Jigging with Spoons.

[Jeffrey Walker]

Does anyone have any recommendations for a Bass specific Spoon rig?  Rod and reel?

[Jig Man]

I jig 1/2 oz spoons a lot.  I use mostly 7’ medium heavy rods with 12-15# fluorocarbon or monofilament line.  I don’t see the need for heavy rods and I don’t think I would be comfortable using a medium.  
 

The reel shouldn’t have to be anything specific.  Most of the spooning setups I use have Shimano Curados on them.

[Jeffrey Walker]

Which curado? Thanks

[Jeffrey Walker]

I saw a youtuber kill them on this technique.  he has a great channel. 

 

 

[Deleted account]

Match the power of the rod to the size of the spoon, and line, and something not too fast, the reel, anything from 6-7 something.  Jigging a spoon does not require a really specific rod the way trolling or casting one do.

[Jeffrey Walker]

So Im thinking a MH powered rod.  Would a Baitcaster or spinning set up be preferred, Im leaning towards spinning.  Would a conquest MH be suitable for 4in spoons?

 

[WRB]

I used 1 rod ,reel,  line, for structure spoons between 3/8oz to 1 oz.

The rod will seem strange at first but it is ideal; Loomis PR845C popping rod. Reel was Daiwa 6.3:1 TD Fuego (original red) with 12 lb Big Game mono. 

I also used this combo for lipless and diving crank baits 1/4 to 5/8. 

Spoons were Lurh Jensen Crippled Herring, Little Cleo, Wards Champ* spoon, Megabait* Jigging spoons, Kastmaster, Hopkins Shorty, Bomber Slab spoon etc.

I change the hooks to Owner nickel w/ white chartreuse chicken feathered, size 4 for 1/4 to 1/2, size 2  for 3/4 to 1 oz?

I use pearl white, chrome, gold, black, blue and chartreuse shad spoons. 

I use spoons anytime bass are feeding on shad schools.

Why the popping rod? The reason isn’t obvious as the tip seems to soft, however this rod has a lot of mid power.

The softer tip keep bass hooked using treble hooks and doesn’t tear out on hook sets. Power...I caught back to back 9 lb LMB at Casitas in the marina while a club tournament was weighing in, very excited audience. 

BR has lots of threads on this topic.

Tom

* Wards Champ and Megabait are out of business. P-Line Laser spoon is similar to Megabait and Lahr Jensen Cast Champ to Wards.

 

 

[dodgeguy]

25 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

So Im thinking a MH powered rod.  Would a Baitcaster or spinning set up be preferred, Im leaning towards spinning.  Would a conquest MH be suitable for 4in spoons?

 

Depends what the spoon weighs. Baitcasting only for jigging spoons.

[Dwight Hottle]

I like to use a medium heavy rod with a low profile bait caster reel. I prefer braid with an inline swivel & a short 2’ or 3’ leader. The swivel helps control twist. The braid choice gives you better feel & better hook sets. You could use spinning tackle just as easy if you prefer. Most spoon weights for vertical jigging are 1/2 to 1 oz depending on targeted depth. I also like to use blade baits as an option to replace a spoon because of the increased vibration. 

[Jig Man]

11 hours ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

Which curado? Thanks

Typically it would be one of my E7 200s because they are mounted on several rods.

[rangerjockey]

I don't think it matters much. Especially if your dropping on them which isn't my favorite way personally.

Around here flipping deeper docks around the walkways and boat lifts is the deal. Either a slab spoon or something like the R2S Watson spoon. I use whatever is handy, but I have a Z Bone LMH that has a good tip for it but enough power to pull them over the lifts.

[Bankc]

I just use either my worm rod or my jig rod.  My jig rod is a bit heavier than my worm rod.  Just make sure the rod's rating matches up to the weight of the spoon.  As for reel, it doesn't matter so long as it can keep up with the slack.  The harder you hop the spoon, the more quickly you'll need to take up the slack, as those things do sink fast.  

 

I also prefer braid, as it takes to line twist better.  And ALWAYS use a swivel.  

 

I love fishing spoons, but I rarely do.  I primarily throw them in two situations.  In the winter and in the heat of summer when bass go deep and become lethargic, and in the spring and fall when the baitfish ball up and the bass will follow them and chase them to the top of the water column.

[Jeffrey Walker]

O appreciate the thoughts.

 

Since jogging is a vertical action, would a spinning rod make more sense?

 

Also, if i went with a spinning rod, would a Med or MH be preferred.  I don’t see myself using huge spoons just standard bass size. 

[dodgeguy]

Why use spinning ? Makes no sense.ive never seen that done.

[Jeffrey Walker]

Interesting.  I just think it makes sense becuase its a vertical presentation and jigging for other species like crappie is used with spinning gear.  I dont have a rationale other than it seems logical to use a rod with the reel under the rod.  

 

Is there a reason it doesnt make sense? Just curios. 

[Jig Man]

I’ve done it both ways.  If you need to go real deep then spinning is better.  I normally fish 25-50’ deep with jigging spoons and the bait caster is fine especially if the fish are suspended off the bottom, however, I’ve caught fish to 70’ with spoons.  There is no way I would wait for a bait caster to let that much line out.

[dodgeguy]

47 minutes ago, Jeffrey Walker said:

Interesting.  I just think it makes sense becuase its a vertical presentation and jigging for other species like crappie is used with spinning gear.  I dont have a rationale other than it seems logical to use a rod with the reel under the rod.  

 

Is there a reason it doesnt make sense? Just curios. 

It's usually done with 14 to 17 lb flouro on a baitcaster. Spinning won't handle that well. You also have more control of how deep your soon goes with your thumb on a baitcaster.

[WRB]

I never let the spoon free fall straight down over 30’. I will lift a spoon a rod length and follow the slack down taking up slack to instantly hook set if it stops.

If the bait and bass are 40’ deep cast 50’ and let the spoon fall flat on controlled slack. This way the spoon doesn’t line twist and you are ready to hook set quickly.

You want the spoon to rock back and forth not tumbling down like a rock.

Tom