I'm going to be fishing some big rivers for (I hope) big steelhead, and wanted the Board's views on the best spoons [make, weight and color(s)]. Siwash or trebles? Split ring and swivel at top of lure, or plain? Worth paying the extra for silver and/ or gold plate? Custom modifications of store-bought spoons? Do any of you guys build your own, and if so where do you order your components?

Thanks in advance.

Spooooooonnnnssssss!!! My favorite is the old pen-tac brass. Split ring and swivel on top with siwash hooks. The color would depend on the water and time of year. I would also recommend the krocodile spoons, and little cleos in the heavy sizes (you will need to replace the hook). Don't use vmc siwashes on your spoons. Gammi siwashes only!!!! The fish will give you one shot at them. When I spoon fish I carry several different colors. If you get short struck on one and the fish won't bite it again, switch colors and hang on. Steelie spoons are good for slow holes. http://www.steelheader.net/steelhead/spoon_fishing.htm
tight lines

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Marty
www.steelheader.net
marty@steelheader.net

It so happens that I was reading your site this morning Marty and had already read and printed out your excellent piece on spinners and spoons. Thanks for the excellent advice. Know anyone who's got some BC Steels for sales?

Snagly I've always had luck with spoons that have a blue stripe on them for winter-runs, with both teardrop and classic shaped spoons. One of my biggest metalhead bucks was taken on a nickel/blue stripe Cleo on a peninsula river. For summer-runs I've always had luck using hammered copper teardrops (the cheap $.79 models). On a good day I've lost a dozen of these. Fish these guys aggressively, throwing it in all types of water. The 2/5 and 1/2 are good wts to throw and cover most situations. I use both gammys and mustad siwashes, for winters and summers respectively. I like the longer point on the mustads during the summer, which I can sharpen repeatedly (bouncing off alot of rocks) and that bigass barb is perfect for those jumpers. I put on an extra split ring and add a swivel to all spoons. Hint: I rig them with both the crane and bb types.

My .02 cents. I assume you are talking about fishing Northern B.C.? Regardless, a very long time successful lure is the Pixie Spoon. Silver with either the hot pink or orange plastic egg cluster simulation in the top center. I like Ho's suggestion for the blue/silver color combo (green/silver is good too). Wipe off the spoon with either thinner or alcohol to get any oils off, then masktape the plastic egg and half the spoon on both sides; right or left sides, not top or bottom. Spray paint the exposed half sides with Testor's spray enamel in either "Saphire Blue Metal Flake" #1639 or "Green Metal Flake" # 1630. Hang a few of these painted spoons on a lamp shade wire with the light on overnight. Try sticking one luretape eye on the topside and one on the underside of the spoon.- This also works great on chrome plugs! Paint them on the right or left side, put one luretape eye on the blue under the bill, and put a small arrow shaped piece of bright red lure tape on the underside near the tail. Tadpolys and Warts done in this "injured baitfish" pattern work great! And also on Kwikfish for Kings! Good luck up there Snagly. - Steve

[This message has been edited by Reel Truth (edited 05-11-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Reel Truth (edited 05-11-2000).]

Mor Tac is another high quality brand similar to BC Steel. I like their 'Little Cleo' type spoons for action in rivers. Two fifths oz is my favorite for rivers like the Skykomish (fair sized).

My favorite pattern/color is silver and green; also use silver and blue as other folks have mentioned. I build mine using the 2/5 oz. spoon, 1/0 or 2/0 siwash hooks, and a barrel snap swivel to hook spoon to line. I use a split ring for the hook, attaching the hook so that the hook point is on the concave side of the spoon. This way the hook is riding up on most swings. For color, I use decorative tapes, a thin stripe down one side.

For me they work great for summer and winter fish, particulary winter nates and early summers. Nothing like a spoon hit on the latter end of a swing!

[This message has been edited by obsessed (edited 05-11-2000).]

Again I cast my vote for the 5/8oz. Pot-o-gold in brass/orange stripe. To customize it I'll scrape the paint off until the only the paint in the dimple's of the hammered finish is left. The plain chrome or brass hammered versions are good choice's also. Siwash, and a snap-swivel. Dolly Varden LOVE these spoons. I agree with Hohwaiian the copper Half-fast kick the summer fish, a lot of times you'll find these in a kit which has componet's for 5 spoons at a reasonable price. Wham! (did I mention Pot-o-gold makes all those Humpie special's)

Snagly,

Obviously you are aware that big Alpha buck steelhead like flashing metal. You must also be aware that PenTac no longer exists and BC Steels are extremely tough to find for sale.

The MorTac stuff is as close as you're going to get to the old PenTac, and it is just as high of quality stuff. The 24K gold plating and silver plating finished are unbeatable. You can make 'em yourself and customize them to your liking.

Little Cleo's (my favorite Coho spoon) may have a similar weight and profile as the MorTac spoon, but the finishes are way inferior. Real silver and 24K gold plating is the key on these babies.

Check out the website at mortac.com.

TK

I'll put in another vote for Mortac. They have every blade weight, metal and texture you could want. I make mine with a 2/0 siwash hanging off a split ring at one end and a split ring and barrell swivel at the other.

Bruce

Any one wanting the mor-tac stuff please get a hold of me, I am the washington/ oregon rep for the products. The mor-tac stilly spoon is just like the bc steel's, they fish excellent and it is hard to go wrong with a # 2 silver. Thanks Superfly

Snagly,

After reading it inside and out, backwards and forward, I can't say enough about Bill Herzog's book Spoon Fishing for Steelhead. He really breaks things down for beginners and hits the finer points for those of you who have been using spoons for a while. He hits everything from spoon selection, colors, techniques, and holding water. I highly recommend it, as well as his Drift Fishing book. In fact, I hit my first spoon caught summer run using one of his pointers (Hint: Always carry a black permanent marker for those bright sunny days) fishing water that most people with their winter steelhead mentatlity would walk right by. It's amazing what you can learn when you listen to the experts. I'd just like to say that there is nothing quite like having your rod damn near yanked out of you hands as large metal head slams your spoon. It's made it my favorite way of fishing.

Thanks to everyone for the good advice! I've read and re-read the "Mighty Zog's" (Robbo's nickname) book on spoon fishing for stealhead but there's always room for other opinions as well.

Not only have I printed out all this good stuff, I've also lightened my wallet at the Mortac website. (If you see a lefty crying on a BC river this fall, it's me and I've just lost another 24 karat gold plated Mortac spoon!)

From time to time I read posts about the Board ain't what it used to be. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who asks a legit question about technique usually gets some super recommendations. I mean, where else can you get a recommendation for spray paint that contains the actual product number? (Thanks, Reel Truth.)