Spoon plastics.....the good stuff.

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Over the years, I've experimented with dozens of plastic trailers for the specific use of spoon tipping......I have pictured below, 5 of the most productive plastics I've encountered.

Pictured left to right, Southern Pro's 1" Lil' hustler.....Berkleys' 1" Power tube....Bass Pro's 1 1/2" Squirmin' squirt.....Venom lures 1 3/4" solid bodied tube....Herb Reeds 2 1/2" Fin-S minnow (trimmed).

These plastics are ideal for spoon tipping and should be glued onto the hook with Berkleys' anglers glue....The lower pic is of a fully rigged 1/12 oz Kastmaster, with a Venom 1 3/4" solid bodied tube bait trimmed back 5/16 of an inch....these solid bodied tubes sit on the top of my list due to the durability of the plastic, and the ability to get good glue adhesion. This total package measures 2 3/4", and has been known to be attacked by gills up to 10" and as small as 4".

[blackhawks]

Bill, excellent discussion thread....thanks for starting and sharing your approach. I also use Bass Pro Shop's Squirmin' Squirts. I assume you're using glue to mitigate the plastics getting "beat up" by gills. Are you tipping the plastics with live bait? If we catch up with one another this summer, I have some other plastics for you to try. Thanks again Bill. ( I'm leaving Prairie du Chien this morning and hoping to be on Delavan or Geneva Friday morning ).

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

blackhawks, I never combine live bait with plastics while spooning....This severely offsets the balance of the spoon and greatly reduces the swimming qualities of the lure....In essence, it renders the spoon into a lifeless chunk of metal......Live bait has its place as a replacement for plastic, but shouldn't be used as an addition to plastics.....Wish I could do Delavan with you Fri., but I have Comcast coming to install cable Fri morning......I'll definately be on Del this weekend sometime......Spooning of course, I'll report in a few days.

[blackhawks]

Bill, thanks for the information regarding the combo of plastics and live bait....makes sense. Could not head out this morning...long story short...my son is an IT student at Gateway and was on his way to class last night at the Racine campus. He was in Racine County on Sheridan Road when his left rear wheel came off his car at app. 45 mph. He braked hard, slid in the gravel on the shoulder and then hit a power pole. Thank God, he is fine....sore, but fine. I believe the car is totalled so I will be dealing with the insurance company this morning, etc. Most likely, I will be on Delavan Sunday morning in my friend's boat....17 ft. Alumacraft Tournament Pro Special with a 115 Evinrude (dark blue). I typically wear a military bush style cap. Perhaps we'll see you out there. Take care Bill.