Spoon Help?

[Cambo89]

Hi all. I Have a few questions about using spoons. Have never really used them but would like to give it a try in between jigging off the dock for fish. What is the basic setup? Do you need a certain kind of rod to use a spoon? Do they work well with spinning reels? How much weight to add to cast? Where to put weights/what weights to use on a line with a spoon?(I'm guessing split shots?) How do you retrieve a spoon properly? I purchased a Gold Star Silver Horde spoon that is green with a little squid attached to the hook but I feel like I'm using it incorrectly. Want to target Coho/Kings with it.

[ncwflounderer]

I dont know much about fishing the salt, but have and idea. It seems there is a couple things you could do. Spoons can be Jigged vertically, exactly like you currently Jig, and i am sure you would pick up fish. as far as casting, spinning gear would work fine. i cast spoons for trout with spinning gear. I think what you want to do is cast out, let it drop a bit then pull the spoon back sorta yo-yo like stopping and starting, vary your retrieve and would expect a bite. For trout i often cast out, let it sit for a bit, then slowly retrieve, but for the salmon strike, i think you need to impart a bit more action to the spoon. as far as weight goes, the spoon is the weight- more weight = larger spoon. you may be able to also do some mooching, where you have a dropper with with a 3 way swivel, cast out a short ways, let sink, with jig as you reel in and work the different columns- i think you want some current for this technique.

[fishindude]

I don't know much about spoon fishing but seems the spoon you have is designed for trolling not casting. I have some Silver Horde Kingfisher spoons that I tie on behind a flasher and drag behind the boat. Not sure if what you have is the same sort of deal or not but If I was you and want to target Salmon from the shore, I would use a buzz bomb or rotator with a little squid on the hook.

[kodacachers]

If that's a Kingfisher spoon you're challenge will be getting enough weight to cast it out. I don't think split shot will do it for you. You could probably put an inline weight or dropper of an ounce and cast your spoon. The rod will need to be rated for that kind of weight. You might check out the fishing reports for Area 9. You can search by method and choose "Casting" or "Shoreline". I think most folks are using a buzz bomb, rotator, point wilson dart or another lure that has its own weight in it (they are an ounce I think). If you go down to the fishing piers you should be able to catch on to what they are doing pretty quickly.

[Cambo89]

Thanks for the input so far guys! I have been using a squid type jig which most everyone else is using. Thought it might be fun to throw something else at the salmon, since they see so much of the same tricks. I'll try the inline weight, casting the spoon a decent distance has been pretty hard to do.( Maybe it is for trolling only, I'll post a pic when I get a chance so you can see exactly what it is I bought) The only hit I had the last 4 times out was from a buzzbomb, maybe I should use those again, but I don't really like jigging with them.

[3footvis]

I've casted banana weights and trolling spoons from shore. Usually use 1 or 2oz. Just make sure you stop the reel right before the lure hits the water. That way the spoon swings out in front of the weight and you don't get tangled up....

[jd39]

September's issue of The Reel News has a article on spoon fishing that I hope will help, I haven't fished them much either.