How to rig & fish a spoon?

On Fri, 05 Mar 2004 08:25:05 -0500, joe wrote:

In article ,
Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:

But I gotta ask - what's a gator trout?

Maybe a 'slang' term but among those I fish the flats with in FL a
speckled trout (sal****er variety) over 24 - 25 inches is commonly
called a gator trout.

I suppose due to the large mouth and those fangs. They do typically
behave differently. They usually do not behave the same way as the
schooling trout that are smaller. Usually solitary and holding to a good
ambush spot or cruising the shallows looking for a meal.

Squeteague - big ugly things, but mighty tasty.

I miss fishing for specks. When I lived in Louisiana, I used to catch
them down around Venice and along Lake Ponchatrain in New Orleans
where I lived.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Do fishermen eat avocados? This is a question
that no one ever thinks to ask."

Russel Chatham, "Dark Waters" (1988)

I'd give anyone about ten minutes with almost any spoon...before their line
would be a twisted mess...without a swivel somewhere in the rigging. Even
the wonderful motion of a wobble-only (Johnson Silver minnow..etc. ) spoon
turns into a "spinning" spoon if it is retrieved just a little too quickly.

Some people prefer a snap swivel to attach the lure to the line. It serves
two purposes. One is - THE SWIVEL-...the other is it attaches the spoon
"loosely" so that the spoon gives more wobble than if it were tied on
tightly. I prefer to tie a simple loop; bowlin; or circle knot to give the
"looseness" that adds wobble. I think it adds attractiveness to every lure I
use. In the case of spoons, the swivel is attached at the top of the "shock
leader" so it is far removed from the spoon itself. Maybe it is better,
maybe not...but it is how I do it.

Regarding the loop knot....I can no longer just tie something directly on,
unless it is a spinnerbait.
--
RichG
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners

Thanks, basically what I thought. Except for the part about the little
red tab. I have not been taking them off. Reading your reply I guess
it is useless to have them attached, right? Can extra "fans" or
"skirts" be purchased seperatly somewhere and do you use snap swivels
on jigs? Great info here.

(pcadd) wrote in message . com...
Just saw this and had basically the same question. Very good reply,
but one other thing that I have seen other's use is a snap swivel with
the spoon and with jigs. What do you thing? should a snap swivel be
used with spoons and jigs?


"RichG" wrote in message ...
Since I fish West Galveston bay with spoons, maybe this will help.

Buy some 1/4 oz. or even 1/8th oz. Johnson Sprite ( Gold for reds, Silver
for trout ) spoons. Put the red "fan" that comes in the package on to the
hook. Take off the little red tab that Johnson supplies.

Add a Stainless steel split ring to the spoon. The reason for the split ring
is that Johnson makes these spoons with just a punch hole into the metal.
That punch hole will cut your line very quickly, unless you add the
protection of the SS split ring.

To the Split ring, tie on 15/20 inches of fluorocarbon ( I use a simple loop
knot ) or at least clear monofilament. Many use 20 lb test. It is for a
"shock leader" to help avoid cut-offs with the shell you hope you are
fishing over. Tie a good quality black swivel on to the Fluorocarbon shock
leader. Tie 10 lb. mono onto the swivel. Cast as far as you can. Jig it
back and hang on! Some people just reel it back in slowly. I find my best
luck is when I "work it" back with five inch or so pulls and stops. Try
them all.

Good luck, let us know how it works.
RichG
p.s. Where do you fish in Galveston bay complex????

After a year or so, I'll sell you all of the little red tabs that I
remove!!!

Nah.. I don't know where one could buy more of either. The red tabs may work
very well for you. I just got in the habit of removing them since I started
with the red "fans" and didn't want to change when the red tabs came out.
The red "fans" are certainly more garish. The red tabs might work well in
very clear water, which is at a premium here in the summer. I just related
what I do and why I do it. Just cause I do it, doesn't make it the only or
the right way.

re snap swivels on jigs...nope, just a loop knot. Probably should have
clarified that earlier. No reason why one couldn't use a shock leader with
a snap swivel, just like a spoon. If I move from a spoon to a jig , then
I'd just snip the spoon off and tie the jighead on.

My favorite "tout" or jig is the red and white ones. I guess most guys use
"lime-treuse" bass-assassins from what I've read..... but I'm old and old
fashioned. RichG
--
RichG
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners

In article ,
(pcadd) wrote:

Thanks, basically what I thought. Except for the part about the little
red tab. I have not been taking them off. Reading your reply I guess
it is useless to have them attached, right? Can extra "fans" or
"skirts" be purchased seperatly somewhere and do you use snap swivels
on jigs? Great info here.

You can add pretty much anything on the hook; grub tail, pork skin,
fishbites (scented strip), etc. I have one I added a rattle to the ring
up top. Just be aware that anything you add will likely change the
action at a given retrieve speed. You can use this to your advantage. I
use trailers in the winter to slow down the spoon retrieve for sluggish
fish.
--
"Atlanta Joe" aka Joe Webb
Flats fishing is Flat Fun!
Visit my site at http://flatsfisher.com