Hamilton Reef
10-21-2007, 09:07 PM
Get that lure out of your bait box and start spooning
http://www.mlive.com/features/chronicle/index.ssf?/base/features-0/1192747502257100.xml&coll=8
10/17/07 By Bob Kingsley Chronicle correspondent
The chances are pretty good that many area anglers have one or more jigging spoons tucked away in their tackle box. And it's also probable that over the past couple years only a handful of these lures were ever put to use.
Simply put, many anglers lack the confidence that these lures do work. And that could be a mistake, because over the years the jigging spoon has proven to be one of the more versatile, as well as effective, lures ever produced.
There are a variety of spoons on the market having popular brand names such as Hopkins, Lee's, Strata, and Megabait. They all work well, so picking the right one is just a matter of personal preference.
All are similarly constructed with heavy metal (bronze, steel, or tungsten) body, an opening at one end where the snap or snap swivel is attached, and an opening at the other end where the split ring and treble hook is attached.
This type of lure will sink fast, has no built-in action, and doesn't look much like anything found in a natural environment. But the fact remains that they can be used to catch most species of fish found in Michigan.
My first experience with the jigging spoon came a couple decades ago when noted walleye angler Larry Allison invited Chronicle photographer Dave Carlson and me to join him on a trip to Saginaw Bay in pursuit of trophy walleye.
The first half of the day was uneventful at best, but then Allison dropped anchor near an underwater rock pile.
"Let's do some spooning," instructed Allison. "Cast out, then reel in using your rod tip to give the spoon an erratic action."
This presentation seemed somewhat improbable ... that is until a dandy 8 lb. walleye slammed the lure. That fish was soon followed by a half-dozen others and needless to say we too became hooked on jigging spoons.
Most anglers who go "spooning" do so in pursuit of summer walleye (several local tournaments have been won this year with this presentation), but they also work well on deep-water bass (smallmouth and largemouth), pike, carp, salmon, and most other fish that eat minnows.
Captain Ken Clark (Fishmas Charters) strongly advocates using jigging spoon, especially when fishing during daylight hours. In fact, he has a minimum of eight rods pre-rigged with 3/4 oz. spoons. And during the last few weeks alone he has accounted for close to three dozen walleye (two of which tipped the scale at 10 lbs. and five others weighed over 7 lbs.), several smallmouth and largemouth bass, white perch, and a goby.
But that wasn't his most impressive catch.
On Oct. 4, which was also Clark's 26th wedding anniversary, he caught a sheepshead that was without any doubt the largest taken out of Michigan waters this year or in any other year in recent memory.
The monster freshwater drum was 36 inches in length and weighed 21 lbs. 10 oz. on a certified scale. The state record freshwater drum weighing 26 pounds was taken from Muskegon Lake by James Black in 1973.
And if that weren't enough, he caught two more sheepshead weighing 19 and 15 lbs. the next night. All of these fish, including the walleye and bass, were taken from the 25-30 foot depths of White Lake.
Spoons can be fished just the way they come out of the package but it's a good bet that many of the more dedicated spoon anglers customize their lures, by adding reflective tape, luminous paint, or maybe add an eye sticker.
"I like the spoons that come with added glow," said Clark. "If it doesn't glow, it doesn't go!"
http://www.mlive.com/features/chronicle/index.ssf?/base/features-0/1192747502257100.xml&coll=8
10/17/07 By Bob Kingsley Chronicle correspondent
The chances are pretty good that many area anglers have one or more jigging spoons tucked away in their tackle box. And it's also probable that over the past couple years only a handful of these lures were ever put to use.
Simply put, many anglers lack the confidence that these lures do work. And that could be a mistake, because over the years the jigging spoon has proven to be one of the more versatile, as well as effective, lures ever produced.
There are a variety of spoons on the market having popular brand names such as Hopkins, Lee's, Strata, and Megabait. They all work well, so picking the right one is just a matter of personal preference.
All are similarly constructed with heavy metal (bronze, steel, or tungsten) body, an opening at one end where the snap or snap swivel is attached, and an opening at the other end where the split ring and treble hook is attached.
This type of lure will sink fast, has no built-in action, and doesn't look much like anything found in a natural environment. But the fact remains that they can be used to catch most species of fish found in Michigan.
My first experience with the jigging spoon came a couple decades ago when noted walleye angler Larry Allison invited Chronicle photographer Dave Carlson and me to join him on a trip to Saginaw Bay in pursuit of trophy walleye.
The first half of the day was uneventful at best, but then Allison dropped anchor near an underwater rock pile.
"Let's do some spooning," instructed Allison. "Cast out, then reel in using your rod tip to give the spoon an erratic action."
This presentation seemed somewhat improbable ... that is until a dandy 8 lb. walleye slammed the lure. That fish was soon followed by a half-dozen others and needless to say we too became hooked on jigging spoons.
Most anglers who go "spooning" do so in pursuit of summer walleye (several local tournaments have been won this year with this presentation), but they also work well on deep-water bass (smallmouth and largemouth), pike, carp, salmon, and most other fish that eat minnows.
Captain Ken Clark (Fishmas Charters) strongly advocates using jigging spoon, especially when fishing during daylight hours. In fact, he has a minimum of eight rods pre-rigged with 3/4 oz. spoons. And during the last few weeks alone he has accounted for close to three dozen walleye (two of which tipped the scale at 10 lbs. and five others weighed over 7 lbs.), several smallmouth and largemouth bass, white perch, and a goby.
But that wasn't his most impressive catch.
On Oct. 4, which was also Clark's 26th wedding anniversary, he caught a sheepshead that was without any doubt the largest taken out of Michigan waters this year or in any other year in recent memory.
The monster freshwater drum was 36 inches in length and weighed 21 lbs. 10 oz. on a certified scale. The state record freshwater drum weighing 26 pounds was taken from Muskegon Lake by James Black in 1973.
And if that weren't enough, he caught two more sheepshead weighing 19 and 15 lbs. the next night. All of these fish, including the walleye and bass, were taken from the 25-30 foot depths of White Lake.
Spoons can be fished just the way they come out of the package but it's a good bet that many of the more dedicated spoon anglers customize their lures, by adding reflective tape, luminous paint, or maybe add an eye sticker.
"I like the spoons that come with added glow," said Clark. "If it doesn't glow, it doesn't go!"