johnson weedless spoons

[jebar01]

I am interested in what type of trailers fishermaen are using with these spoons?  Also, are you using a barrel swivel about a foot to 1 1/2 ft. up?  Please let me know.

[TnRiver46]

I bet @WRB can help you out on this one 

[WRB]

Search "weedless bass lures aren't" good thread with some photos of Johnson spoons with skirts and trailers.

Tom

[Ratherbfishing]

I've experimented a little bit and from what I've found, thin or skinny trailers which aren't too long are best.  Anything else seems to interfere with the fluttering action.

 

Swivels aren't really necessary if you don't fish them too fast as the silver minnow doesn't/shouldn't really rotate.  It just shimmies or flutters.  I have an aversion to any extra hardware, though, if it can be avoided.

[bowhunter63]

Way back when a Uncle Josh pork strip on the back was a good one.

[2tall79]

I always tie direct...no swivel.  I fish these baits alot in heavy weed cover and use a Culprit ribbon tail worm 90% of the time.

[WRB]

Johnson Silver Minnow weedless spoon pre dates soft plastics and originally was used with thin flat pork rind strips and without skirts. 

What I didn't like about the original Johnson spoons was the hook was very dull and required extensive sharpening, don't know about today's hook used on this spoon.

Never used a swivel with a weedless spoon, always tied direct. The spoon appears to be spinning buy it's flipping back and forth not twisting the line. Can it roll over, sure but it also can roll back. 

Whatever you add to the spoon check out the action to see if it swims ok.

Tom

[river-rat]

I use the old style rubber spinner bait skirt for a trailer. You can buy the Hummdinger Replacement skirt at Tackle Warehouse. 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Humdinger_Replacement_Rubber_Skirts_3pk/descpage-HMRRS.html

 

I run the hook about halfway in to the rubber sleeve the skirt is wrapped around and push it all the way up.

 

I tie direct to the spoon. And you will have to sharpen the hook before using. The plating process used during the manufacturing process makes the hook point dull. Not a big thing really. Just use a flat file to sharpen to a fine point and you're good to go.

 

I can't count how many bass I've caught on this lure over the past 55+ years.

[2tall79]

" What I didn't like about the original Johnson spoons was the hook was very dull and required extensive sharpening, don't know about today's hook used on this spoon. "

Still are, after all these years.  Requires constant attention to keep them sharp.  I miss alot of fish on these lures, but the ones I have caught make it well worth it.  Very few baits will come through all manor of weeds like these do.

[Catt]

[Scott F]

A lot of trailers will kill the action on the spoon. My favorite is a 3 or 4 inch plastic twister tail. Just looks fantastic coming through the water. I always used Silver Minnows in Canada for northerns, so I was using a steel leader that had a swivel at one end. If you don’t retrieve them at the right speed, they will spin. 

[Catt]

I throw em in this! 

 

On top like a frog  ?

 

[waymont]

What are the strikes like with the Johnson spoon? They nail it, or just bump it?

[WRB]

They eat it like it's a fish usually a swirl and the spoon is gone in open water pockets. When crawling on top of weed beds it's a frog type strike.

Tom

[OnthePotomac]

I use mine on the tops of heavy grass beds and like a Mister Twister 4" chartreuse grub on my silver spoon.  Their tail action is great.  My preference is with a snap swivel on this and other spoons.

[Catt]

If y'all will notice the line tie on the Johnson Spoon it is twisted slightly which causes the side to side wobble. Adding a swivel will allow the spoon to easily roll over, reeling to fast also causes it to roll over.

 

When fished sub-surface the bass hit it like they would a Spinnerbait, Chatterbait, or Swim Jig. 

 

When fished on top the bite is like a frog or buzzbait.

 

Another option is Heddon's Moss Boss  ?

[tander]

Never use a swivel, I like Zoom's Twin tail or just a regular skirt.

[frogflogger]

Caught loads of bass on black johnson spoons with 6" black pork eels - wind it over the veg. and let it shimmy down open holes absolutely deadly. The spoon rocks back and forth horizontally and the trailer  undulates down vertically. Now you have to use plastic trailers and they work but they can't replace the pork for effectiveness.

Until recently sharpening hooks was just part of the night before ritual.

[2tall79]

Quote

Another option is Heddon's Moss Boss 

I still have some old Rebel Arrowhead Weedless spoons that I use.  Much better hooks on basically the same lure.

[Mobasser]

On 8/29/2019 at 3:23 PM, Catt said:

Catt is th lower picture a Zoom trailer? It looks like some I have. Perfect for the Silver Minnow spoon

[WRB]

On August 29, 2019 at 11:08 AM, riverat said:

I use the old style rubber spinner bait skirt for a trailer. You can buy the Hummdinger Replacement skirt at Tackle Warehouse. 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Humdinger_Replacement_Rubber_Skirts_3pk/descpage-HMRRS.html

 

I run the hook about halfway in to the rubber sleeve the skirt is wrapped around and push it all the way up.

 

I tie direct to the spoon. And you will have to sharpen the hook before using. The plating process used during the manufacturing process makes the hook point dull. Not a big thing really. Just use a flat file to sharpen to a fine point and you're good to go.

 

I can't count how many bass I've caught on this lure over the past 55+ years.

Humdinger skirt looks ideal but I recommend not putting it on backwards like a jig skirt. 

Thanks for for sharing.

Tom

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Catt is the lower picture a Zoom trailer? It looks like some I have. Perfect for the Silver Minnow spoon

 

Yes sir! 

Zoom 3" Swimmin Chunk

 

The issue attaching plastic trailers is there aint much hook to slide it on.

 

Skirts attach easier but I do add a drop of super glue to hold it in place.

 

I do way better with gold or black spoons & either chartreuse or white trailers.

[Allen Der]

Northland jawbreaker is a good spoon that comes with a skirt

[WRB]

The weedless spoon I have been using when Shad are in cover is Nemire Red Ripper 1/2 oz nickle or gold spoon. This spoon has high quality sharp hook and silicone skirt that works good for me the past decade.

Tom

[Catt]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

Nemire Red Ripper

 

These have long been a staple along the Gulf Coast for Redfish.