Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Nicole on January 25, 2007, 07:18:43 PM
-
Hey Guys and Gals,
I was curious about using spoons for steelhead... Anyone on this forum a real spoon diehard?
I purchased a Gibbs Ironhead today, silver plated 1oz one, and there seemed to be quite a few to choose from... There were no all silver crocs that I could see, are they still made?
So do you guys fish the spoons off a float, or naked? Do you put on any weight, and what sizes and types of spoons are your faves?
I'm trying to add another dimension to my gear fishing strategy, as this float fishing without swinging is really bugging me, I feel I could work the lies so much better with a spoon.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated...
Nicole
-
Give it a try. But beware of the rock fish. They like the iron heads as well. and at $5 a spoon. I would see them working in the long deep pools.
-
You can fish spoons a million different ways. I think 1 oz. might be a little heavy, but not for long casts and/or in deep water. For steelhead, I prefer a wide wobble, fat bodied spoon like the BC blade from Pen Tac. This spoon has a slow, hard thump in the water and you can really let it flutter and swim through almost any current. Unless the fish are really skittish, try to find something in a real silver or gold finish instead of nickle. It will flash a million times better in the water. Nickle really almost disappears in the water.
-
So you think 1/2 oz would be a better bet? Where can you buy the PenTac brand spoon, and also before I forget, is there any place to buy spoon parts in the valley?
Thanks!
Nicole
-
I dont think theres many fish out there that can resist the flash and moment of a spoon, I have caught steelhead on spoons and always carry a couple little cleos, trick is to find the right water to fish them, probably the same water you look for to flyfish. I would think the reason they arent fished more is the price compared with a chunk of roe or rubber worm. Under normal conditions I would fish without a float or weight, nothing like feeling the fish slam the spoon as you are slowly reeling in.
-
I'd probably go a little lighter than 1oz. But silver is definatly a good colour to start with. I wouldn't add any weight, just slow retrieve through tailouts.
-
Pen Tac has been bought out. It's now known as Mor Tac.
-
Nicole, heres a site for you to check out if your looking for a cheaper, better spoon.
https://www.shop.rvrfshr.com/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=3 (https://www.shop.rvrfshr.com/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=3)
-
Just a little too slow there Nuggy :D
-
I like to fish my spoons naked, but this time of year is waaaay too cold for this. ;D ;)
I do fish spoons ,no lead ,no float just chuck, let it sink a little and start a slow retrive,swinging across the pool much like flyfishing.
-
I fish with a guy who is probably the best spoon fisherman in the NW. He's had his own show and writes for STS...And he's pretty humble though fishing with him is like fishing with my wife, in that I'm always wrong.. ;)
That said, he is very helpful with me...too long to post but pm me if interested in more...Fishes straight spoons, no float or weight. 2/5 oz and 2/3 for deep runs, cheap spoons won't reflect but hard chrome ones seem to do the trick. B.C. steel are excellent spoons, (sold by cabellas)...I am a novice at it but have picked up a couple things from him...AND I can tell you this...He doesn't go fishless very often...I saw that again today...Freaking remarkable...5 seconds to clip on, 30 years to learn...
-
Pen Tac has not been bought out. To my knowledge, Mor Tac has gone out of business, and Pen Tac is still going strong. I just bought from them last week. You can buy BC spoons from Cabelas or directly from Pen Tac at http://www.pen-tac.com/
-
yes I'm interested in this clip on idea, as I imagine you'd have to fish a couple different weights through the run to fish it properly...
I'm going to give that rvrfishr guy a call, and see what he suggests...
Thanks Guys!
Nicole
-
Fishing naked spoon is a good idea when the run seems huge to cover by float. I like to reserve my spoon when I need to go deep under strong flow and swing across the current. You have to be familiar with the run that it does not have any submerged snags if you want to save your expensive spoons. I think the size of the spoon used should depend on the current flow. The stronger, the bigger spoon.
-
check out Riverside tackle if you want ot see a great selection of 2/5oz little cleo spoons. Most likely the best in the lower mainland.
-
Bill Herzog is the "spoon man". His book Spoon fishing for Steelhead will answer all of your questions.
A few pointers:
- never add a float to your spoon
- never add lead to your spoon
( both of these will add a negative effect to your spoons action)
- if you need to fish deeper or shallower change your style of spoon
- don't worry to mkuch about colour ( as far as paint goes)
- on bright days fish 24kt. gold
- on dark days use silver
- nickel is not silver......nickel gives you a bright flash, then a dark flash as the spoon wobbles
- if you have to reel in while your spoon is drifting you are using a spoon that is too heavy
- keep it Canadian and only buy Gibbs spoons, they are the only company to offer true sterling silver and 24kt. gold plate ( this may have changed as it has been a few years since I was field testing for them)
- read Bill's book! it is the bible!
you can p.m. me if you have more questions..........
-
JG,
I have questions but unrelated but can't send PM.
Try this...........
stlhd@telus.net
-
Bill Herzog is the "spoon man". His book Spoon fishing for Steelhead will answer all of your questions.
A few pointers:
- never add a float to your spoon
- never add lead to your spoon
( both of these will add a negative effect to your spoons action)
- if you need to fish deeper or shallower change your style of spoon
- don't worry to mkuch about colour ( as far as paint goes)
- on bright days fish 24kt. gold
- on dark days use silver
- nickel is not silver......nickel gives you a bright flash, then a dark flash as the spoon wobbles
- if you have to reel in while your spoon is drifting you are using a spoon that is too heavy
- keep it Canadian and only buy Gibbs spoons, they are the only company to offer true sterling silver and 24kt. gold plate ( this may have changed as it has been a few years since I was field testing for them)
- read Bill's book! it is the bible!
you can p.m. me if you have more questions..........
Well it happens the book is available from the library downtown, and I'm next in line for it!
Thanks guys for all the info, I'll be sure to post my first steel on spoons as soon as I can get one!
Of course if the water is flywater, I'll be using the spey, this spoon thing is really my go to on gear when I not packing the spey rod and I want to swing... JG knows the spot I'm thinking of... ;)
Cheers,
Nicole
-
Nicole............The sad thing about spoon fishing is that perfect spoon water, is usually perfect fly water.....
Chrome King..........That girl who does well on spoons........If it's the same girl, I taught her that.
-
don't ever believe that you can't fish a spoon under a float. Oldtimers have been catching fish on the vedder using large crocs, kohos and kitimats under a float for a very long time. Saw it done on the vedder over 20 years ago and it worked well back then and still does today.
-
don't ever believe that you can't fish a spoon under a float. Oldtimers have been catching fish on the vedder using large crocs, kohos and kitimats under a float for a very long time. Saw it done on the vedder over 20 years ago and it worked well back then and still does today.
The only reason I could see using a float with a large spoon is to keep it from snagging on the bottom. If you were to change your style of spoon to match the water that you are fishing then a float wouldn't be needed.
To make a spoon wobble under a float you are going to need to hold back on your presentation, thus creating a big wake on the top of the water. Most fish in general are put off by large wakes on the surface, and being directly above your offering this may turn them off biting.
The only spoon that I would fish under a float would be a Dick Nite. These aren't casting spoons so they are very light and will wobble with almost no resistance.
-
When I first moved out here from Ontario and started fishing for the steelies here I didn't use nothing but spoons and spinners. I did try the drifting, but found it extremely boring, just like I did back in Ontario. If you know how to fish them, you can hit an awful lot of water and hit some aggressive fish. There are "types" of water that you will find more rewarding than others,,,but of course, that comes with the experience and the learning. There are always surprises, but hell, that's steelheading. And yes, you will lose a few spoons and spinners, but, only if you are fishing them correctly.
You'll find Nicole your spey rod will do the same job that your spoons and spinners,,, just without the flash and weight, but it is "different", just not much.
-
It's not Herzog...He wrote the book but doesn't fish spoons that much...by his own admission..allot of what he says isn't necessarily true either, guy I fish with doesn't want or need the props. He's told me many times "the guys on the river catching all the fish don't talk about it"...If you see a guy with yellow line moving through quick sometimes that him...If your really nice and stop and talk to him he can help you quite a bit...
I watched him catch one yesterday out of water I'd never thought of or tried to fish...No float fishing or drift fishing would have worked there...he taught me how to unhook you snagged hooks as well...ask Merc, but this is what he fishes all the time, not once in awhile, and it's taken him probably over 20 years to learn it....
Do you spey in flat choppy boulder runs??? didn't think so, you can't get under half the trees..this is water I saw him pull one out in yesterday. (sorry re reading the post and saw spoon and fly water being mentioned..the spoon dictates what water you fish not visa versa.)
-
Thanks for returning the Herzog book Nuggy, I now have it in my posession, and it's going to be nice reading at the hair salon today :)
Cheers,
Nicole
-
Hio Nicole....another float option for you would be the twin genuine gold, or genuine silver "twinned" <colorado> blades, that Redl sells.
Now THOSE things flippin and floppin under your float with an orange bead or a pom-pom from the craft store..... and
wazowie. Speak with RLN on-forum, or off-forum for part nos, as I forget. They come in about three sizes of blades.
I'm just upstream of the piers under the Bulkley bridge.
One of the crusty, no ethical scoundrels from town low-holes me and stands precisely where my fly would finish, and starts in.
Naturally, I was obliged to move, or hook him in the crotch. Believe me I was tempted.
Long story short, he got 3 in as many casts.