I'm Finally Getting the Knack for This Spoon Thing...

[Jim Gronaw]

Fished in two different lakes today and got a bout 20 gills on the 1/16 oz RF spoon, firetiger and on the 1/8 oz gold. Most of the fish came from a pond we just got back from but the biggest fish, a 10 + incher, came from a small southern Pa lake.

Tipped the spoon with chuncks of worms and had a blast on ultra light! Thanks again for Bill and his videos and instruction on this tactic. Check out the pix!

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey frogg...I have employed several retrieve options with the spoons, and most all of them work. However, I have had most success with a slow 'lift and drop back' action that sees all strikes coming on the 'fallback' or drop. Sometimes, I might catch bigger fish with a slightly more aggressive wrist snap and fall back, depending on the mood and activity level of the fish.

I have found that the key is to stay in contact ( keep a tight line) on the fall back after the action is given to the spoon. Sometimes, I'll get a strike on the initial 'fall' of the lure from its entry into the water. Fireline Crystal in 6 lb/ 2 lb dia. also helps if you have a lot of line out.

Also, I am catching all my fish from shore, not boat fishing, hence, I have to 'stay in touch' with my lure at all times. Tipping with bait or gulp just sweetens the pie! Vary the cadence and frequency of your snaps with different lengths between pauses and snaps until you see what works. Jim

[Dave Lipps]

Thanks Jim for the information..will keep this in mind on next trip out. Temps here in Michigan are starting to cool, so the spooning should pick up. Will be headed to Drummond Island in UP first week of Oct. for a week of perch fishing, am anxious to see if any of the spooning techs will work then. Have you had any luck with the spoons for perch....
thanks again..good fishing...Dave (frogg2)

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey frogg2...I have not as yet used spoons for open water perch, but am anxious to give it a try. I have used spoons with great success through the ice on a variety of species, with Pimples and Kastmasters being my favorites. One of my biggest yellow perch, a 2 lb 2 oz fish, hit a Kastmaster in 32 ft of water at Deep Creek Lake in Feb of 2005. Spoons are great through the ice!