why dont many people use casting spoons?

[PressuredFishing]

Hi, So I know alot of people fish with flutter spoons and jigging spoons, but why not casting spoons? I feel like a casting spoon just retrieved like a spinnerbait through schools of baitfish could be a strong lure, especially in clearer water. the same goes with in line spinners, why do people not fish these, ive tried searching for people that fish them but have not found anything.

[Captain Phil]

There was a time in bass fishing when casting spoons where very popular. The Johnson Silver Minnow was the go-to bait for many.  Casting Spoons are heavy lures.  Back in the day, you needed a heavy lure to get any distance with the reels we had.  In the sixties, soft plastic baits replaced heavy wooden plugs and metal spoons.  These lures are more natural in action and bass hang on to them longer.  To throw these lures, spinning reels like the Mitchel 300 were developed.  Eventually free spool casting reels became available.  Today, it is possible to fish weightless plastics with a casting reel.   Heavy metal lures don't have the natural appeal of soft plastic baits.  If you get a bite on a spoon, the bass will quickly realize it made a mistake and may spit it out.   Also, the heavier the lure the easier it is for a bass to throw it.  

 

As far as inline spinners are concerned, I use them on occasion.  They work great on schooling bass.  I've won more than one bass tournament with a Mepps Comet Mino spinner.  Anything that imitates bass prey will catch fish.  Some work better than others.

[river-rat]

 

I still use the Johnson Silver Minnow and Snagless Sally which is technically an inline spinner.

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

Hi, So I know alot of people fish with flutter spoons and jigging spoons, but why not casting spoons? I feel like a casting spoon just retrieved like a spinnerbait through schools of baitfish could be a strong lure, especially in clearer water. the same goes with in line spinners, why do people not fish these, ive tried searching for people that fish them but have not found anything.

Because there are several factors with nuances with tight tolerances that need to be right to be successful. In the hands of someone who knows how, spoons (of all types) are deadly both casting and trolling, or a tangled mess...

[WRB]

The 1st lure I learned to bass fish was a Hawaiian Wiggler #3 weedless casting spoon very similar to Johnson Silver Minnow except painted and had a skirt with good sharp hook.

My mentor was Jason Lucas editor of Sports Afield magazine, Jay’s favorite spoon was a Eppinger Daredevil IMP 2/5 nickel casting spoon with 3” white bass strip trailer. The IMP became my 1st structure spoon by casting it and letting it free fall through baitfish schools, worked great 50 years ago and still does today.  Change IMP treble hook to size #4 Owner feathered treble hook. Little Cleo, Hopkins Shorty, Kastmaster, Krocodile, all are good casting spoons in our local SoCal lakes.

Tom

[PressuredFishing]

2 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

There was a time in bass fishing when casting spoons where very popular. The Johnson Silver Minnow was the go-to bait for many.  Casting Spoons are heavy lures.  Back in the day, you needed a heavy lure to get any distance with the reels we had.  In the sixties, soft plastic baits replaced heavy wooden plugs and metal spoons.  These lures are more natural in action and bass hang on to them longer.  To throw these lures, spinning reels like the Mitchel 300 were developed.  Eventually free spool casting reels became available.  Today, it is possible to fish weightless plastics with a casting reel.   Heavy metal lures don't have the natural appeal of soft plastic baits.  If you get a bite on a spoon, the bass will quickly realize it made a mistake and may spit it out.   Also, the heavier the lure the easier it is for a bass to throw it.  

 

As far as inline spinners are concerned, I use them on occasion.  They work great on schooling bass.  I've won more than one bass tournament with a Mepps Comet Mino spinner.  Anything that imitates bass prey will catch fish.  Some work better than others.

thanks that was a great explination, went through my grandfathers old tackle box and he has alot of metal spoons that he used for bass and talked about using with great detail, glad to know why not many people use them anymore, maybe ill try them some day and try in line spinners as well

39 minutes ago, WRB said:

The 1st lure I learned to bass fish was a Hawaiian Wiggler #3 weedless casting spoon very similar to Johnson Silver Minnow except painted and had a skirt with good sharp hook.

My mentor was Jason Lucas editor of Spirts Afield magazine, Jay’s favorite spoon was a Eppinger Daredevil IMP 2/5 nickel casting spoon with 3” white bass strip trailer. The IMP became my 1st structure spoon by casting it and letting it free fall through baitfish schools, worked great 50 years ago and still does today.  Change IMP treble hook to size #4 Owner feathered treble hook. Little Cleo, Hopkins Shorty, Kastmaster, Krocodile, all are good casting spoons in our local SoCal lakes.

Tom

wow fascinating! I think I will try these because my grandfather used to fish them through schools of bass way back in the day. This is really cool information, will pick up a few of the feathered treble hooks like you said because I bet they do make a big difference! thankyou so very much!

[bulldog1935]

Kastmaster is a staple for both surf and jetty fishing.  

A black-nickel Johnson's Silver Minnow is a perfect crab imitation in shallow grass, and I've seen some back-bay wizards work wonders on them.  

My kidfish story about a natural ability to read water.  On a family vacation, sweeping from grandparents in TN to family friends in MO and cousins in WY:  

My first new rod at 12-y-o.  Walked up to a cove on Lake of the Ozarks.  Cast a Johnson's Sprite over the top of a sunken log, skittered it back across the surface and let it drop on this side of the log.  

First cast, a 3-1/2-lb smallie.  

[Captain Phil]

52 minutes ago, WRB said:

My mentor was Jason Lucas editor of Spirts Afield magazine, Jay’s favorite spoon was a Eppinger Daredevil IMP 2/5 nickel casting spoon with 3” white bass strip trailer.

 

I still have my original copy of Jason's book "Lucas on Bass Fishing".  It has all the underlines I made when I was 16 years old.  A lot of bass have come over the sides since then.  ?

[Bankbeater]

I think one big reason is that there is a lot of hype when a new bait hits the market. With all of the advertising for new tackle maybe people have forgotten  what has worked for them in the past.

[PressuredFishing]

17 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Kastmaster is a staple for both surf and jetty fishing.  

My kidfish story about a natural ability to read water.  On a family vacation, sweeping from grandparents in TN to family friends in MO and cousins in WY:  

My first new rod at 12-y-o.  Walked up to a cove on Lake of the Ozarks.  Cast a Johnson's Sprite over the top of a sunken log, skittered it back across the surface and let it drop on this side of the log.  

First cast, a 3-1/2-lb smallie.  

must of been a fun time as a kid, I love spoons for inshore species as well we have alot of perch and spoons work great for them!

8 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

I think one big reason is that there is a lot of hype when a new bait hits the market. With all of the advertising for new tackle maybe people have forgotten  what has worked for them in the past.

I think that is super true, Im really young in comparison to most guys fishing (19), but I love alot of the oldschool techniques and my grandfather always tells me about them when I go bass fishing. This year I have fallen in love with the oldschool floating rapala, I feel like sense nobody fishes it anymore its really strong and the action these things have are insane.

[jimmyjoe]

   Spoons are my favorite lure type. If you choose the right thickness, you can play them like crankbaits; deep or more shallow, although speed of retrieve is limited to slow and slower.       jj

[WRB]

SoCal where the OP is located spoons replicate wounded Threadfin Shad, bass pick off the baitfish that fall.

The presentation is simple. Your cast should land flat on the water surface in lieu of uncontrolled splash down. The flat landing prevents the spoon tumbling and snagging your line.

Next the spoon should fall on slightly controlled line tension to increase fluttering action like a wounded Shad. When the spoon stops before hitting bottom set the hook and keep reeling. No strike lift the rod tip up about 3’ to 4’ and let fall again, repeat.

Same cast and presentation for all the spoons except weedless types. 

Weedless spoons are fishing like a frog and should also land flat. Lift the rod up to start the spoon swimming across the weed beds and let fall into open water pockets, strike occurs anytime but open water pockets are high %.

Good luck.

Tom

PS, Nemire Red Ripper chrome 5/8 weedless spoon works good for both swimming and flutter spoon.

[king fisher]

When bass are feeding on slow moving prey on a snaggy bottom spoons are a bad choice.  When they are feeding on shiny bait fish in open water they excel.  Trout spend more time in open water, so spoons are used for them more often.  Bass spend more time on the bottom in snags around cover so spoons are not as popular for them.  If you can manage to wiggle a spoon in front of an actively feeding bass and not get snagged the bass will bite.   In-line spinners work best fished Shallow.  Will catch anything that swims in small streams.  Excels in current but will catch lots of bass in calm water too

[DitchPanda]

I have a series of small ponds I fish that are stocked with rainbow trout. I throw a kastmaster often and have caught plenty of bass on them.

[GreenPig]

I catch 10 on jigging spoons to every one on a casting spoon. So I always fish a jigging spoon for vertical or casting and retrieving.

[Eric 26]

As a kid we went on a annual fishing trip in Minnesota. Spoons were a big part of fishing for northern pike and I’m pretty sure they still are today.

[Bankc]

Spoons are still popular for white bass.  I'll often throw them when I find balls of baitfish in deeper water.  They get down quick and stay down.  You can use them to follow schools of bait fish around pretty easily.  Just cast towards the school, count down to the bottom of the school, and lift your rod up to the top of the school.  They're also effective for suspended bass.  They'll snag on anything though, so you have to fish them in open water.  

 

I catch more white bass with them, so I don't throw them regularly.  But I also catch some black bass. 

[Bluebasser86]

I actually cast and burn a 7/8oz jigging spoon through surface schooling fish. They're typically schooling on smaller baitfish and even though the spoon doesn't do much, it flashes enough and looks enough like a fleeing baitfish that it gets bit and it cast a mile. 

[MIbassyaker]

I haven't thrown a spoon since I was a kid, when we caught pike with them. We would just cast and retrieve, or troll if we had a boat.  No doubt they are effective, but I don't think I've ever caught a bass on a spoon.

[Big Hands]

I like spoons. . .

[scaleface]

I use jigging spoons occasionally but rarely  casting spoons . I never had much luck with them . I have some Krocodile spoons that I have tried on schools of deep bass and nothing . I just dont have any confidence in the things .

[Mobasser]

I still sometimes use two spoons. The Johnson Silver Minnow, and the Heddon Moss Boss( plastic) spoon. Both work well over thick weeds and moss.

[bowhunter63]

42 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I still sometimes use two spoons. The Johnson Silver Minnow, and the Heddon Moss Boss( plastic) spoon. Both work well over thick weeds and moss.

Remember the River rat spoon. Like the Moss Boss but sleaker. Wish I still had some. 

[PressuredFishing]

17 hours ago, Bankc said:

Spoons are still popular for white bass.  I'll often throw them when I find balls of baitfish in deeper water.  They get down quick and stay down.  You can use them to follow schools of bait fish around pretty easily.  Just cast towards the school, count down to the bottom of the school, and lift your rod up to the top of the school.  They're also effective for suspended bass.  They'll snag on anything though, so you have to fish them in open water.  

 

I catch more white bass with them, so I don't throw them regularly.  But I also catch some black bass. 

this is all really good information, alot of my schooling bass are near the surface or 10 ft below the surface and while there is snaggy stuff on bottom when they feed they are not usually near the bottom, I think i will have to try some spoons, I think it will immitate the smaller baitfish well

16 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I actually cast and burn a 7/8oz jigging spoon through surface schooling fish. They're typically schooling on smaller baitfish and even though the spoon doesn't do much, it flashes enough and looks enough like a fleeing baitfish that it gets bit and it cast a mile. 

FASCINATING! this is what I think I need to do, I have really clear water with smaller baitfish and these bass are up near the surface, I think this is a great Idea and have tons of spoons already from trout fishing!!!!

[bulldog1935]

On 8/29/2021 at 11:16 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

I actually cast and burn a 7/8oz jigging spoon through surface schooling fish. They're typically schooling on smaller baitfish and even though the spoon doesn't do much, it flashes enough and looks enough like a fleeing baitfish that it gets bit and it cast a mile. 

We get a similar result on speckled trout feeding in winter tide passes on tiny glass minnows - the flash is all you need.  Small baitfish "ball up", and as far as the trout are concerned, they're slashing into a bait ball.  

Noteworthy, redfish won't buy it then, and for them you need to "match the hatch"