# Spinner guide

> A spinner guide for trout, grayling and perch: choosing size and colour, how to fish a spinner, and well-known spinners like Mepps and Blue Fox.

Source: https://finnfisk.no/en/spinnerguide
Language: en
Alternate: https://finnfisk.no/spinnerguide (nb-NO)

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Field guide · Lures and colour

A blade spinner is often the simplest and most catching lure for trout. Here are size, colour and retrieve. All advisory.

Updated 6 October 2026

## Which spinner size should you use?

Size 2 to 3 is the all-round choice for trout and grayling in rivers and lakes.

Go down in small and clear waters, and up for big trout, pike and current.

Spinner size, and what each size suits

| Size | Suits |
| --- | --- |
| #0–#1 | Small waters, shy trout and clear water. Light gear. |
| #2–#3 | All-round for trout and grayling in rivers and lakes. |
| #4–#5 | Big trout, pike, and fishing in current and wind. |

## How do you fish a spinner?

Reel just fast enough for the blade to turn, and use small pauses and changes of speed to trigger fish that follow.

### Steady retrieve

Reel just fast enough for the blade to turn. You should feel it pulse in the rod.

### Fish upstream

In a river, cast upstream or across and let the spinner follow the current back.

### Count down

Let the spinner sink and count before reeling, to reach the depth the fish hold at.

### Vary it

Small pauses and speed changes often trigger takes from following fish.

## What colour should the spinner be?

Use silver in clear water and sun, gold or copper in coloured water and overcast weather, and fluoro or red in murky water.

### Silver

Clear water and sun. Lots of flash.

### Gold / copper

Coloured water and overcast.

### Black

Bright light or dark water, a clear silhouette.

### Fluoro / red

Murky water or sluggish fish.

[Pick a colour for the light and water](https://finnfisk.no/en/fargeguide)

## Well-known spinners

Mepps Aglia is the classic blade spinner and a safe first lure for trout.

### Mepps Aglia

Trout & grayling

The classic blade spinner. Silver in clear water and sun, gold in peaty water and overcast. A safe first lure for trout.

### Blue Fox Vibrax

Trout & perch

A vibrating spinner that sends out sound and pressure through the water. A good choice when the fish are sluggish or visibility is poor.

### Mepps Black Fury

Trout

A dark blade with dots gives good contrast in overcast weather and coloured water.

### Spesial Spinner

Trout & perch

Unique because it spins even at low speed! That lets you fish deep, where the fish often hold. A freshwater classic.

Source: Sølvkroken

## Common questions

### What spinner size suits trout?

- Size 0 to 1 in small streams and clear, still water, 2 to 3 as the all-round choice on most lakes and rivers, and 4 to 5 for big water, heavy current or larger fish. Where the water is full of small fish, size down: a spinner they cannot get their mouth around only produces followers. [Blade, size and colour](https://finnfisk.no/en/spinnerguide)

### Why is my spinner twisting the line?

- Because the blade rotates and drags the line around with it. A snap swivel between line and spinner solves it, and is the simplest reason to keep a few in the box. Without one the twist builds until the line coils and eventually fails. [Swivels in the kit list](https://finnfisk.no/en/utstyr)

Read next

- [Lure guide The lure types and when to use what](https://finnfisk.no/en/slukguide)
- [Spoon guide Weight, colour and retrieve](https://finnfisk.no/en/skjeguide)
- [Plug guide Types, depth and retrieve](https://finnfisk.no/en/wobblerguide)
- [Fly guide Flies, class and technique](https://finnfisk.no/en/flueguide)