Im interested in trying spoons ,but Im having a hard time finding them. Does anyone know where I can find Kastmaster 1/10 0z. or 1/8 oz. and also Swede 1/4 oz. online or any other sugestions? Thanks, JP
JP, I purchased my 1/12 ounce Kastmasters at Dick's sporting goods in my local mall. They also had some 1/16, and 1/32 ounce spoons from another manufacturer.
JP, Check out a website by the Gapen Tackle Company. They make very small spoons called Flickers that range from 1/32oz. up to 1/4oz. I used these ice-fishing in Wisconsin and then started using them in open water after watching a video on this site by a fella using spoons for pan-fish. These will catch anything from big gills to crappie, bass, northern pike too! We can by the Flicker on the rack at Gander Mountain here in Wisconsin. Sincerely, Bob
These new Gapen spoons are very good....made of tin....tested them last winter thru the ice....lost quite a few to Bass after hoisting several nice gills.
Bill, I think we owe this enthusiasm for bluegill spoon fishing to your great success & teachings!! Many of used these great,shiny tools for other species, but deemed them slightly too big for panfish until your experiments.
In recent years ,down south, they've "rediscovered" big spoons for largemouth, utilizing their dropping "flutter factor" in deep water. And some years back I fished with musky legend Len Hartman, holder of every line class spinning record for the big predators; Len loved to drop flashy spoons (just average ,bass sized models) at the many muskies swimming in the St Lawrence river. So it just took the push from another "MOD" thinker to have us really work a proven killer for our favorite (tho smaller) aggressive GAMEfish!
Bill, the big gills are about ready to move off the edges and start to suspend in the 15=25 foot range on the Rock. I've always drifted with bits of crawler or leaf worms on homemade harness or dressed hooks weighted down with egg sinkers trying to stay as vertical as possible. The wind dictates the amount of weight used. What I'd like to try the Gapen spoons this year. After watching your videos on Genena 08 and your spring on 09 I'm still a bit confused how you'd use the spoons in a drifting situation? Or do you NOT drift? It's tough when the fish are over 50 feet of water to anchor so was wondering if you'd give me a few tips on the presentation of the spoon in this deep water suspended situation. I'd appreciate any help you may offer. Sincerely, Bob Davis
Today for the first time I used a spoon for gill's, I must say to my suprise I did well. I used a spoon that I've used many time's ice fishing, but never on open water, it's called a Vingla made by the same company that make's the Swedish pimple. I'm not sure what size it was but I dont think they make one smaller than the one I was useing.(silver) I fished it with out a swivel, just a snap and had no line twist to speek of, before every cast I'd let it unwind. Most of the fish I cought on it were a little larger than I was getting with my smaller jig's but not as many, 8 to 9" I couldent find a 10"er. I cought LMB, Pickerl, Crappie, Rockie's, mostly Gill's, needles to say I'll be useing spoon's a lot more from now on. Plus they cast a mile as well.