The Reebs Bolt Throwers are often referred to as "the most versatile" lure because they can be fished in nearly any condition, year 'round. They can be fished in winter, summer, fall, spring, hot water, cold water, muddy water and even clear water; from just under the surface to as deep as you want to fish it. It also is the type of lure that can be fished in, over, through and around many forms of cover.
The Bolt Thrower has a smooth, flowing action that mimics a swimming baitfish. The blades vibrate and flash, attracting the attention of bass. You can use the Bolt Thrower in most bass-fishing situations, but they are especially suited to fishing shallow cover or over eel grass. The most popular sizes range between 1/2-ounce and 1-ounce.
Bolt Throwers work best as a "contact lure", one that is bumped against structure. They usually should be fished at a slow to medium retrieve. Use 14 pound test line or better on a baitcasting reel and medium action rod. A heavy, swimbait-type rod often causes you to overreact when a strike occurs
pulling the lure from the mouth of the bass. After the lure enters the water, give it a little "pop" to get the blades moving. Sometimes fishing the Bolt near the surface (close enough so you can see it) is an effective technique. Note what you were doing when a bass hits - then try to duplicate it. A fast retrieve, in which the lure remains high and in sight in murky water, often produces well on feeding fish.
The best advice for fishing with the Bolt Thrower is to experiment with many different styles of retrieve. No single method works all of the time. On any given day, you should switch around with your retrieve until you find something that works. Stick
with it until it ceases to work, and then go on to another method.
Experiment with these different retrieves:
Contact
Locate a shallow water area or flat with current, eel grass, brush or weed cover. (Polarized sunglasses will help you detect submerged cover.) Cast well past your target and retrieve the Bolt slowly. Target docks and let the Bolt Thrower sink to the bottom and then raise your rod tip slightly and start a slow retrieve.
Wake
In murky, shallow water, cast past a logjam or other heavy cover and immediately raise the rod tip high and reel quickly. The Bolt will rise to the surface. Slow the retrieve slightly so that the blades do not break the water. The lure will throw a fish-attracting wake.
Buzz
In murky, shallow water, reel quickly with the rod tip held high; let the blades of the bait break the surface, creating a splashing sound.
Helicopter
When fishing steep banks, ledges or drop-offs, let the Bolt sink to the bottom on a tight line. The spinner blade will rotate as the Bolt drops. When it hits bottom, reel up the slack, raise the rod top slightly and drop it again.
Slow-Roll
When bass are hiding fairly deep along drop-offs or submerged cover, cast toward shallow water, point the rod tip down and retrieve very slowly, just fast enough for the blades to turn, so the bait will sink as it swims. A heavy bait (3/4 to 1 ounce) works best.
By: Mike Ryba
Owner, Reebs Lures
Reebs Bolt Thrower
not your avaradge Spinnerbait
Bolt Throwers work best as a "contact lure"
experiment with many different styles of retrieve