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Spoons Keith Hatch
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Ok, I know what your thinking. What spoons would one use for bass? There are several that I have found to be quite productive. And quite frankly, I believe that spoons are one of the first lures ever devised. So, why wouldn't you have some for bass? They have been catching fish for many years, and there are several different types, to cover all depths, and techniques. So why not? First lets discuss the types of spoons that I utilize. There are: weedless spoons, swimming spoons, trolling spoons, and jigging spoons. Since trolling "isn't really" a bass fishing technique, and isn't allowed in tournaments, I will skip that one. But the other three? I use more often than one might think. And they can really produce big time, at certain times of the year. I will explain. Weedless spoons are one of my favorite lures to use. They are also one of the first bass lures I used when I started to really "target" bass twenty years ago. My choice was a Johnsons 1/4 oz silver minnow weedless spoon. I add a split tail trailer to it, and tie a snap swivel on the line, to which I attach the spoon. Now this lure is very effective as a top water lure or a swimming lure. In the dead of summer, when the weeds are fully developed. I would cast it out over thick emergent weeds and constantly reel it back, looking for a strike. Once a fish hits, wait until you feel the fishes weight before you set the hook, kind of like a top water lure. I also would have a worm ready to throw into the hole the fish made, if the fish missed the spoon. This works very well. The spoon demands to be fished quickly (to locate) and the worm follows up on missed strikes. (Some guys think that the new "soft" spoons or "rats" have replaced this spoon. But I disagree, they have their own place, a slower presentation.) This spoon needs to be moved fast over weeds, and will provoke some very intense strikes.,... Now it also works well under the surface as a bonus. Many times I'll be fishing the top water scenario, and when the lure comes off the weeds and starts falling, I'd get a strike, or when I'm reeling it back to the boat (under the water) I'd get a strike. The wide wobble of this lure sends out a very loud vibe. Good for around weeds and thick cover. So, it works as a top water, and a swimming spoon. Which I like, double duty. Swimming spoons are a different story, I use them out in open water. Maybe around "some" structure, but not much. These lures usually have a treble hook, and hang up quite easily. Again I use a snap swivel, to deter line twist. Some of my choices are daredevils, and little cleo's. There are plenty of makes to choose from. I prefer silver, or gold, but the painted ones have a place in stained and muddy water as well. I mainly target smallies with swimming spoons due to the water clarity in some of our better smallie lakes, and the flash, and vibe, the spoons give off. Retrieves will vary, I let the fish decide what I need to do. Fast, slow, paused, pump and reel, they all work at certain times. You have to experiment, to find out what the fish want. And these lures can be fished at any depth as well. Just count it down, like you would when swimming a lead head jig. I've found that sometimes when it appears nothing is working, (in warmer water) a swimming spoon will. They are usually small, and offer a lot in a small package, for a fish to key in on. Flash, vibe, and good action. Jigging spoons are my choice for the dead of winter, and the dog days of summer. Again I use a snap swivel, but not just to deter line twist, but to add some flutter to the fall. My choices are : hopkins, crippled herrings, and mann-o-lures. Usually silver, but some colored for clear water. Size will be dictated by the rate of fall I want, heavy for a fast fall, light for a slower one. I like to use a single hook, instead of the standard treble for two reasons. It won't hang up as much, and you won't lose as many fish. I don't cast these out, I drop them straight down, and vertically jig them. If I want to fish the bottom, I let it hit, then reel it up a few cranks, then start jigging. While jigging, you must "drop" the lure with your rod to feel the hit, because the strike is usually quite subtle, and usually occurs on the fall. If I am fishing suspended fish, I will count the lure down to the depth desired. One thing that I do with all my spoon fishing is to scent the spoon. If the lake has a prevalent baitfish I will choose that scent. I believe that this will get the fish to hold on longer, for detecting light striking fish. And in some cases provoke a strike from a fish that's following a swimming spoon. Now, I use a stiffer action rod for weedless spoons, and jigging spoons. And a med action rod for swimming spoons. Although I believe that gear choice is a personal issue, you need these types of actions for a good hook set, and action.
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