Underspin

Specialty — underspin swimbait head

Written by — professional Central Texas bass fishing guide since 2000. 50+ years fishing these waters, 26+ years guiding, thousands of trips across all 16 lakes he personally fishes. More about Bryan →

· · Knowledge base v2026.07

The underspin is a weighted swimbait head with a small blade beneath it, paired with a paddle-tail. The added flash of a swimming shad makes it a top pick for schooling and pressured fish, and it doubles up on white bass, stripers and hybrids on Central Texas lakes.

Why: Flash-and-swim for shad feeders.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Swimbait Fishing · Offshore / Ledge Fishing · All bass lures

Verified Answered by , Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 12, 2026

Why it works

A swimming baitfish with a subtle blade flash catches shad-feeders that ignore a plain swimbait, especially in low light or stain.

Brands that make this style: Fish Head Spin sponsor, Strike King, Z-Man

As an Amazon Associate, Texas Hawgs earns from qualifying purchases. Brands marked sponsor are companies Bryan proudly represents — see the sponsors page.

Underspin at a glance

Family
Specialty
Sizes
1/4-1/2 oz head
Weights
1/4-1/2 oz
Water temp
45-80°F
Skill level
●●○○○
Bryan's confidence
●●●●○

Catches: Largemouth Bass, White Bass, Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Smallmouth Bass

When to throw it

Best seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring

Best conditions: Shad Spawn, Wind, Cloud Cover

Where to throw it

Depth: 2-25 ft; cover: Open, Grass; structure: Points, Flats, Channel Edges, Bait Schools.

How to fish it

Rig it with: Swimbait Fishing, Offshore / Ledge Fishing.

Retrieve: Steady wind at the fish's depth so the blade spins and the tail thumps; slow-roll deep or count it down.

Color selection

By water clarity — Clear: pearl, shad · Stained: white-chartreuse

By forage — Shad: pearl, shad, white

Common mistakes

  • Blade too big, killing the swim
  • Wrong depth for the fish
  • Reeling too fast

Pro tips

  • A small willow blade adds flash without overpowering the swim
  • Deadly over schooling white bass and hybrids

Keep exploring

All bass lures · Swimbait Fishing · All techniques · Central Texas bass fishing guide

Want to catch 'em on a Underspin? All tackle is provided on a guided trip. See rates and book or call 512-762-0190.