Spooning BG's

[Joe Shallbetter]

I have spent the day looking for the article by Bill Modica on "Spooning Bluegills on the long cast"  I am unable to find but read lots of articles saying its a good technique to use in summer.

Anyone know where I can get a copy?

Also looking for good site to find the spoons he talks about?

[Jim Ducy]

I found mine at the Public Library. Thank You  Andrew, I am sure that we in USA sometimes forget what a great gift that Andrew gave us. Free Knowledge to anyone. If you do not have a Public Library available that has the back issue of May 2011 Infisherman contact me I will make a PDFif that is all right with everyone and that I am not breaking an laws or board rules by doing so.

 

I also suggest you become a Spoon Chucker.

Jim Ducy

[Joe Shallbetter]

Is spoon Chucker a profession or a  state of mind or a web site?

I think Mr. Bill Modica is feeling sorry for me and will send me some thing  on his technique.

[Leo Nguyen]

Spooning is one of the strangest thing I've come across when I first started, same with flyfishing techniques. You can pretty much read all you want, but you cannot beat the experience of casting the spoons yourself, or better yet, ask the local gurus about the spoons' colors, sizes, hook sizes, and patterns. Holy molly, it boggles the mind. I have over 32 spoons just to hunt for the panfishes and stock trouts since their mouths are similar in sizes, and a different subset to hunt for basses which I'm not even going to go there.

Critical knowledge about the spoons usage is the water you're attacking. Cloudly, muddy, etc.. Fish species you're planning to hook with, hopefully you're hunting for panfishes. Then the treble hook sizes based on the sizes of the fishes you're aiming for, which is between #10 to #16 for the 1lbs and above (correct me if I'm wrong on this fellows..I nailed a small little guy on a #8 treble before). Colors and patterns must match the food sources (ie. bugs, small fishes) they're hunting in that water, according to the season. Then there is the rod & reel. I though before the light and medium set up at 5lbs and greater was adequate. Not so. Light to ultra light gears is the key, with light lines..very light (1 to 2 lbs for gills, and may want up to 4lbs for monster panfishes). I've caught my 2 to 4 lbs basses on my 2lbs braid lines. No problem. I fought a 10lbs+ carp earlier on the 2lbs line too, but it broke because of the shrubs that the fish tangled within it. Let us know how we can help. I would be glad my limited knowledge on the spoons, float type crankbaits, and spinners. Love to use them.

[Joe Shallbetter]

Back to the basics is all ways my best attack. I have fished throughout the USA and the first thing I do is visit the locals without gear and ask what is going on.  Spend time with them and share a beer. See what they use and how they use it, when they use it and why they use it. Then I return in a day or so and try to replicate and if doesn't work try some else close to what they did.

That being said I have ultralights and love them. The fight is better than the catch. However I have problems of wind snarls using normal small open face reals and 2-4# line. I sometimes use a close face spinning reel but the drag systems are poor at best. What are you using for rod and reel? Have any problems with backlashes or wind snarls?

I live on Kentucky Lake and the water is always stained and almost no weeds. So the fish are close to shore or down at 5-7 ft. Lots of rocks, ledges,drop offs and docks. Any suggestions for spooning?

Where do you order or get your small1/32--1/8oz spoons?

Do you remove the treble and put on a single c hook?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Leo Nguyen]

Joe, I have open face reels, running on braid. Trust me, I know about the wind lash/snarl. It can be daunting during the late fall and into winter. I stop doing shore fishing when I'm on my own. I use my float and pontoon to get into the water, with my back facing the wind, and let the wind carry my cast. When I'm on shore with my family, I normally try to cast at 75° angle into the wind from, while standing at the best peninsula outcrop from the land mass. Otherwise, if there's no suitable place to go, and I'm stuck in an area, I cast under-handed close to the water  as possible in a horizontal method, letting the wind lift my bait type up from the water (due to wind bouncing of the churning water) gain enough distant from shore, but stray away from the wind pushing bait type back.

My primary ultra lights are the Browning Stalker, Daiwa Mini, and the Quantum Bill Dance series. I got a light rod combo as well called Black Beauty (custom), to hunt anything bigger than the crappies, but less than 20lbs max breaking limit. These four have been my all time go to.

I was having major lucks and blessings to find the good spoons at the local Walmart, tackle shops, and best of all, Bass Pro Shop. Spent way too much there, but got all my toys that I needed when other shops don't have them.

I have both the single circle hooks, worm hooks, and even salmon egg hooks beside the treble, based on the season. When winter hits, I switch to treble, in which the weeds and grasses are less. During spawning season, single hooks are perfect! I even entice them with wax, meal, nightcrawler or red worms at the end of the spoons. Crickets can be a home run at times. Also have tried with a bit of colored fur skirts used for flyfishing to hide the hooks. Works like a charm if you don't want live bait to entice them.

Ask and ask. Don't be afraid or arrogant to ask. Even the teacher must be a student to learn new and inventive techniques and skills.

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Joe I always remove the treble hook.....spoon chucking is all about long casts, and horizontal presentations....Many spoons come packaged with an additional single hook....if not I use Eagle Claw L210 #8....the single hook is essential for tipping with live baits, and plastics..... it also keeps the spoon in balance during the horizontal presentation....try this link for the last available resource for Bluefox RFS.

Have you hugged your spoons today?

Bluefox Spoons

[Leo Nguyen]

That is one heck of a collection! WOW! Thanks Bill for the website. Bookmarked it for future purchases. If you don't mind sharing with us the wonderful article of your casting successes. It will share your knowledge for the love of the game with infinite gratitude from all of us. Like I said earlier, I have limited knowledge on the spoons, but more insights and wisdom from a guru like yourself would greatly benefit my, and our, understanding of the tool.

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

I have several discussions and videos of this methodology exclusively here at BBG.com

Spoon Basics for deep water

Spoon Basics

Cold water=Hot bite

[Jim Ducy]

North American Spoon Chuchers are a group on thisWeb site.  Jim Ducy

[Joe Shallbetter]

That's better. My mind was racing ahead for a moment.