4 Fabulous Ways to Fish a Spin’n Image Topwater Lure

Versatility is one of the greatest attributes the newest topwater lure from Heddon. These four techniques will prompt fish strikes in a broad range of situations.

You’ve likely caught the buzz about the new Heddon Spin’n Image, and hopefully you have had an opportunity to fish with one. As more anglers put this bait to the test and report their success, one thing we continue to hear at Lurenet is that this lure is exceptionally versatile. Anglers across the country are using Spin’n Images a LOT of ways and in broad range of settings to catch bass and other gamefish species.

With autumn always bringing on some of the best topwater action of the year and that season just starting to settle in, it seemed like a good time to break down some of the best ways to work a Swim’n Image.

About the Spin’n Image

Taking its shape from the popular Spit’n Image – which got its name from the observation that it was the “spittin’ image” of a real shad – the Spin’n Image is the newest addition to a popular family of Heddon Lures. The original Spit’n Image is a walking topwater lure. The Pop’n Image is a popper that also walks well. The Swim’n Image is a wide-swinging shallow crankbait that is shaped like a Spit’n Image.

The new Swim’n Image is tail-spin topwater lure. A fin on the rotating back end creates a unique gurgling buzz as the bait moves forward, and a hole in the fin creates a distinctive sound and leaves a bubble trail behind the lure. The tail turns easily with even the slowest forward motion, but the bait runs true at high speeds.

The Spin’n Image is 3 1/2 inches long and weighs 1/2 ounce and can be fished on spinning or baitcasting tackle. It is equipped with No. 4 Black Nickel treble hooks.

1 – Steady Retrieve

Starting with the simplest presentation, which will be tough to top in many situations, cast the Spin’n Image, crank it back so it churns steadily across the surface, and cast it again. Reeled steadily, this bait calls fish like a buzzbait and prompts attacks with its shad-like profile. A steady retrieve allows you to cover water and to work cover from a variety of angles.

It’s noteworthy that steady doesn’t necessarily mean fast or aggressive. Sometimes plodding along with the lure moving just quickly enough to keep the tail action engaged is the key to coaxing strikes from fussy fish. At the other end of the spectrum, when fish are aggressive and in ambush positions around cover, you almost cannot crank the reel handle quickly enough.

Usually, the truth lies in between, so experiment with speed to figure out the fish’s moods. Whatever the pace, keep the rod low and in front of you so you remain postured to set the hook.

2 – Planned Pauses

The second presentation is only a slight variation, but it can be an important one and allows for a more proactive approach to prompting strikes. When fish are following a steadily churning bait or watching it from an ambush point, pausing the motion and starting it again can alter things just enough to trigger a strike – often making fish feel like a would-be meal is getting away.

It’s probably worth acknowledging that fish sometimes get spooked when a bait they are following suddenly stops in front of them. That said, the net effect is positive frequently enough that it’s worth trying some pauses as you experiment with presentations.

Vary the length of pauses. Often the perfect pause is more of hesitation, with the reel handle barely stopping before you move it again. Other times a pronounced pause causes the fish to come investigate, and they jump on the Spin’n Image as soon as it starts moving again.

Watch for key spots as you fish: An isolated stick-up, a drop at the edge of flat, a point along a grass line, a brushpile atop a point… Plan pauses for key spots to increase your odds of making fish bite.

3 – Sweeps

Another highly effective retrieve that is largely overlooked is to move the lure and engage its action with sweeps or the rod, using the reel only to take up line between sweeps. This creates a stop-and-go action the fish often cannot resist and punctuates the lure’s action.

Working the lure with sweeps and pauses gives you great control of the action for triggering strikes and helps you pattern the fish’s mood. Vary the length and speed of sweeps as you fish as well as the length of pauses. Test methodical cadences, with consistent modest sweeps, and a more erratic approaches where you mix things up with a retrieve, and always think about what you were doing when fish bit.

Again, it’s important to watch for those key spots within the path of the presentation. When the bait hits a key spot, vary the presentation, whether by pausing longer or by adding a quick short snap instead of a sweep.

4 – Walk the Dog

Finally, the Spin’n Image lends itself to “walking the dog” like you would do with a Zara Spook or a Spit’n Image. The side-to-side sweeps aren’t as wide or gliding, but with methodical snaps, the bait will dart from side to side, with the tail churning with every movement.

Walking the dog slows the presentation without pauses and gives fish a target they can really zero in on. It works extra well for working over flats or the tops of long points, where you might need to call the fish from a broader area. And at times, it’s simply the right action for the fish’s mood.

To walk a Spin’n Image, keep your rod tip low and snap the rod tip repeatedly with a bit of slack in the line. Quick, short rod movements and a slight loop in the line that pulls tight with each snap are the keys to successful walking. It takes a bit of practice, but with the right movements and timing, this bait will walk very nicely.

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