Deep water spoon presentation and rigging

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Deep water spoon presentation........Using light braided line ( 2-3lb dia./ 6lb test) and Fluorocarbon leaders.... a small barrel swivel to make leader connection and a small snap at the spoon end....DO NOT attach a split ring to the lead end of the spoon....use a small quality snap instead.
I like to make long downwind casts and let the spoon fall on a taught line to detect bites on the fall.....once on bottom, I snap the spoon up a few feet and begin a very slow retrieve with an occasional twitch and subsequent drop back. (swimming and twitching the lure within 3-4 ft of the bottom during the retrieve)....this type of retrieve is painfully slow and difficult in deep water and requires patience....most hits will be subtle but some can be quite vicious....set hooks immediately....if you spot pods of fish on your locater suspended a few feet off bottom,.....their probably gills....... try and vertically jig just above them.

When rigging the 1/4 oz Swede (no. 4) for deep water (25-40 ft) I use the single hook but not the one that is provided...it's far too large for gills...I use the single hook designed for the 1/5 oz model (no.3)......or use a Mustad #6 Oshaunessy hook. When installing the single hook be sure to thread the hook on the split ring so its final position leaves the point facing up (flat side of spoon).....Other spoon types may have a convex/concave design, be sure and rig these type with the hook point facing the concave side. The position of the plastic flapper on the Swedish Pimple is important....rigging the flapper on the face side of the ring will enhance the swimming quality of the lure.....calculate its placement prior to installing hook. Chrome or any of its tape color variations for sunny conditions...Brass/black ice or any of the darker varieties for overcast/cloudy conditions.

On shallower bodies of water (10-15 ft ) I scale down and use the 1/10 oz model (no.2) or an 1/8 oz Kastmaster....same rigging....single hook.....smashed them on Delavan the other day using the 1/5 oz model......typically on these 2 bodies of water I thread 2 waxworms up the hook....on all other lakes I simply rig the single hook with a 1" panfish tube, and trim the skirt back a bit.

The new Blue Fox rattlin' flash spoons in the 1/16, 1/8, and 1/4 oz sizes have some really great patterns and have been the most productive spoons when water temps drop, and fall approaches.

If you experience short bites during the retrieve, let the spoon flutter back....interested parties almost always come back.

When fishing suspended fish, be sure and count the lure down to the active layer before starting your retrieve....i.e. yesterdays catch came in on a 20 count.

Over the last several years the amount of worm poop that this lure has prevented from finding its way under my fingernails could be measured in linear yards......My partner and I have been using this presentation and technique for many years on every body of water we fish whenever surface temps are above 50 deg

I'm looking forward to finding out how this works for you.....Please let me know.

Mod

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey Bill...good news, maybe. It's suppose to remain cold up here for another week , so I might get a chance to try the spoon gig. I have all of those spoons, as I have caught probably 85 % of my ice caught bluegills on Pimples and Kmasters...including fish up to 11 1/2 in on the smaller gold Kastmaster with wax worm...it should make sense that they would work throughout the year...go figure!

I saw some of your vids on YouTube and I must admit that I think this tactic is cutting edge stuff. Thanks!

[IceWarriorGill]

Thanks again "Musky" for all the awesome spoon tips!! I'm a complete beginner when it comes to fishin spoons but I can't wait to try some of your techniques on the Gills here in Upstate New York!!! Tight lines!!!

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

The Swedish Pimple has a bevelled side and a flat side, and would fall under the category of possible others.

[steve b]

"Flat side" ? I think of spoons as having concave/convex sides. Except for the cast master anyway, and possibly others. steve b

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

The spoon bite will hold up all summer until surface temps drop below 50 deg in the fall....in fact some of the fastest action we experience is when fish are suspending off deep breaks or weedlines after the spawn, when surface temps are in the 75-80 degree range.

During the spawn last year, my partner and I dragged 1/10 oz Swedes thru the beds with amazing results.....After the spawn the fish migrated to the deep weed edges and deep flats, they were targeted using the 1/5 and 1/4 oz models.

[Jim Gronaw]

Our water temps are right around 50 right now...how long could this spoon bite hold up? I am guessing that when the water gets into the low 60's most fish will be moving shallow in our waters and the spoon might be better suited for when it gets colder again in the fall. Any insight?

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Not holding out at all Jim, unfortunately I work a real job when I'm not gill fishing. I'm trying to open the eyes of Bluegill enthusiasts to this method of gill fishing as much as Doug Stange is trying to convince us all to use 5-6" swim baits for Walleyes....plain and simple this technique has been outrageously productive even when water temps have been below 50 degrees....give these spoons a shot, you just might find them the deadliest in your arsenal!

[Jim Gronaw]

Wow , Mod...I think bluegill spoonin has not been a focus of too many gill anglers over the past many years...sure is news to me! Thanks!

One question...in the photo, your fingernails look a little dirty...you holdin out on us?

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Notice the position of the flapper....both runs of the split ring are thru the flapper. Rotating this combo counter clockwise will install the single hook with the flapper on the face side of the spoon while simultaneously removing the treble hook.

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Doug, heres a lil speed tip for changing the hooks....when removing the treble hook, open the split ring, just as you start the process of removing the treble, thread the single hook in place. This process will prevent you from having to open the split ring more than once.