Rod Action For Jigging Spoons

[soopd]

I have been fishing jigging spoons with a lot of success. However, I am losing too many fish because of my rod choice.

What type of action is best for jigging spoon? I am using 1/2 oz war eagle spoon the majority of time.

I don't need a new rod in am just trying to pair it with what I currently have. Thanks

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

What is your current rod choice and what leads you to believe the rod is the cause for lost fish?

 

Replacing a treble with a straight shank hook and split ring may help. Or possibly sharper, better quality trebles. I fish jigging spoons the same way I do any other jig: on a fast action in a power appropriate for the bait weight and cover. 

[soopd]

I am using a 7' Heavy falcon Bucco Bcc-6-17. It is rated for 3/8 on up. It feels more like a medium heavy.

Not sure the rod is wrong but I am losing too many fish. I don't lose this many fish on other techniques.

Do the jigging spoons with a single hook get hung up less? More? Does catch ratio improve? Thanks

[J Francho]

I used a treble for jigging spoons, but I use the same rod for retrieving wobbler spoons with a single hook, so hook doesn't matter, but it has to be sharp. For tackle, I use a MH/Mod graphite rod, AVC70MHM and 8 or 10 lb CXX. Any time I've had problems, I was trying a rod that was too fast.

[A-Jay]

I am using a 7' Heavy falcon Bucco Bcc-6-17. It is rated for 3/8 on up. It feels more like a medium heavy.

Not sure the rod is wrong but I am losing too many fish. I don't lose this many fish on other techniques.

Do the jigging spoons with a single hook get hung up less? More? Does catch ratio improve? Thanks

 

The Falcon Bucco BCC 6-17 is The stoutest Bucoo rod. Ideal for flipping, pitching and Carolina rigging.

 

This may be part of your problem,  I'd recommend a little less rod.  Almost any other stick you have that will handle the 1/2 oz spoon, could improve your hook-up to land ratio. 

Matching your line type & size to the rod & bait can also compliment your rig.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[Chris S]

7 foot MH Vendetta or a Fenwick 7'2 jerkbait rod, braid and flouro leader, no stretch

[wnybassman]

7'MH with 17lb flouro.

 

And I don't know if you are fishing largemouth or smallmouth, but when fishing for smallmouth with a spoon I like to hit them several times after the initial hookset.   Smallies have tendency to clamp down on a spoon pretty good and that first hookset sometimes doesn't move the spoon in their mouth.   Can't tell you how many fish I have put in the net that never had a hook in them, just clamped on the spoon.

[soopd]

I have lost two of the biggest smallmouth of my life this year on the spoon. I am going to switch rods and see if my catch ratio improves.

Which of my following set ups would be ideal?

1: st. Croix mojo 7' m fast action. It is rated for plastics but I do not use it for that. It feels more like a MH.

2: Allstar 6'6" medium. Has a lot of bend.

3: powell diesel 723 med heavy ex fast

4: falcon Bucco bcc 7-17 heavy

5: all star classic TWS 6'6"

I have others but I think they will be too much.

Thanks for all the help.

[wnybassman]

I have lost two of the biggest smallmouth of my life this year on the spoon. I am going to switch rods and see if my catch ratio improves.

Which of my following set ups would be ideal?

1: st. Croix mojo 7' m fast action. It is rated for plastics but I do not use it for that. It feels more like a MH.

2: Allstar 6'6" medium. Has a lot of bend.

3: powell diesel 723 med heavy ex fast

4: falcon Bucco bcc 7-17 heavy

5: all star classic TWS 6'6"

I have others but I think they will be too much.

Thanks for all the help.

 

 

When are you losing them?   The first time they break the surface?

[WRB]

I do a lot of deep structure spoon jigging this time of year and disagree with using a MH fast action rod.

You should be using a moderate action rod similar to a crankbait rod.

My favorable is Loomis PR845C popping rod, perfect for spoons. I also change treble hooks to Owner feathered treble hooks (Don Iovono products), size 2 for 3/4-1 oz spoons, size 4 for 1/2 oz.

Bass are often skin hooked in the mouth and can tear off easily if you use too stiff a rod. The softer tip action prevents most bass from tearing off and the stronger over all rod power handles any size lure size water bass.

Tom

[soopd]

Lost the small mouth this weekend by the boat.

[rangerjockey]

I use a jig rod,MH Fast but I always change the hook ,the daichi death traps work well.I've heard the megabass outbarbs work well also. add the Gammy g stinger,they can be a pain if you pitch the spoons much because it's easy to catch a finger but they definitely help.

[J Francho]

I've witnessed No Good's double (sometimes triple) hookset in person. It's hard to watch, but he's got it down for his system. I was losing a a bunch right next to him, using similar gear, and switched to the slower rod and was hooking up. There's a lot more to this - line, depth, hookset style, and just plain skill - than just gear.

[Jrob78]

I don't fish spoons a lot but I would imagine that a big heavy spoon would be easy for a bass to throw, relatively speaking.   I know a lot of guys use double split rings at the hook to help with this.  I would also think a slower action would help keep steady pressure on a hooked fish.

[soopd]

I completely understand that there is more to this than gear. However, for my skill level the gear I am using is not correct. Got to change something. Can't automatically change my skill level without putting in more time with the jigging spoon. Don't want to waste time using wrong gear.

I will be switching to a moderate action as WRB suggested and see if it results in better hook ups.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Bluebasser86]

I have lost two of the biggest smallmouth of my life this year on the spoon. I am going to switch rods and see if my catch ratio improves.

Which of my following set ups would be ideal?

1: st. Croix mojo 7' m fast action. It is rated for plastics but I do not use it for that. It feels more like a MH.

2: Allstar 6'6" medium. Has a lot of bend.

3: powell diesel 723 med heavy ex fast

4: falcon Bucco bcc 7-17 heavy

5: all star classic TWS 6'6"

I have others but I think they will be too much.

Thanks for all the help.

Of the rods you listed, #3 would be my choice. I use a 6' 6" MH/F with 15-20lb copoly. If you aren't changing out the hooks on that War Eagle spoon, do it. They aren't bad hooks, but they aren't good hooks either. I've bent a lot of their hooks and rolled a lot of points on them. I usually go to a size larger hook too. 

[GANGGREEN]

7'MH with 17lb flouro.

 

And I don't know if you are fishing largemouth or smallmouth, but when fishing for smallmouth with a spoon I like to hit them several times after the initial hookset.   Smallies have tendency to clamp down on a spoon pretty good and that first hookset sometimes doesn't move the spoon in their mouth.   Can't tell you how many fish I have put in the net that never had a hook in them, just clamped on the spoon.

 

Yep, I used to fish with spoons a good bit and I've had partners ask me if I was fishing for tarpon when I repeatedly put the boots to them.  Wham, wham, wham!!!