Bass in heavy vegetation? Spoon feed em!

[Catt]

Among the Top 10 fishing lures of all time the Johnson Silver Minnow's success can be attributed to the continuing spread of aquatic vegetation throughout the country. With it's built in wobble and flash, the Johnson spoon gives off vibration that bass can detect through even jungle-like vegetation.

The Johnson spoon coupled with a pork chunk, single or twin tail grub or just a skirt will make the bait buoyant slowing the rate of fall. Casting the Johnson spoon is like casting spinner baits in that the instant before touch down engage your reel hold your rod high and start reeling. If you reel fast enough you can skitter the spoon across the surface of any vegetation.

The Silver Minnow comes in 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, & 1 1/8 ounces and while most rookie anglers select lures based on weight alone I make my selection based on overall length and width. A heavier lure can be made to fall slow like a lighter one by simply adding a trailer but the heavier and larger lure will have a bigger profile a must when fishing vegetation.

The name Silver Minnow not only applied to the color but to the fact it was plated with pure silver, in later years 24-kt gold was added both which produce a brighter flash than chrome or brass spoons; it also comes in Black Nickel and Fire Tiger.

Spoon feeding bass in heavy vegetation aint for the weak hearted  

[fishinfiend]

It works pretty darn good on reds and specks too!

[BigBrotherThunda]

shhh, dont tell anybody, but a 1/4 oz silver minnow with a ragetail shad trailer will H-A-M-M-E-R right over the top of submerged grass, vibration is crazy!

[Bankbeater]

I have a couple of those in my spare tacklebox. I think I will find them, clean them up and try them out this weekend.

[NewScreenNameAdvised]

Thanks for the tip.  Spooning is one part of my game that is a little weak.

[fishfordollars]

Catt, those fish in Carice Creek will hammer one if you just give it a chance.

[CWB]

BPS brand is pretty good and has more color options.

I'm old school and stick a chunk of pork on them and do real good in the pads in the spring before you can walk across them.

I really miss Strike Kings Timber Spin and Timber King. Used to be my go-to baits. If anyone out there knows where I can get them send P.M. Jawbreakers by Northland are similar but not the same.

[Big Tom]

Hey, this is really neat.  I will just have to try this sometime.  Thanks for the good advice.  Judging from other posts I have read, you really know your stuff.  

[Big-O]

Great post Catt, you must be experienced (nice way of saying OLD) enough to remember when the Bass fishing big spoon craze was first born back in the early 60's, and who led the charge....Johnson Silver Minnow.

Didn't know that was 24 carat on the gold ones, I might have spent more time trying to retrieve them when hung up.  :'(

Some of my favorite memories of that time was in many of the Florida lakes swimmin'em through pads and eel grass with a white Uncle Josh 6' eel trailer.... Glad I was younger then, cause that kind of fishing is not for the weak at heart.

And it looks like Spoons are back!!!!!

Big O

 

[Catt]

I loved the way Rick Clunn put it when asked what would be the hottest new bait, Every thing old is new.

Yea Jack do not ever throw a spoon-n-chunk up in the Hydrilla cause like someone ole school dude said might get your arm broke.

Y'all just remember when fishing any top water lure wait until you feel the weight of the bass, then point the rod towards the fish, reel the slack & set hook.

[iceintheveins]

Weedless spoons kick *** for bass and pike. Regular, non weedless spoons like daredevles and little cleos also are very overlooked and deadly for bass in deeper water, away from cover.

[SenkoShawn]

2 words. Dare Devil

[fourbizz]

I've been meaning to do this on the Cal Delta for a couple years now. You may have just pushed me over the edge