How To Fish Spoons: Catch More Fish Easily

What is fishing with spoons? Fishing with spoons is a popular and effective way to catch a variety of fish, especially in freshwater fishing environments. These lures mimic small baitfish with their wobbling and flashing action, attracting predatory game fish.

Fishing spoons are some of the oldest and most effective fishing lures ever created. Their simple design belies their incredible versatility and ability to entice strikes from a wide range of species. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned angler, mastering the art of fishing with spoon lures can significantly boost your catch rates. This guide will delve into everything you need to know about these classic fishing tackle staples, from lure selection to various fishing techniques.

Why Choose Spoon Lures?

Spoons are designed to imitate the natural movement and flash of baitfish. When you retrieve them, they flutter, wobble, and flash, mimicking a wounded or fleeing baitfish. This irresistible action is a powerful trigger for predatory fish to strike.

Irresistible Action: The erratic wobble and flash of a spoon closely mimics a struggling baitfish, a primary food source for many game fish.
Versatility: Spoons can be used for various fishing situations, from shallow water casting to deep-water jigging.
Durability: Compared to many soft plastic lures, spoons are typically made of metal and are highly durable, able to withstand multiple aggressive strikes.
Cost-Effective: Many spoon lures are reasonably priced, making them an economical choice for stocking your tackle box.
Attractiveness to Many Species: Spoons work well for a wide variety of fish, including bass, trout, salmon, walleye, pike, and even saltwater species like stripers and bluefish.

Different Types of Spoon Lures

Not all spoons are created equal. They come in various shapes, sizes, weights, and designs, each suited for different fishing conditions and target species.

Casting Spoons

Casting spoons are generally longer and narrower than other types. They are designed for casting long distances and working through the water column.

Design: Often feature a more pronounced curve, which creates a stronger wobble on retrieval.
Weight: They come in a range of weights to allow for different casting distances and depths.
Retrieval: Best fished with a steady retrieve, sometimes with pauses to simulate a dying baitfish.

Jigging Spoons

Jigging spoons are typically thicker and heavier, designed to be worked vertically. They are ideal for targeting fish holding at specific depths, often near the bottom.

Design: Usually more compact and feature a hole or two at the top for attaching the line.
Weight: Their weight allows them to sink quickly and stay in the strike zone when jigged.
Retrieval: Primarily used with a jigging motion – lifting the rod tip and letting the spoon flutter down, or a sharp jerk followed by a pause.

Weedless Spoons

Weedless spoons are designed with features that help prevent them from snagging on underwater vegetation.

Design: Often have a wire or plastic guard covering the hook.
Use: Excellent for fishing in areas with heavy weeds, lily pads, or submerged structure.

Flutter Spoons

These spoons have a unique shape that causes them to flutter or fall erratically when you stop retrieving.

Action: The fluttering action can be highly effective at drawing strikes from hesitant fish.
Retrieval: Often fished with a stop-and-go retrieve.

Selecting the Right Spoon

Choosing the correct spoon lure is crucial for success. Several factors influence the best choice for a given situation.

Matching the Hatch

The most fundamental aspect of lure selection is to match the baitfish in the water. Observe the size, shape, and color of the baitfish your target species are feeding on.

Size: If baitfish are small, opt for smaller spoons. If they are large, go for bigger spoons.
Color: Silver and chrome spoons are excellent all-around choices, mimicking most baitfish. Gold can be effective in stained water or during bright conditions. Bright colors like chartreuse or pink can work in murky water or for certain species.

Water Conditions

The clarity and depth of the water play a significant role in spoon selection.

Clear Water: Natural, smaller profiles and more subtle flash might be best.
Murky Water: Brighter colors, larger profiles, and spoons with a strong wobble and flash will be more visible to fish.
Depth: Heavier spoons are needed to reach deeper water. Lighter spoons are better for shallow presentations.

Target Species and Behavior

Different fish species have different preferences.

Trout: Often respond well to smaller, silver or copper spoons with a natural baitfish profile.
Bass: Will hit a wide range of spoons, from smaller casting spoons to larger jigging spoons, depending on the forage.
Pike and Musky: Require larger, heavier spoons designed to withstand their powerful strikes and create significant water disturbance.
Walleye: Often prefer smaller, thinner spoons that flutter enticingly when paused.

Essential Fishing Techniques for Spoons

Once you’ve selected the right spoon, employing the correct fishing techniques will maximize your chances of catching fish.

Casting and Retrieving

This is the most common method for many types of spoons, particularly casting spoons.

The Basic Retrieve

Cast: Aim to cast your spoon to where you suspect fish might be holding.
Retrieve: Start a steady retrieve with your spinning reel or baitcasting reel. The speed of your retrieve will depend on the spoon’s action and the fish’s mood.
Vary Speed: Experiment with different retrieve speeds. A slow, steady retrieve can work when fish are lethargic, while a faster retrieve can trigger reaction strikes.
Add Action: Incorporate occasional pauses or slight twitches of your rod tip. This makes the spoon appear injured, which is often irresistible to predatory fish.

Retrieve Variations

Stop-and-Go: Cast, retrieve for a few seconds, pause for a moment, and then resume retrieving. The pause allows the spoon to flutter downwards, often drawing a strike.
Steady Wobble: Maintain a consistent retrieve speed that allows the spoon to develop its natural wobble and flash. This is effective for covering water and locating active fish.

Jigging with Spoon Lures

Jigging spoons are specifically designed for vertical presentations. This technique is deadly when fish are holding near the bottom, suspended at a certain depth, or schooled up.

Vertical Jigging

Drop the Spoon: Lower the jigging spoon directly below your boat or pier until it reaches the desired depth.
Jig: Lift your rod tip sharply about 1-2 feet, then lower it quickly. The spoon will flutter down erratically.
Pause: Allow the spoon to flutter down. Many strikes occur on the fall. Keep your line slightly slack but ready to feel a bite.
Repeat: Continue this lifting, dropping, and pausing motion. You can also try a more subtle jigging action by just twitching the rod tip.
Targeting Depths: If you’re not getting bites, try adjusting your depth. Move the spoon up or down to find where the fish are holding.

Snap Jigging

This is a more aggressive jigging technique.

Lift and Snap: Instead of a smooth lift, use a sharp, quick snap of the rod to propel the spoon upwards.
Aggressive Drop: Allow the spoon to drop quickly back down. This creates a more dramatic action.
Follow Through: Keep your line tight enough to feel a strike on the fall, but not so tight that you impede the spoon’s movement.

Trolling with Spoons

Trolling with spoons can cover large areas of water and is highly effective for locating schools of active fish, especially in open water or along drop-offs.

Trolling Setup

Line: Use braided line or monofilament line.
Leader: A fluorocarbon or monofilament leader can help with stealth.
Weight: Depending on trolling depth, you might need to add weight using a bottom bouncer or a trolling weight. Planer boards can also be used to spread your lines out.

Trolling Technique

Speed: Troll at a speed that allows the spoon to wobble and flash effectively. This varies by spoon size and type but is often between 2-5 mph.
Depth Control: Use a fish finder to locate schools of bait or fish. Adjust your trolling speed and the amount of line you let out to reach those depths.
Spread: Use multiple lines at different depths and distances from the boat to cover more water and find where the fish are biting.

Choosing the Right Rod and Reel

Your fishing tackle setup is crucial for efficiently fishing spoon lures.

Rod Selection

Casting Spoons: A medium to medium-heavy action rod with a fast tip is ideal. This provides the backbone for casting longer distances and the sensitivity to feel bites. Lengths typically range from 6’6” to 7’6”.
Jigging Spoons: A medium-heavy action rod, often a bit shorter (5’10” to 6’6”), is preferred for jigging. This allows for better control when imparting the jigging action.
Material: Graphite or composite rods offer good sensitivity and strength.

Reel Selection

Baitcasting Reels: These are excellent for casting spoons, especially heavier casting spoons and those used for larger game fish. They offer more power and better line control for casting accuracy and distance. Look for a reel with a good gear ratio (6.x:1 to 7.x:1) for a balance of speed and torque.
Spinning Reels: Spinning reels are a great choice, particularly for lighter spoons or when using finesse fishing techniques. They are generally easier to cast for beginners and offer smooth drag for fighting fish. A reel size appropriate for your target species and line weight is recommended (e.g., 2500-4000 series for most freshwater applications).

Line

Monofilament: Offers some stretch, which can be forgiving when fighting fish and during hooksets. It also floats, which can be advantageous for some presentations.
Fluorocarbon: Has low stretch, making it very sensitive and providing a direct feel of the lure. It is also nearly invisible underwater, which can be beneficial in clear water.
Braided Line: Offers zero stretch, providing maximum sensitivity and power for hooksets. It’s also very thin for its strength, allowing for longer casts. However, it requires a leader, as it has no stretch and can be visible.

Troubleshooting Common Spoon Fishing Issues

Even with the right equipment and techniques, you might encounter challenges.

Spoon Not Wobbling Properly

Cause: The spoon might be bent or damaged, or the retrieve speed is incorrect.
Solution: Inspect your spoon for any bends or kinks. Try adjusting your retrieve speed. Some spoons have a sweet spot for speed.

Snagging on the Bottom

Cause: Fishing too deep, or your spoon is dragging on the bottom.
Solution: Use weedless spoons in weedy areas. Try retrieving your spoon slightly higher off the bottom. If using jigging spoons, focus on lifting and dropping, rather than letting it sit on the bottom.

Not Getting Bites

Cause: Incorrect lure selection, wrong depth, or wrong retrieve speed.
Solution: Experiment with different spoon sizes, colors, and actions. Adjust your depth and retrieve speed. Try different fishing techniques, such as adding more pauses or trying a faster retrieve.

Spoon Fishing for Specific Freshwater Species

Let’s look at how spoons excel in freshwater fishing for common species.

Trout

Trout, especially in rivers and streams, are highly susceptible to the flash and wobble of spoons.

Best Spoons: Small, thin spoons in silver, copper, or gold. Colors like blue, green, or red can also be effective.
Techniques: Casting and retrieving with a steady wobble, often with pauses. In faster water, casting upstream and letting the spoon drift with the current, then retrieving, can mimic natural food.

Bass (Largemouth and Smallmouth)

Bass are aggressive predators that readily strike spoons.

Best Spoons: Medium to large casting spoons for covering water. Jigging spoons are excellent for targeting bass holding near the bottom or structure. Weedless spoons are great for shallow, cover-rich areas.
Techniques: Casting to points, drop-offs, and weed edges. Jigging spoons vertically near submerged structure. Vary retrieves from steady to stop-and-go.

Walleye

Walleye often feed on smaller baitfish, making spoons a great choice.

Best Spoons: Smaller, thinner spoons that flutter on the fall are particularly effective. Silver, gold, and perch patterns are popular.
Techniques: Slow retrieves, especially with a stop-and-go action, can be very productive. Jigging spoons can also work well when walleye are holding deep.

Pike and Musky

These toothy predators require larger, more robust spoons designed to handle their powerful strikes.

Best Spoons: Large, heavy casting spoons with a strong wobble. Heavy-duty hooks are a must. Flashy colors like silver, gold, and red are popular.
Techniques: Casting and steady retrieving. Sometimes a faster retrieve is needed to trigger a strike from these aggressive hunters. Trolling with large spoons can also be very effective.

Advanced Spoon Fishing Tips

Add a Trailer: For jigging spoons, adding a soft plastic grub, tube, or paddle tail to the hook can increase their appeal and make them more enticing on the fall.
Change Your Hook: If you’re losing fish, consider swapping out the treble hook for a single siwash hook or a different style of treble hook that might offer better hook-up ratios.
Listen to Your Line: Sometimes, instead of feeling a bite, you’ll hear a slight “tick” or change in the sound of your line as a fish strikes.
Work the Structure: Spoons are excellent for fishing around submerged logs, rock piles, bridge pilings, and drop-offs where baitfish congregate.

Conclusion

Fishing with spoons is a timeless and highly effective method that should be a staple in every angler’s arsenal. Their inherent action, versatility, and ability to attract a wide range of fish make them an invaluable tool. By carefully considering your lure selection, mastering various fishing techniques, and using appropriate fishing tackle, you can unlock the full potential of spoon lures and catch more fish, more easily. So, next time you head out to the water, don’t forget to tie on a spoon – you might be surprised at how effective it can be!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the best type of spoon for beginners?
A1: For beginners, a medium-sized casting spoon with a classic, well-defined wobble is a great starting point. They are versatile and relatively easy to retrieve effectively.

Q2: Can I use spoons for saltwater fishing?
A2: Yes, many spoons are designed specifically for saltwater fishing and are highly effective for species like bluefish, stripers, mackerel, and bonito. Ensure your spoons are made of corrosion-resistant materials.

Q3: How do I prevent my spoon from twisting my fishing line?
A3: Using a good quality swivel above your spoon can significantly reduce line twist. Also, ensure your spoon has a good wobble without being so erratic that it spins.

Q4: When is the best time of year to fish with spoons?
A4: Spoons are effective year-round, but they often shine during spring and fall when baitfish are abundant and predatory fish are actively feeding. They also perform well in summer when fish are seeking lures with flash and erratic action.

Q5: How deep should I fish my jigging spoon?
A5: You should fish your jigging spoon at the depth where you suspect the fish are holding. This is often best determined by using a fish finder or by experimenting with different depths until you get a bite.