Here's the situation, would like some spoon input

[Alex G.]

The scenario.....

20' of water, stained pea soup green.

Gills suspended at 5-10'.

The bite was varied to say the least, catch a few in several minutes, then nothing.

Bite was orange (size unknown, but not large) jig head tipped with gulp fry (tan).

so with that, what spoon, and presentation would be best to attempt?

Thanks,
Alex

[John Sheehan]

12th oz. spoon tipped with Nightcrawler or worm pieces is what I would have casted and slow trolled... heavier if windy.What was the wind like? I often opt for small spinners if water is really muddy but the worm scent still works incredibly in off colored water I'm just finding out.

[Alex G.]

wind was varied, when it blew, it drifted us about 1-2 mph.

[IceWarriorGill]

Hey Alex, You might try a 1/16 or 1/8 oz metallic gold spoon (as John commented 1/12 ozs is a nice option too) fished on braided line tipped with small piece of gulp red worm jigged along the deep weed edge either cast with slow steady retrieve or jigged vertically up and down. You will have to experiment with spoon size as the rate of fall is very important and Gills may Not hit a heavy spoon falling too fast through the strike zone! Reasoning for the above scenario: 1) You want a bright colored lure that Gills can see in the murky water 2) Braided line will telegraph even the most sensitive bites in deep, murky water where you will not be able to sight fish the Gills, also due to the pea soup colored water the thicker braid will not spook line shy Gills as it might in gin clear water 3) the piece of red Gulp worm will add scent as well as visibility to your spoon which the Gills will more readily see and smell and will cause less negative cues. 4) The larger Gills will most likely be deep and hidden along the Deeper Weed Edge (remember they are GIANT size and have no fear of being eaten by any of the Tertiary Line Predators of your Pond or Lake--except for the occasional Trophy Flathead Catfish, Trophy Northern Pike, or Trophy Striped Bass--and therefore will be located in many of the same areas that these predators inhabit: The DEEP WEED EDGE!!! Hope this is helpful!!!!

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Alex, the pea soup effect I would suspect as an algae bloom....most blooms only effect the top few feet of surface water, however with the fish suspending that shallow I would throw a 1/10 oz Swede, or 1/12 oz Kastmaster....tip the single hook with a small tube bait like a squirmin squirt or any small panfish tube with a loud color like orange/chartreuse...allow it to fall on a tight line to no more than a 6 count and start your retrieve.....let the spoon stall or flutter back several times throughout the retrieve.

[Alex G.]

Thanks for the info, I'll have to give it a shot next time I'm out that way. I'll have to go get some of the "louder" color tubes.

Bill, you are absolutely right about the algae bloom, the weed line has just about disappeared and begun to die off quickly.