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 Davis]

Mike, I just had to look at these pix again! Man, I can't wait to lay into some of those slabs with some spoons. I got your email update this morning and now that you've cleared up a few things about your request about "the rock" I think that plan would be much more do-able then I first thought. Am anxious to talk to you about it when you have time to call. I'm thinkin' either that Saturday or Sunday would work for me. Call me when you can. Bob

[Bob Davis]

Mike, My swivels, O'Sh' hooks, and clips arrived from Cabelas yesterday. Only problem was I ordered 1" clips and now realize they are probably way too big for what I need them for. I plan to return them but want to re-order them in either 7/16" or 9/16" which are the 2 smallest sizes they offer. Can you let me know which to get? (or if these are too small then what do you use?). Hopefully you'll find this question before Sunday morning for then I'm off to Lake Erie and won't be back until Thursday. The swivels and hooks look just fine. Your bud, Bob

[John Sikkila]

Beautiful fish Bill!...Those swedish pimples sure are the "ticket"...I've been using em for years.....Usually tie mine right to the line direct...always worked for me....no noticeable line twist or breakage.....occassional pike will snap em off of course!...lol!...Icaught a few sunnies this morning on a local crystal clear lake near me using pimples....here's a couple images...

[John Sheehan]

These two photos are amazing! Are they color enhanced?

[John Sikkila]

Thanks John....I did add a bit of "saturation"(more color) to the images yes.....makes the photos more "lifelike" plus darken them a bit....sunny days tend to "blow out" the photos otherwise.....

[John Sheehan]

I love your photos so much better than mine for sure!

[John Sheehan]

I noticed Krocodile 1/6 oz spoons are packaging the lure with plastic flapper attached and a replaceable single hook ...too big for sucessful bluegill numbers(you can still catch them tho cause BGs in my lake hit Bomber 4f Crankbaits!!(stained water not clear).
However this looks good for W and Y Perch and Crappies!

This is the first I've seen Krocodile spoons sold this way and hope its a new trend. Then again maybe I dont!

[Bob Davis]

Mike, Got all my gear packed away from a very successful Lake Erie walleye hunt. Am now ready to tackle those slab gills on "The Rock" if you're still game. Please call me sometime today but after 1:00 PM will only be able to call you back on my 6:00PM lunch break for either Saturday or Sunday of this weekend. I have a couple more questions for you about the spoon set-up but will ask you when you call. Sincerely, Bob