There are 3 kinds of spoons.
1) Flutter spoons. Usually used in somewhat clearer water, these spoons are lifted up and then let drop on slack or semi-slack line. You can let them go all the way to the bottom, or you can let them flutter to a predetermined depth, then lifted again and start the whole process over. I lift mine at moderate speed, but some fishermen "snap" them, raising them up really fast, then letting them drop slowly. This style spoon comes in many sizes and weights, from 1/8th ounce Flutterchucks by Eppinger to the Ben Parker Magnum at 3.5 ounces. There are probably bigger ones, too. I've just not heard about them. Some people use trolling spoons as flutter spoons. Some are successful, and some aren't.
2) Jigging spoons. Since I'm a shorecaster, this is one type of spoon I don't use. However, one of my friends has a boat, and he uses them quite a bit. He plays it a lot like @WRB, lifting it up and letting it fall much like a flutter spoon. A jigging spoon, however, is much more massive, or massy, for the length. When I was lucky enough to be in a boat, my favorite was the Kastmaster, a spoon that's very versatile. But Hopkins and Bomber make jigging spoons too. They're just more specialized.
3) Casting spoons. These are the spoons that I use the most. They're the good ol' chuck-n'-wind style, and some people use them just like a crankbait. That's not necessary however.
Casting spoons come in 2 types: wobble or dance.
Wobble spoons are the vast majority of steady-retrieve spoons on the market. They're simple to manufacture, and simple to use. Cast them out, let them sink to the desired depth, and then reel them in at a steady rate. That "steady rate" part can be difficult to determine unless you have clear water. I fish the Mississippi River and several of its tributaries, and the water is anything but clear. I use the local school swimming pool to see what my lures are doing, at what depth and what retrieve speed. (Approach your local school officials judiciously, or they may not be cooperative.)
Spoons that "dance" are rarer, but they're out there. I'm a totally unapologetic fanboy of Eppinger products, which are forged rather than stamped. This allows them to react differently to a "twitch", which is how I retrieve my spoons. With some difficulty, I've gotten Thomas Buoyant and Cyclone spoons to dance, and the Li'l Cleo spoons from Acme. I've had NO LUCK with the Acme spoons if they're over 1/4 ounce, though. To make a spoon dance, cadence is everything. The force of the twitch, the length of pull, the speed of pull .... all these things are important to each spoon. And each spoon is a little different, which is why many people hate trying to make a spoon dance; they have to experiment too much and remember too much about the different models.
I don't blame them.
Generally speaking, if you want a spoon to dance, you LET OFF on the retrieve first, and then twitch. If you twitch by simply accelerating your retrieve and then slacking off, you get a totally different effect. It hasn't caught me nearly as many fish. This "dance" is done so slowly overall, that the spoon DOES NOT spin! If the spoon is retrieved so that it spins in the water, it's not a spoon. It's a spinner.
There's one more thing to remember. There are three retrieve speed to spoons; moderately slow, very slow, and slower yet.
And as far as which colors, I'd recommend choices based on contrast and pattern. There are ultra-realistic spoons out there, ones that have realistic printed images on them. I've never caught a fish with one of them. Never.
I have no idea whether all this info is gonna be any good for you, but I hope it is. Good luck! jj
