I enjoyed some first time spoon success this fall before the lake turned over, and I hope to try it again this week if we can find some fish stacked up. I was using 3.5 5.0 oz. spoons and jigging it as fast as I could or power reeling through schools to get bites. For cold water fish, do I need to downsize my spoons and slow my cadence way down, or will the same techniques still work? I know I need to experiment to see what they are in the mood for so Im just looking for some advice on where to start. Thanks in advance.
I’m fairly good with the spoons, maybe a little above or below average, but I’ll chime in with a little advice. Fogman is definitely a better striper advisor than me.
Normally, as I understand it, the stripers downsize their food in the coldest winter water. Problem is the water hasn’t been that cold so far this winter. That being said, I’ll usually catch a good many keeper sized stripers in with the white perch that I target and very, very few short fish.
Generally I’m not looking for suspended schools of fish. Instead, I want the schools of bait and fish to be basically on the bottom or atleast within 2’ of it. I very seldom use any spoon that is more than 1 oz. and have caught most of my biggest stripers, bass, catfish and perch on the 1/2 oz. Berry’s spoons. The catfish I caught out of Fogman’s boat, a little over a year ago, was actually caught on a silver 3/8 oz. spoon. At that time it was the biggest fish to be put in his boat.
If the water is muddy I’ll usually, upsize the spoon, try to fish just below the mudline, or move to fairly shallow water. I’ve caught a good many keeper stripers with the spoons in less than 18’ of water.
Another thing about the stripers is to watch for the gulls. After the run and gunners have left the area you can usually catch some good sized fish right on the bottom exactly under where they were schooling.
Definitely try different colors, name brands and sizes of spoons. I usually bump with two rods, and have a different color on each, every time I go out. If I catch 4 on one color and 1 on the other I’ll take off the least productive spoon and either tie an identical one on or atleast try a different color.
I also like to always throw out a marker when I’m on fish. Sometimes they will only move around in a 30 to 50 yard square area and I can run a pretty good search pattern around the marker before giving up on the spot. Be sure to throw your marker into the prevailing wind about 30’ or so from where you intend to fish. This will usually keep fish from tangling
Spoonmaster, I appreciate your confidence in me when it comes to jigs. I don’t believe I’m all that… Steverino, I feel that the techniques and baits we used in summer and fall can work right now if you mark good fish suspended over deep water. You may want to downsize a little, but we haven’t had any super cold water temps. I don’t think stripers become size selective until water gets below 48. We were on some deep suspended keepers at the end of Saturday’s tx but ran out of time and bait. If I can find them again, I’ll drop a Slammer or Deadly Dick in them Saturday and post results.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
I love reading what you anglers share! Thanks. I used to fish slab spoons during what we called thermo-shock. The threadfin would die in large numbers and you could watch when it would hit them.Since the blue backs were introduced we don’t do much of that anymore but boy it was fun! I’ll give you a clue. I used to fish the Gap with shell crackers. Crystal lake was a battle ground for a good bream bed cause thats what we used for bait! I got a dollar apiece for every herring I managed to bring alive. That was the good old day’s!
Kevin Lybrand
Thanks, I’ll post any results I have from this weekend. One more question. I’m thinking about switching my jigging set up to braid to get a better feel. Right now I tie direct to a snap swivel and spoon. Should I do the same for jigging with braid, or use a leader?
I would tie some sort of a leader on. In the summer when jigging i use my avet with 50# braid. I tie about 10-15’ of flouro to it with an albright knot. You def need some type of shock leader to have some stretch in the line for the initial “hit”. Plus if jigging close to the bottom hang ups may occur. I would much rather lose a 6$ jig than 50’+ of braid. Your not gonna break that braid and will have to cut it up top.
My. 02
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
quote:
Originally posted by Murrymaker… In the summer when jigging i use my avet with 50# braid. …My. 02
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
(**()!! Do you wear a fighting belt too??? 
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
BLAHAHAHAAHAHAH with all the closures offshore it just sits on the shelf most of the year anymore so last yr when the spoonfest started up i figured it would be able to get some use. I will agree its a little over kill having a 2speed reel with a max drag of almost 30#…lol… but its an sx raptor so only about the size of an ambassaduer maybe a little smaller.
Caught a 10# fish on a spoon last fall and didn’t realized i was in high speed w/too much drag on. Literally brought the fish to the boat in about 15sec in 40’ of water… i thought it was a short foul hooked. Since then the preset drag is WAY lighter…
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
That’s like “flipping” for stripas…good stuff
Ankona Native SUV 17
Tohatsu 30
I started using some of my salt water stuff too. I now keep my TLD15’s on my downrigger rods. For years I would switch reels back and forth depending on whether I was bait fishing and trolling.
Wish I would have thought to do that years go.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
I’m against snap swivels. I have lost some very good fish due to snap swivels somehow coming unsnapped. I advise using a ball bearing barrel swivel 2’ to 3’ above the spoons.
There are a lot of variations you can try with the spoons, including casting them into schooling stripers. Let the spoons sink a little if you try this before beginning your retrieve. Normally, the larger fish are usually a little deeper and will chase the baits less. Sometimes all you need is a slow steady retrieve.
When jigging for stripers, I use snaps to quick change. They also give the bait a wilder action that linesides like. I tie directly to the spoon with my smaller perch baits. This keeps the bait from flipping up and hooking the lead. I generally don’t have that problem with larger spoons like the Braid Slammer and Deadly Dick.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Frogman where can u buy the slammer and deadly dick spoons
…Sundance b22 …
140 Johnson
TEAM LAID BACK
I only use the larger spoons, but I like like a snap swivel too. I don’t recall ever having a problem with them opening and I think even the smaller ones are rated about 30 lb.
Weston, Sportsman’s has the Slammers but I’ve only found DD’s online. Richard alway’s had Hopkins spoons, but I heard he has a wider selection now. I haven’t been over there in a while, but you may want to check.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
The only place dependable for Deadly Dicks I’ve found is Cabelas. Most of the time, they are on backorder but are worth the wait.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
OK, one of my other “tricks” is to use a small split ring to attach a small ball bearing swivel directly to the spoons. This gives you the action and can’t come undone. I haven’t even bought any snap swivels in years. I know they are good for quick changes, but I’d rather take the time to tie the above mentioned rigging to my line than possibly lose a big fish. I’ve never lost a fish due to my split ring or barrel swivel failing.
I use the ones where the wire sticks out to lock them in. I started with the small ones, but I did have one bend out. I didn’t loose the fish, but I did move up in the size.
I ordered a few spoons from Sportsman’s Warehouse online last fall. Much more selection than what is in the store with several on sale or clearance.
quote:
Originally posted by FogmanThe only place dependable for Deadly Dicks I’ve found is Cabelas. Most of the time, they are on backorder but are worth the wait.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Don’t look for them on deadly dicks dot com, that site is completely unrelated to jigging spoons. Sorry, couldn’t help it
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
I thought it might be cheaper to buy direct…boy was i wrong. Price is good but shipping was like 20 something i think. They are made in Canada so i guess it cost more to come across the border…
“Sea~N~Stripes”
21’ Hewes Craft Custom
115 Evinrude
quote:
Originally posted by steelytomquote:
Originally posted by FogmanThe only place dependable for Deadly Dicks I’ve found is Cabelas. Most of the time, they are on backorder but are worth the wait.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
Don’t look for them on deadly dicks dot com, that site is completely unrelated to jigging spoons. Sorry, couldn’t help it
Wellcraft V-20 sportfish with a 200 Evinrude
Fyi, I tried that link. It took me to a detective novel. Not everyone has their mind in the gutter:smiley:
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer