The Mepps Aglia spinner is the original French spinner. It is the World's #1 Lure. More trophy fish have been caught on the Mepps Aglia than any other lure. The Mepps Aglia is extremely popular with fishermen world-wide because it will catch just about any freshwater fish and many species of saltwater fish.
Lure size is important. The rule of thumb is use smaller lures to catch smaller fish and larger lures to catch larger fish. Keep in mind plain spinners present a smaller profile than dressed spinners, so they will appear smaller to the fish. This makes them perfect for panfish and small stream trout. Fishing with dressed spinners can produce larger fish, but, when stream trout fishing, you will probably catch more fish using plain spinners.
Plain Treble and Single Hook
Mepps plain treble or single hook Aglias in size #00 or #0 are perfect for panfish (bluegills or sunfish) and small stream trout. They are very light, however, and require a nimble rod, equipped with a light action reel spooled with light line; nothing heavier than six-pound-test. Two-pound-test to four-pound-test is better. Aglias in size #1 and #2 are perfect for larger stream trout and large bluegills, sunfish and crappies. Size #2 Aglias are also excellent for smallmouth bass and walleye. These sizes are ideal for teaching youngsters the basics of spinner fishing, as they are heavy enough to cast well with light tackle, yet they are small enough to catch a wide variety of fish.
Size #4 and # 5 Aglias are ideal for large rainbow trout and steelhead, as well as coho (silver) and chinook (king) salmon.
Mepps single hook Aglias can be used virtually anywhere single hook lures are required. They are perfect for Alaska.
Dressed Treble
Mepps dressed Aglia spinners come in sizes #00 through #5. A #00 is a Mepps Ultra Lite and it weighs only 1/18 oz. These little trout and panfish lures are dressed with natural hackle. They are also available as wooly worms. The #0 Aglia Spin Fly is also a Wooly Worm. It too is perfect for both panfish and trout and weighs 1/12 oz. Larger dressed Aglias weigh up to 1/2 oz. (#5). The hooks on dressed Aglias in sizes #1-#5 are dressed with natural squirrel tail or bucktail.
Dressed Aglias (Ultra Lites and Wooly Worms) in size #00 or #0 are perfect for panfish (bluegills or sunfish) and small stream trout. They are very light, however, and require a nimble rod, equipped with a light action reel spooled with light line; nothing heavier than six-pound-test. Two-pound-test to four-pound-test is better. Dressed Aglias in size #1 and #2 are perfect for larger stream trout and large bluegills, sunfish and crappies. Size #2 Aglias are also excellent for smallmouth bass and walleye.
Mepps Aglias in sizes #3 and #4 are preferred by largemouth bass fishermen. In fact, the #3 dressed Mepps Aglia was rated the best all around lure for largemouth bass by the readers of Sports Afield magazine.
Size #4 and #5 Aglias are ideal for large rainbow trout and steelhead, as well as coho (silver) and chinook (king) salmon. Northern pike and giant tackle busting musky will inhale a dressed #5 Mepps spinner.