How to fish with a spoon? Fishing tips and tricks that work

What is spoon fishing, and how are they used?

Spoon fishing is a modality in which a specific type of lure is used to make prey bite. It has the shape of blades and is made of metal. When fishing, it rotates similarly to a propeller and this creates vibrations that could be compared to those produced by the movement of some small fish, indicative, for the bigger ones, that they are out there.

The way operations are carried out with this type of lures is as follows: The spoon activates in predatory fish an organ, called the lateral line, the moment it starts spinning. This system makes the fish feel the movement of objects at a distance and even the changes produced in the water flow.

This is how even the smallest fish can defend themselves from predators, thanks to their special detection. When practicing this type of fishing, fish imitation is also produced by flashes in the water (sight) and the creation of sound waves in the water (hearing); a whole sensory combo!

Spoon fishing is used, above all, to catch certain species such as trout, pike or smallmouth bass, as these are the predators most attracted by this type of lure. It is also a modality indicated for salmon fishing in areas with little current or under weeds and branches.

The equipment we need to fish with a spoon is very basic and easy to obtain, so it will not require a great investment.

What is necessary to be able to practice this modality is:

Rod: length between 1.30 and 1.80 meters. In addition, it must have three rings so that the cast does not slow down.
Nylon: It must be very thin, so that the spoon can move smoothly.
Reel: It should have a capped spool and a maximum length of 100 meters.
Spoon: No distinction should be made between fast or slow water. Each angler should select the type of spoon that best suits the fishing conditions, his capabilities and the prey he wants to catch.

There are several tricks for fishing with a spoon. The following is a review of the most significant ones:

Continuous recovery. In this way, we do not modify the rhythm that has been reached in each cast. This is the only way the spoon can show all its charms in terms of reflexes and vibrations.
Changes in depth and rhythm. This is the opposite case to the previous one, since the retrieval speed must be adjusted to each external modification. In this way, an attack by the prey is stimulated.
Fishing at depth. If the trout are large, it is much better to let the spoon fall to the bottom and slowly rise.
Frog technique. The spoon should be thrown to the surface of the water so that it floats and when trying to retrieve it by jerking it, it imitates small jumps. The fish is usually thrown on the lure itself.
Dry stop the spoon. The move is actually called ‘killing the spoon’. The spoon stops, although it is gaining depth. The fish bites the moment it starts its retrieve in the water.

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How to choose the perfect fishing spoon and what types are there?

For spoon fishing we have to take into account many different circumstances, such as the flow of the river, its depth, the weather, the greenness of the river or not. Therefore, there are different types of spoons, to be used according to each case.

Classification according to the shape of the blade

Next, we will classify them according to the shape of their blade:

Rounded or flat blade

This is a spoon with a wide blade. Due to its shape, it rotates a lot in the water and does so quite far from the shaft, forming a 90-degree angle with it. This type of blade is used mainly in rivers. They are perfect for upstream fishing, where we make the cast and attract the prey to our position, being the way in which the fish has less time to act.

Oval blade

This is a slightly wider lure than the previous one. It is an intermediate type of spoon compared to the others and is not often used by anglers. The one most commonly used is the one whose design has a black background and yellow dots, since, on certain occasions, it is the most useful. It is used in clear water, since it is not necessary to emit flashes and it does not scare the fish. It can also be used in turbid waters, as here the black background also looks very good.

Olive leaf

It has a very narrow blade that ends in a point. Due to the narrowness of the blade, very little frictional force is exerted on the water. For this reason, the spinning of the spoon is very close to the axis. This type is perfect for fishing against the current or casting downwards and retrieving in the opposite direction, or when we want to cast towards the other end of the river and retrieve in an arc. It is suitable for still waters or where there is no current variation.

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Classification according to the material the lure is made of

Next we are going to make a small note about the existing differences depending on the material in which the lure is made:

Brass

It is the most used for all rivers. If it is burned with a match it can shine, but this is eliminated by rubbing it with the sands.

Copper

It is used in rivers that have a muddy bottom or have a small layer of verdigris.

Steel

It is the most specific for the beginning of the season, where the rivers are more loaded with water.

Zinc

Due to its color, it should be used in clear water, during summer. It can be used as a lure, similar to a cricket. It turns blue and is used when the sun goes down.

Best species and places for spoon fishing

Fishing with a spoon is not usually a guarantee to obtain many fish, but this is not because of its efficiency, but because there are less and less fish in our waters. For this reason, these “lures” are being better and better developed to be used as an essential fishing tool.
Even so, there are always certain species that are easier to catch with this element and we want you to know about them.

Predators

In the case of predators, there are several important species that can be easily caught: perch, black bass and pike. All of them can be found in reservoirs (such as those in the Guadalquivir basins), inland seas (such as the Orellana) or in rivers (such as the Tormes or the Esla).

This tool is especially important for hunting in complicated fishing areas with difficult environments plagued by rocks, obstacles or sunken areas.

Salmonids

This group includes trout, salmon, sea trout and lake trout. These species can be found in many rivers of our geography. In fact, many fish farms are being created where they can be caught in a recreational way.

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Sea bass and sea bream

This type of fish is found in the sea. For this purpose, the undulating spoon is used. This is a plate of varying thickness that is twisted to generate a wiggle. The fishes’ killer instinct is awakened by this movement.

This type of spoon can be used for different types of fishing such as jogging, light casting or trolling. They are not the fishermen’s favorite lure, although they have an incredible capacity to catch fish in the most adverse situations.

They are also used for spoon fishing from the shore, so that you can cast upstream with the most suitable type of lure for each sea situation, always finding the fiercest specimens of these species.

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Contents hide

1 What is spoon fishing, and how are they used?

2 How to choose the perfect fishing spoon and what types are there?

3 Classification according to the shape of the blade

3.1 Rounded or flat blade

3.2 Oval blade

4 Olive leaf

5 Classification according to the material the lure is made of

5.1 Brass

5.2 Copper

5.3 Steel