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Spoons refer to the large family of artificial lures consisting of rounded, usually metal bodies with a solitary hook attached. Spoons are among the most versatile of all artificial lures because they can be used for casting, trolling and jigging. They can also be fished in shallow, deep or medium-depth waters and appeal to numerous freshwater and saltwater game fish. In fact, almost every game fish can be caught on a spoon at one time or another. For many species, it is often the most effective and popular lure choice.
Their common name aptly describes the general appearance and material of most spoons. The typical spoon is longer than it is wide, with either a curved or straight metal body and shiny metallic finish. As its pulled through the water, a spoon will generally wobble in a side-to-side fashion and sink or flutter rapidly at rest. This type of action and flash resembles fleeing or wounded baitfish, which will always attract hungry predator fish.
Many spoons share the typical teardrop shape and hard metal construction, however, not all spoons are metal, nor are they universally shaped. Countless sizes, styles and finishes exist to target a wide variety of game fish. Despite the multitude of different spoons available, they all fall into only two basic categories: casting or jigging. One style is designed to be cast and retrieved or trolled; the other to be cast or dropped into the water and worked in a jigging motion. Casting spoons are more commonly used than jigging spoons, but both are effective fish-catchers when worked properly.
Casting Spoons
This category describes spoons that are cast or trolled, and what most anglers think of when they hear the word "spoon." All casting spoons feature a slightly curved body that produces a wobbling motion when retrieved or trolled behind a boat. They are usually slender, elongated slabs of metal, though the shape may vary from long and thin to short and wide.
Most are made from steel with a brass, nickel or chrome finish. Although shiny, metallic finishes are most common, spoons may also be painted or coated with multiple colors and patterns. A good number of spoons have bodies with small impressions or scale patterns hammered into the finish.
The majority of casting spoons feature one treble hook that is fastened to the lure with a split ring. Others, particularly many salmon, trout and saltwater jigs, will have a large single hook attached. A few but highly popular spoons have a large single hook forged directly into the metal body.
Casting spoons are primarily retrieved in a steady or stop-and-go manner in a horizontal path between lure and angler. Because they are relatively heavy and not very buoyant, they must be retrieved or trolled at moderate to high speeds in order to be effective.
Jigging Spoons
Unlike casting spoons, jigging spoons are generally long, thin and heavy, with a flat body that produces very little action on its own. Instead of casting and retrieving or trolling, the primary method of fishing these spoons is casting or dropping them over the side of the boat, allowing them to flutter downward to a desired depth, and then jigging them up and down, often with a rapid snapping motion of the rod tip. They are generally confined to deep water use and wherever a vertical presentation is required.
Other than their flat body, jigging spoons have basically the same paint, finish and color schemes as casting spoons, and most also feature solitary treble hooks attached with a split ring.
Jigging spoons are not as versatile as casting spoons, though they work extremely well for schooling game fish that congregate in deep water. They enable the angler to fish precise depths and locations and repeatedly work the lure in a defined strike zone, whereas casting spoons are better for covering more water.
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