Open up about any outdoors magazine or turn on a fishing show on the TV, and you are sure to find all the info you need on spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs and topwater baits. But if its spoons you are inquiring about, you may be left holding the bag.
Spoons are baits I like a lot. Spoons are versatile, and fish don’t see many of them. Spoons come in three main categories, trolling, casting and jigging.
Trolling spoons is one of the top methods used to catch trout in lakes. Whether it be lake trout out west, rainbow trout or brown trout, an angler fishing for trout in a lake will use spoons sooner or later. Most trolling spoons are long slender shaped baits that tend to wobble or spin depending on the speed. Trolling spoons on flatlines, leadcore line or downriggers can cover all depths of the water column. There are tons of color combinations and sizes to choose from. I personally like Sutton spoons, Doctor thin spoons and folks like locally made Badcreek Baits spoons.
Casting spoons are more compact in size, with a heavier weight to length ratio. The spoons can be cast and retrieved quickly, or retrieved with a pause to let it fall in the strike zone. A big plus with these baits is that they can be cast long distances, and this is especially helpful around schooling fish like stripers or hybrid bass, or when fishing in high winds. Casting spoons like the Little Cleo, in its various colors can be good for several species.
Last but not least is the jigging spoon. These heavy spoons come in two basic types, a slab type spoon and a blade bait. The traditional slab type spoon such as the Hopkins or Cotton Cordell spoons are the most popular choice.
These spoons can be fished effectively in very deep water, most spoons weigh from ½ – 1 oz., but bigger models are used for deeper depths. Slab spoons are traditionally fished vertically with a quick upward jig of the rod and let it fall.
The jigging blade bait is more versatile; it can be cast and retrieved like a rattle trap, vertically jigged or trolled. The bait does not have as erratic an action as the slab spoon, but does put out more vibration.
If your tackle box is lacking spoons, you may be missing out. Spoons can catch fish more traditional baits will miss. And spoons don’t discriminate — if it has fins, they will bite it.
I’ve caught everything from catfish to bluegill, bass to trout, and everything in between on them.
– Rob McComas