Holiday Fish Creek Spinner Contest Giveaway

Update 12/13/12

23 entries counting recent orders and new Facebook and Twitter Likes.

Here's the drawing entry list assigning sequence numbers.

Because there were 23 entries, there'll be three $50 winners - another additional prize was added at each 10 entry boundary.

The three $50 winners get/need to pick their poison from the website store using the retail prices to get around $50 worth or at least provide a category, small, medium, large, walleye, trout, trolling, etc and I'll pick a mix. Also send me an email (fishcreekspinners@gmail.com) with choices, a surprise me note, or a category. Also include your current shipping address information, even if I might have it.

Here's the three $50 winner sequence numbers selected using Random.org

Being in a holiday mood, I decided to add another 5 winners of $10 worth of spinners (about three spinners). Same drill there, send me an email with your category choices or surprise me and I'll see what I can find. Again, include your current shipping address information, even if I might have it.

Here's the five additional winner sequence numbers.

Putting back on the spreadsheet here's the list.

Thanks for your participation.

Merry Christmas, and hope you continue your support into the new year!

This one's tougher, but the Holidays are a great time to run a Giveaway Contest.

Seasons Greetings from Fish Creek Spinners!

New to the blog or Fish Creek Spinners website?

You can find information on our product designs, fishing adventures and other posts using the mouse over tabs at the top on the 'What's New' row or take this link to the web site.

What does my version of $50 worth of spinners look like?

Trout and Salmon

Fish Creek Spinners Holiday contest

2 red 1/16oz Glass eye catchers,  2 blue 1/10oz Small Armadillos, 2 purple 1/12oz Nitromites, 2 orange 1/8oz Glass Armadillos,  2 green 1/5oz Metal Armadillos, 2 red 1/5oz Metal Armadillos, 2 salt white Hot Rods, 2 brown 1/8oz Transformers, 2 lime 1/3oz Metal Armadillos

Large Species

One 3oz Double Bite Armadillo, Two 1oz Zonker Spinnerbaits, Two 1oz Spikes

A bunch Trolling Cowbells -

Two 32 inch Gold Willows, One 32 inch Hammered Copper, Two 18 inch Daredevil Indiana's

Fish Creek Spinners Web Store

The drawing is active - Now through 12/12/12 (gives me time to ship before Christmas)

The Fine Print

Time has not been kind in the social networking space and it's likely there isn't going to be a happy ending on my attempts to get value from time spent networking on Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

Some of the best minds and SEO vendors prompt that I need -

      More Likes on my Facebook Business page..
      More LinkedIn followers...
      More Twitter followers....
      More Blog followers.....
      More Plus's on Google Plus........
      A Yelp Page
      A Foursquare Page - what the heck?

So here we are... What'cha gonna do, John?

Got lots of new spinners.
Got lots of motivation to increase brand recognition.
Haven't done any spinner contests in a few months.

To enter the contest before it closes on 12/10/12 -
1) Comment the blog post leaving some amount of information to track you down and
2) Do as many of the following that you choose (each provides another entry in the drawing).

Either -

Facebook?
'Like' the Fish Creek Spinners Facebook Page

Google Plus?
'Follow' the Fish Creek Spinners Google Plus Company Page (Do a search on Fish Creek Spinners)

LinkedIn?
'Follow' the Fish Creek Spinners company page on LinkedIn
or Endorse the John Delaney page on LinkedIn

Twitter?
'Follow' John Delaney @fishcreekspinne on Twitter

Blog?
'Join' the Noise on the Line Blog (over on the top left - Blue 'Join the Site' button)

Need Spinners?
Order some from the Fish Creek Spinners web store - and you're entered - I had to mention that one. In the stack, it's the only one that keeps us in business! There's a GreatGifts 30% discount code and it's active until 12/20/12. Just sayin'!

Feel free to do several if you want, more entries will up your chances of being chosen as a winner. Do a comment and all of them, you're in with seven entries.

e.g. Blog Comment and Facebook Page Like = 1 entry

or Blog Comment, Facebook Like, and Spinner order = two entries;

or Blog Comment, Facebook Like, Google Plus Follow, and Spinner order = three entries; etc.

Still feelin frisky? Well then, what do you win?

Lets see... how about $50 worth of spinners, shipped free? Got plenty already? They make good stocking stuffers too.

A winner will be picked using Random.org.

Every multiple of ten people to enter, I'll add another prize. The down side fine print is that if less then 10 people enter, the prize changes to a couple spinners for every person that entered.  Still not a bad deal.

Got this far and not interested? Feel free to share the post, the more visibility the more spinners in mail boxes!

Merry Christmas!

Eye Catchers and Crossin' the Border

The edge on Monotony

This time of year, the workshop is maxed out in the clutter and mindless repetition of inventory replenishment - Production.

I love the production cycles of the job. Production keeps the hands busy and fuels industry.

Assembly also offers time to think deep thoughts, sort problems, and reflect - all to the rhythm and beat of components shuffling, the snap of stainless being trimmed, and rise, fall and grind of wire former rotation.

Pull them components. Assemble them Armadillos. Twist them R bends.  Bag'em.  Repeat...

Mind numbing repetition can be a healthy stress reliever. Production cycles rock!

Yep,  I've tested this water and like it.

However, what I've found is that monotony lurks at the fuzzy edge of mindless repetition.

In my opinion, one side's good, the other's bad.

Crossin' the border - to catch a Leprechaun

Production demands an ever-present jolt of awareness - the sub-conscious monitor that prevents the mistakes.

The jolt that lets me see I just put two blades on the same clevis, missed a bearing bead, missed a wrap on a knot or on the 'safety' side of things - was about to stick a hook deep into my thumb - OUCH.

Leprechauns at work, just sayin'.

Beep! Earth to John.

Where the hell am I going with this?

Whew, thanks. Sorry, I kind of got wrapped around the axle.

Charging the jolt

The fun part of being prepared while restocking inventory with production, brings about demands for new models - a chance to hone the creative edge - e.g. charging the jolt.

That means taking a break in the production routine to try a few experiments; asking product-improvement questions and having some component fun.

One thing about spinners, there's sure lots of shiny stuff to tinker with.

Finally -

Eye Catchers -

I've come away from experiences with walleye rigs, prism eyes, and flat glass beads, with an appreciation for this 'component set' as becoming exceptional fishing swag.

They catch fish and look good in a package, on your line, and in a fish lip = Potential.

So, over the first hurdle (finding the inclination), I've decided to try using them on other inline spinners and fish species.

Because of variations across species, several sizes and colors of the beads and eyes would work best and provide some flexibility as time passes. You just don't know, what you don't know. Ya know?

First things first, I tracked down a source and ordered more then I'll likely need. One can never have too many choices, right?

Got to get more in the water if you want them to put a catch on, you know what I mean?

Got an order of glass and decided to make a new model, I'll call Eye Catchers. Three sizes. These are the first and smallest at 1/16oz.

 Each model will have the unique flat glass tail bead with a prism eye, sized to match the bead, lacquered to it on each side.

Blade and hook substitutions can be made to your preferences.

For Small blades; #2 Colorado, #2 Indiana, #2 French, and small Propellers. Maybe a couple others if I look around at the painted blades.

Hooks; #10 brass Trebles or #6-8 black nickel offset single hooks. I also listed the bait rig on these to see if there's any interest.

These spinners will catch stream fish and work fine in places where controlled shorter casts are needed; lots of brush, flip casting, side casting, etc.

 Here's a few pictures.

Check the web store Eye-catchers for all color, blade, and hook choices. 

Oh yeah, watch out for those Leprechauns!

Crawler Haulers

Up until now our Walleye rigs with Mustad Slow Death hooks have all had propeller blades with clasp swivels, most with Glass Prism eyes.

Like this -

Fish Creek Spinners Prop Dart Walleye harness

And some with double propellers like this with the swivel on front 4ft. leader - 

Fish Creek Spinners Walleye Prop w/ Mustad SDCH

Guys were requesting other non-prop blades and although I've got plenty on trout spinners, I had not built any for walleyes.

Recently, I've made time to start planning next seasons course corrections. One was to build more walleye choices and address that request for some crawler rigs with different blades.

Looking at my current blade inventory, I came up with two models - an ultralite 1/20oz version and a 1/10oz with slightly bigger blades.

Blade choices include - Inline's, Indiana's, Colorado's, Swing's, Small Prop's and of course small June Bugs!

These are all shown with Mustad Slow Death Crawler hooks (SDCH), but both versions offer blade and hook substitutions for online shoppers - 'Build a Spinner' for walleye!

All are packaged with a 4ft 20# mono leader. The blades and bodies are strung on stainless wire, not strung on the mono line. That means tying a few more knots.

All knots are 7 wrap modified cinch knots. To keep them lighter, I used .021 stainless and 35# crane or barrel swivels without clasps.

Here's a few pictures  of the 1/20oz and #1 blades -

FCS #1 White Inline - Fluor Green w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #1 Green Inline - Transparent Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDH

FCS #1 Blaze Orange Inline - Black glass w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #1 Nickel Indiana = Fluor Green w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Samll brass Propeller - Fluor Green w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Black #1 Indiana - Fluor Green w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Small Nickel Propeller - Fluor Green w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS  Nickel #1 Indiana - Fluor Orange w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #1 brass French w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #1 Gold Indiana - Fluor Orange w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #1 Black Inline - Transparent Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #1 Silver Inline - Fluor Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

Here's a few of the 1/10oz models - bigger #2 or #3 blades, more body beads

FCS #2 Brass Inline - Orange Glass w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #1 Fire Tiger Colorado - Transparent Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #3 Black Swing - Fluor Orange w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #3 Super Willow - Transparent Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #3 Super Willow - Transparent Red w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Black #3 Swing - Fluor Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Green #3 Swing - Transparent Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS #2 Nickel Inline - Black Glass w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH 

FCS Black/Green #2 Colorado - Fluor Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Black #3 Swing - Transparent Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Glow #2 French - Glow body w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Green #3 Swing - Fluor Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

FCS Nickel #2 June Bug - Transparent Yellow w/ swivel attached Mustad SDCH

Here's a couple links into the web store if you care to stop by

1/10oz Walleye Spinners

1/20oz Walleye Spinners

Cheers and Noise on the Line!

Hunting theme fishing spinners

Tis the season!

Just bought some brass - .308, 9MM Ruger, .40 caliber S&W and had to build a few fishing spinners. If I can string it on a wire, it's going to get in the water!


Casings are centered on the wire using beads on other components to add weight and balance.


Here's a few pictures.

1oz Muskie Blaster - .308 Winchester brass casing - #7 Gold Willow Blade - Split ring attached #1/0 buck tail dressed treble hook.

Fish Creek Spinners .308 Muskie Blaster fishing spinner

3/4oz 9MM Ruger - #6 Nickel Inline blade - 9MM Ruger nickel body - Split Ring attached #2 zonker dressed treble hook.

Fish Creek Spinners 9MM Ruger fishing lure

1/2oz .40 caliber Smith and Wesson - #6 Brass Inline blade - .40 caliber S&W brass casing - Split Ring attached #2 zonker dressed treble hook.

Fish Creek Spinners .40 caliber Inline Spinner

Here's a triple shot assortment -

Fish Creek Spinners Hunting theme spinner assortment

Noise on the Line - Scented with Cordite!

Saltwater Jack Crevalle on Skirted Armadillo

Now how's that title conjure up an image, lol.

The spinners I sent to Angola from the Foothills of Colorado to the Kwanza River Delta in Angola, survived their jointed journey through Florida and arrived intact. Tom has them in hand.

It's great timing because his brother is visiting from Europe and they will be fishing for tarpon and other big saltwater species this weekend. I love it when a plan become real!

A friend of Tom's at the Kwanza Lodge took them out for a shakedown cruise yesterday, getting them wet and river tested before the weekend trip.

Here's a picture I received this morning, hopefully more to come!

Gary's Jack Crevalle 

This one was caught by Gary, a guide at the Kwanza Lodge, fishing a 2oz Chartreuse Skirted Double Bite Armadillo.

That's a lot of spinner hanging there in that Jack Crevalle lip!

Even the 3oz versions may not look as substantial in one of their Tarpon (with a capital T)!

Here's the group of Fish Creek Spinners Armadillo's that will get fished.

Fish Creek Spinners 2oz+ Double Bite Skirted Armadillo's

Here's a blog post on the subject from the Hippo on the Lawn blog. Another perspective on the adventure!

Walleye Props - Slow Death Intense Crawler Action

Added a new refinement to the Walleye Prop harnesses. I replaced the double Circle hooks with a Mustad #2 bent Aberdeen ultra point single hook (known as a Slow Death hooks per Mustad packaging and seasoned walleye fishermen).

Fish Creek Spinners Worm Prop with Mustad Slow Death Aberdeen hook

The hooks are precisely bent to cause the baited crawler to spiral and rotate as it's pulled through the water while trolling. You fish them with bottom bouncer sinkers, in order to place them near the bottom and alert feeding walleyes.

Two propeller blades and a few colored glass or plastic beads complete the rig, adding some additional color, noise and churning vibration, in front of the spinning night crawler.


They're ran off a bottom bouncer at about 1mph+, in shallower water  - 10 to 15 feet.

These are strung on 5ft of 20# Excalibur Silver thread with a crane swivel tied with a modified cinch knot at the top of the leader.

Mustad hooks the #2 Red Slow death and a #10 brass aberdeen used to stabilize the worm head.

Crawlers are strung over #2 onto the line and anchored by the #10.

Standard Clamshell packaging with a twist.

I cut styrofoam blocks to fit the cavity, then stick the hooks into the block and wind up the 5ft leader.

This method enables an easy unpack without a snarled bunch of mono.

Here's a few pictures.

Fish Creek Spinners Styrofoam block wrap for 5ft Leader

 Here's a few in the webstore's Walleye category, with more color choices to follow.