Lee Sandt

How to Fish Spoons

Reading Time: 8 minutes

How do you catch Bass on a spoon? Well it may sound easy to you. There are actually quite a few little intricate details to make sure you are successful with this technique. So pay attention and take notes (not really). There are two kinds of spoons I personally have used and been successful with. I also have created a youtube video on my channel so you can learn visually if you so please. I WILL POST THE VIDEO AT THE BOTTOM SO YOU CAN SEE ME CATCH SOME OF THESE BASS IN REAL TIME. That will highlight the smaller vertical spoons pictured here.

The smaller vertical style spoons such as the Flex it pictured above are what you will see me using and teaching on in the video. First order of business you will want to have a shorter rod for this technique. This technique has to be done from a boat, kayak, or canoe. You need to be out of the structure or school of fish. It won’t really work for a bank fisherman. Do not close the window bank anglers because the next technique will. So since I only use this technique for a couple months in the winter I don’t devote an expensive rod and reel to this technique. This set up right here would be more than adequate. I use the short rod because I want that spoon to drop right by my transducer where I see the fish. I want a light rod which is in the link above. I want it to be flimsy so I don’t yank the hoot out of the fishes mouth. Always use 100% fluorocarbon for this technique. Not just the leader but the entire spool. I really wouldn’t use much more than 10lb test. I personally like to use 8lb. For this technique and it being vertical I feel it is very important for the sink rate and the visibility to use this line. As you will see in the video below I show how I jig these so I will not get into that as much here on the blog. Everyday is different and you have to figure out a cadence and find where the fish are and what they like. Everyone thinks you have to have this on the bottom all the time. If I see fish on my screen I drop it down and if I see the fish chase it don than I start to jig it. If they stay suspended than I simply reel it up to about where I see these fish and jig in that part of the water column. If you do feel a bite or your line stops prematurely than simply lift up to hook the fish. THE MOST IMPORTANT TIP IS COMING UP. IF YOU LEARN NOTHING ELSE THATS OK. WHEN YOU HOOK THE FISH DO NOT LET ANY SLACK IN YOUR LINE OR ROD TIP AT ALL. The weight of this dense lure will work against you and pull the small treble hook out right out of the fish’s mouth. Also since you have light line USE YOUR NET or you will have some heart break if you try to swing them. I don’t recommend trying to grab them as that lure will shoot out of their mouth sometimes and can chip a tooth or hook you. Ask me how I know!!

Which Color Should You Use?

My color rules are simple. I play around with different colors if i am finding fish and they are not reacting to my color. Size is most important. You simply want to match the bait fish. If you see any dead bait of your fish are spitting up bait try and match that. You can get away with going a little smaller but I try to never go bigger than the bait. On cloudy days I like to use White and maybe some chartreuse mixed in. On sunny days I go with chrome or something shiny with a silver or blue sticker on it. War eagle has good selection also of all the colors that i just spoke of. You can click on the picture and go right to a sales page that I have added for your convenience.

Alright bank anglers and pond fisherman I am going to show you some love also. People on a boat or vessel of some kind can obviously use this technique also. So a flutter spoon is usually a little bigger and you will be trying to imitate herring, gizzard shad, bream, and bigger shad. Again I am going to use 100% Fluorocarbon.

Now we are going to cast this bait. This bait flutters down to the bottom. Once it hits the bottom it is important to watch your line for any regularities. That also goes for the initial cast. If you see that line jump or stop well before it should get to the bottom than you may have a fish on. Once it hits the bottom you will want to give it a quick pop or two to get the spoon off the bottom and let it flutter back down. You will repeat this and retrieve it to the boat. The bite can knock slack in your line so reel the slack up fast and swing hard on these Big Bass that are attracted to these baits. Again it is important to not let any slack in the line while reeling them in. Be prepared to have some heart break with this bait especially if you are targeting largemouth bass. Because of the size of this bait and their big mouths when they jump and head shake they are very easily able to throw this bait. The size of that metal spoon gains momentum and will swing this bait out. Try and keep your rod tip down to discourage them from jumping and keep that line tight at all times. When they get close to the boat they will try and dive and I don’t trust my drag at the boat. I will click the bail while keeping my thumb on the spool and let them throw their fits and click it and engage it when I am ready to reel again after they stop diving.

The flutter spoon is a great technique anytime baitfish are being targeted. I especially like it in the fall and winter when they are gorging on bait fish. I am going to pair this with a reel like a Shimano with a 7:2:1 or even an 8:2:1 gear ratio so I can get that slack line in quick. I would use a medium heavy or even a heavy with a fast action tip.

One tip I can give you make sure if the rod says it can handle anything up to 1/2 oz. you don’t go over that or you will snap your rod. Look at the weight of your spoon and purchase based on that. Try to get something that is 7’2” so you can make those long hook sets.

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