lots on mono, no line twist."

The Smith Niakis is obviously not the same design as the Palms SpinWalk Clevis but both share several design elements that I believe set them apart from the spinners that are readily available here in the US.

• Built-in swivel to reduce line twist
• Stirrup rather than folded clevis (spins more easily)
• Single hook (micro-barb), split ring attachment

It is very rare to see a split ring to attach the hook on a spinner but it is valuable for two reasons. First, it allows you to change the hook if it gets bent, broken or dull. Second, it acts like a universal joint and greatly reduces  the chance that a twisting trout can get leverage to twist the hook out.

The Smith Niakis comes in more weights and colors than I could possibly stock. I'll start with the a few spinners in the 3 gram weight (just over 1/10 oz). The 3g Niakis comes with a size 1 blade and a size 8 Gamakatsu hook. The 6g Niakis comes with a size 6 Gamakatsu hook. The Niakis also comes very highly recommended.

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Smith AR-S Single Hook Trout Model

The same international angler who recommend the Smith Niakis spinners also recommended the Smith AR-S spinners. The basic design is similar to the familiar Panther Martin, but the Smith AR-S SH model comes with a built-in swivel and a single hook.  As he told me with the Niakis, these Smith spinners are the real deal, fished them lots on mono, no line twist."

The spinners come with a single barbless size 8 hook.

Two gram size is perfect for spinning gear and possible with BFS.

When using these spinners, be ready for an immediate strike. Smith writes that they are effective on the fall. A start-stop, darting retrieve is also possible with this spinner design.

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Palms SpinWalk Clevis

These spinners have several design features that I think sets them apart from the average spinner you can get in the US.

• Built-in swivel to reduce line twist
• Stirrup rather than folded clevis (spins more easily)
• Keel-shaped weight reduces snags
• Single barbless hook, split ring attachment
  

The 2.6 gram spinners are just under 1/10 oz. They come with a single barbless size 6 hook. The French blade is a size 0. The 3 gram spinners are just over 1/10 oz. They come with a single barbless size 4 hook. The French blade is a little larger than a size 1 but quite a bit smaller than a size 2.

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Shipping

Domestic shipping is by USPS First Class Mail (unless ordered along with a rod). The $4 charge will be added to your order automatically.

International shipping is by USPS First Class Mail Intenational (unless the entire order is over $400 or the order requires a box longer than 24". The shipping charge depends on the destination and the weight, length and value of the package.

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