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

[Bob Heschke]

Thank's for the welcome.
I saw your video on Lake Geneva. I saw you using spoons, it got me thinking.
I was going to ask you what kind of spoons you were using. On your web page
there it was (Deep water spoon presentation and rigging) can't wait to try this.

Thank You

[Michael Brown]

Mod,I've used spoons thru the ice for gils,but never open water.Guess I've got something to look forward to in the spring.I'll be buggin ya then!

[kip noblitt]

musky mod, thank you so much for sharing your spoon fishing techniques! and also producing the videos, you have helped alot of us gain a new trick up our sleeve. The lakes I fish will be great for that technique.

[Ryan]

thanks alot Mod. im gonna have to give this a try. never fished gills with small spoons!

[Zig]

Great technique write-up!
Certainly something I'll be applying on future trips.

[Bruce Condello]

"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..."

Classic line. I got a great laugh out of that one. :)