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[oddjob]

What are you using when you cast spoons  . Are you using a float to keep it from snagging and if how long of leader are you using ? I have never used spoons before . What do these spoons look like ?

[Fish Assassin]

I use a 20-24" leader and no float.

[scruffy]

I use a 20-24" leader and no float.

same for me

[BigFisher]

How does a blade differ from a spinner? How exactly are both used? I managed to hook a coho in a 10 foot pool, and I was only fishing 5 feet deep, and the fish took the blade in a upriver cast.  Thanks for the info. I only had a 12 inch leader when i hooked it, is that all you need, or does it not matter?

[Fish Assassin]

How does a blade differ from a spinner? How exactly are both used?

They are both spinners. You can cast and retrieve, swing it across the current or float fish them much like bait.

[chronic]

I like to cast them slightly upstream, no free spool, and have my rod tip just following the spoon and let the current do the work. My uncle taught me this and I still need to practice this technique a little more.

[Coho Cody]

i always fish blades under a float...longer leader...i find it works better.20-24inch. but not too long from weight to float. also, i only fish spoons by themselves (no float). like what chronic said, i always cast a bit upstream and let it free spool down .

[Geff_t]

I have had great success float fishing blades for coho and steelhead. I use about a two foot leader and I hold back a bit when drifting just to keep the blade spinning. And when they hit boy do they hit. I do this when roe fails me ( which happens from time to time).

[Pat AV]

When I fish spoons I usually cast SLIGHTLY upstream and let the spoon sink into the zone (close to the bottom). The faster the current is and the deeper the water the further upstream I cast to allow the appropriate amount of time for the zone to be reached.

 Once you figure you are in the zone you can start fishing the spoon. I find spoons provide the best action from the point when they are slightly down stream of you till they are directly below you parallel to the shore. If the water is to slow to swing the spoon at the correct speed I will do a slow retrieve as the spoon swings down stream. You will know (after some practice) if a spoon is fishing properly at the correct speed by the throbbing of your rod tip. If your rod tip is not throbbing the spoon is not fishing properly (too slow) if your tip is throbbing more than 2 times per second you are probably fishing the spoon too quickly to be effective. Reel spoons in slowly when your drift is done as some fish will follow spoons to the shore before pounding them.

As for rigging all you need is a swivel to decrease line twist no float needed for spoons. Some guys fish spoons bare and while I find the action to be better without a swivel I personally like to use a swivel to allow me to use a lighter leader between my mainline and my spoon (if you snag bottom or have to break off a fish you have a better chance of not leaving alot of line in the river or in the fish's mouth).

Another method of spoon fishing is to jig with them, I find elongated spoons such as crocks to be the best for jigging. Lift the rod tip  and drop it to flutter the spoon the erratic action a a jigged spoon can be deadly.

A side note on the ethics of spoon fishing. Most spoons come with very large hooks and I find spoons eye hook alot of fish. I also find that spoon caught fish are also more prone to bleed than any other method. Spoons are great for catch and retain fishing but I am trying to get away from using them for C+R.

If there are any guys reading this who could suggest how to reduce the impact of hooking fish on spoons I would love to hear their thoughts.........

Oddjob, I hope that helps, do a google search on Gibbs Crocks and Coho spoons to see what a spoon looks like (these are also very good spoons to chuck). Also if you have time try a google search on an American fishing author named Bill Hertzog- he is considered a spoon specialist and has published some good stuff on the topic.

Good luck and I hope you can make something of all that,

Pat

[Hiker]

By no means I am not a spoon expert, but what I have found is that with spoons logic is different than when fishing with bait. When bait fishing if you want to avoid deep hooking fish you can use bigger hooks with success up to a certain degree, but when fishing with spoons/spinners it is maybe better to use smaller hoks because they will cause smaller of injury and avoid hookin fish in eye, or any other part of body. It is possible to foul hook fish even when you fish with a worm at the lake, as they will sometimes "miss" or just "play" with the bait, while you will "set" hook at that moment snagging them. just my 2c

[Geff_t]

I can honestly say that I have never foul hooked a fish while using a blade. That might be because  I make my own blades using smaller hooks than the store bought ones.

[oddjob]

thanks for all the help ,will try using the spoons this week . thanks again ...

[Pat AV]

Fly guy and Hiker, thanks for the feedback on eye hooked fish. The fish I am speaking of are not foul hooked. The elongated nature of a spoon will cause fish to be hooked in this area. When a fish atacks a spoon from the side they usually hit the "blade" or body of the spoon. When the blade is in the fishes mouth and the hook is set it usually catches the fish in the side of the mouth this is how the fish are hooked in a harmfull way.