Blue Fox makes a classic spinner dubbed the Classic Vibrax which ranges in size and color among other defining features. Today though, I’m looking at the new car on the lot so to speak, the new and improved Super Vibrax shallow. Specifically I am looking at the size 3/16 ounce, blue shallow Super Vibrax Spinner. Before you get all intimidated by the name, take a look at the photo above and relax. You may have seen this in a kids tackle box or in your local Walmart. It’s not a rare lure and it certainly isn’t some sort of meat-seeking missile of bass destruction. See what I did there? It is however, a good lure to have on hand.

Let’s talk about some of the differences. The new Super Vibrax shallow as shown here has a fish face façade. The classic vibrax and even the Super Vibrax (not shallow) only ever had a smooth cone covering the vibrating interior. It would be a painted metal, typically one or two colors, not much in the way of patterning. The Super Vibrax shallow also has a heavier spoon, slightly thicker than other Vibrax models. It is mounted on a swivel above a brass bead just below the tie on and above the fish face façade. Below all of this then is the treble hook, in this case a white hair with red fiber highlights.

The reason this lure is called a Vibrax is due to its vibrating construction. It not only functions as a traditional spinner, but it also creates what Blue Fox describes as, “sonic vibrations.” Inside the fish face façade is a metal bead with grooves all around the sides. This bead vibrates within the shell of the façade as water pulls through it and forces it into motion. The spinner adds to the hydrodynamic vacuum of water in the vibrating housing by pulling water that passes along the body outwards. What does this mean for you? Simple. It makes just the right amount of noise. If you’ve read many of my other lures you will know that a certain degree of noise is helpful in getting the attention of fish.

Take heed of the name. This lure is named a shallow vibrax for a reason. Can you get it down deep? Sure. Should you? I wouldn’t. First of all, in order to get a light spinner like this much deeper than they will naturally go would require either an inappropriate retrieve style like jigging, or added weight and down rigging. The lure will not do what it is designed to do in either of these situations, so I would suggest keeping it simple. Work it at a fairly quick pace, walking left and right if you feel so inclined. Cast along banks and vegetation where ambush predators will be, and use it as you might a phoebe. You want to make sure the blade continues to spin, so test how fast you need to keep it going with a few short casts before committing to your target area.

Interestingly I’ve caught a number of different species on this lure. It likes to tout itself as a trout lure. I have indeed caught trout on this lure, but it would not be my first choice, unless perhaps you were fishing freshly stocked trout that hit anything shiny. In that case, use it all day till you’ve educated the little sheltered trout. If not, it can still be successful with trout, but in my opinion not as much as other lures. Smallmouth bass have hit this in their aggressive seasons, going after the faster moving flashing lure. And yes, pike. Pike seem to love any kind of spinner out there, blue fox and its many styles included. If you want to have fun and just fight some cool, long pike, go throw this around the edge of a lily-pad field. It won’t take long and you may even score a nice largemouth too.

Try to use this lure for day-fishing only. It really isn’t designed for night. Also be leery of using it while trolling. Often a troll may be too fast for this lure. If you really want to do it though, I would suggest upgrading to a Mepps or another type of Spinner that comes in a larger size. The 3/16 is the largest that I am aware of that Blue Fox makes with the Vibrax Shallow. It really is for active casting and not for trolling.

*If you have any luck with the lure of the week, feel free to email your pictures to events@riverreporter.com for an opportunity to share them on our website. If you have a favorite kind of lure we haven’t reviewed yet, feel free to send that lure to our office at PO box 150 Narrowsburg, NY 12764. We will add it to our weekly reviews and share the results. Check back each week on Fridays to see the new lure of the week!