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

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

Medium light action rods....7' to 7' 6"

[Mike Lombard]

What is the action of the rods you are using?

[Leo Nguyen]

Man, where was this article when I needed help with mini spoons when I first started. Awesome article on the basic!  Definitely a keeper of an article. Great tips on the snap swivel trick at the flouro leader end. I normally cut the line off, and tie it onto the next spoon, thinking that the swivel could impact the presentation. Looks like you've proved me dead wrong.

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

This presentation requires the use of braided line and Fluorocarbon leaders, the barrel swivel should be used to make leader connection.....using the split ring will cause line fouling.....DO NOT use the upper split ring, using a small snap will prevent this and will make for easy spoon changes.

[Cary]

DO NOT attach a split ring to the lead end of the spoon >> Why? I don't like snaps could i not attach the barrel swivel direct to the split ring or does this affect performance? please explain (im using Blue Fox Rattle Flash spoons 1/16).

[Rob Garner]

Bill Finally remembered to try the spoon thing today.Dont know what size swede I used but I successfully landed a few on this.Made long casts and brought her back in with some smalll gills and a small LMB maybe I should try a bigger size for bigger gills.Thanks for the info hope to try this out on geneva when I find the schools again and some other local lakes.

[John Sheehan]

Thanks I'lll start noticing more details thanks to your input!

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

When fishing spoons horizontally (casting and retrieving) it is important that the hook rides up....keep in mind that all spoons are not alike, some spoons like the Bay De Noc Swedish Pimple have a sizeable bevel that rides down, the face or pattern side of this spoon rides up....in comparison to a spoon like an Eppinger Daredevil, or a Blue Fox spoon, the face or pattern side rides down and is convex....rigging your spoons so the hook point rides up will ensure positive hook-ups into the top of the fishes mouth versus the lower jaw.

[John Sheehan]

Comment by John Sheehan 43 seconds ago Delete Comment "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)....."

Bill -I have different spoons assembled both ways(though not spoons for Gills)
with either side / hook pointing up,and have hooked and caught fish on either setup .Why do you think you have better success with hook pointing up on flat side ? Is it because of better action , better hook set,or does it change with fish mood?

[John Sheehan]

Comment by John Sheehan 43 seconds ago Delete Comment "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)....."

Bill -I have different spoons assembled both ways(though not spoons for Gills)
with either side / hook pointing up .Why do you think you have better success with hook pointing up on flat side ? Is it because of better action , better hook set,or does it change with fish mood?