Deep water spoon bite officially begins 8-6-11

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

On a large clear natural lake in Southeastern Wi.... friends and I contacted large concentrations of nice sized gills suspending deep over the abyss.Using 1/5-1/4 oz modified spoons tipped with waxies, we cohersed dozens of nice gills to attack our offerings.......we counted our spoons down to the active layer in 22-25 ft before starting our retrieve.

Most of the fish in this layer were of the "keeper" variety........however, as we probed deeper, we connected with some real giants of the abyss.

This pattern will remain strong well into mid October, when these giants migrate back to the deep weed edges in protected bays......It's time to start chuckin'!

[Jim Gronaw]

Excellent info on the deep gills! I will try my luck spooning in a similar water body in PA very soon.

[LedHed]

Very imformative post! Will have to really work on this technique. Thnx Musky

[John Sikkila]

Nice images of some very nice gills Bill!....I lost my last "Pimple" a couple weeks ago to a northern pike...need to stock up once again......

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

2lb....I'm sure those same patterns still exist today......I'd like to find and target those fish, but would be afraid that those deep giants may not be releasable due to the massive pressure change they would experience during capture.

[Bruce Condello]

This is fascinating!

[Bob Davis]

Bill, Tried spoonin' on our lake Saturday in almost 85 degree surface temps.  The fish were there but they just didn't seem to want any of my offerings.  Got a dozen and a half on trout worms but the bite was really slow due to the lack of any kind of wind at all.  When you're set up for drifting, no wind means a tough bite.  Thought spoonin' would resolve that issue but I wasn't getting  the count down to the right depth or color issues.  I know they're there but just couldn't connect on the spoons.  Just gotta keep tryin' I guess.  Bob

[Steve Connell]

Bob I fished you're lake most of this summer including the Conditions you mentioned. I found a silver cast master in 3/16 oz. to be a super star under those flat conditions.My wife and grand daughter caught fish but the castmaster put 2/3 of them in the well on several trips. A 4/5 oz pimple in siver crushed ice was a close second. I was using a 15-20 count and just kept the trolling motor on low to cover new water.I tiped my spoons with waxes. Hope this helps. The fish I was targeting were 15-20 foot down in 35-40 fow.Under cloudy or windy conditions these baits still work but I have been leaning twards shades of orange or blue.

 Steve from Milwaukee.

[Bob Davis]

Steve,  Bob Davis here.  Wish I had known you were hitting the "Rock" this past summer.  Would have made a strong effort to meet you at the "North End" Park just to shake hands and possibly hit the water some.  I will be retiring in Jan.  of next year and plan to spend a lot of my free time back out there again, both on the ice and when the water opens up again.  Maybe we can get together anytime you're in the area.  Sincerely,  Bob

[Bill "Musky" Modica]

The big bite continues.......this morning before a large storm front, 9-11am.....caught a few giants, and a handful of keepers just prior to the deluge.

It was a beautiful morning to hunt bluegill in the abyss......kudos to my girl and trusty photographer, Shelley.