While spoons will definitely put fish in the boat, there are some modifications that help make them even more effective — and can eliminate a nagging problem inherent with the lures.
• More bite — Add a stinger harness to the spoon’s top end to enhance its grabbing power.
Similarly, with the giant “mag” spoons made to imitate foot-long gizzard shad, drilling holes in the long sides allows you to place another split ring and treble in the middle of the lure and grab a bass no matter how it bites.
• Dress it up — Replace the standard treble with a dressed treble sporting bucktail or feather accents.
These back-end accessories add an enticing element to the spoon and help close the deal on indecisive bass.
• The spin stops here — The flashing, twisting motion that anchors the spoon’s baitfish impersonation can also become its greatest vexation via frustrating line twist.
Johnston nips this in the bud with some proactive surgery.
“I recommend you always put a good barrel swivel on the spoon’s split ring, and that’ll eliminate line twist,” he said. “Also, if I’m throwing a hammered spoon (with a built-in line tie), I like to put a split ring on the spoon and then add a swivel.”
• Upsize the hook — Noting that he’s keen to change a new spoon’s standard hook to an ultra-sharp Owner treble, Johnston said he’ll often bump up a size if he’s into the big fish. Properly fitted with a split ring and swivel, the change in size won’t affect spoon action.
• Know how to play a fish — A spoon of any size gives the fish a leverage point that increases the throw risk. So it’s always best to keep any fish snared by trebles subsurface as much as possible.
But when a spoon-hooked fish grabs big air, Johnston does his best to minimize the impact of this escape attempt.
“When the fish jumps, give them some slack and bow to them,” he said. “That will take some of the pressure off the spoon, so the fish can’t throw it.”
