The spoon is one of the oldest lures there is, and it still shines on trout. A small, curved piece of metal wobbles and flashes on the retrieve exactly like a fleeing or wounded baitfish, and trout, especially hungry stocked rainbows, pile on it. It casts a mile on light spinning gear, covers water, and could not be simpler to fish.
Why spoons catch trout
It comes down to flash and wobble. As a spoon swims, it rocks side to side and throws light, triggering a reaction strike from a trout that reads it as an easy, escaping meal. That same action lets you cover water and search a pond or a run quickly to find willing fish.
How to fish them
- Casting: in ponds and lakes, fan casts and use a steady retrieve, with the occasional pause or twitch to make the spoon flutter and dart. Vary speed until you find what triggers eats.
- In streams: cast up and across and let the spoon swing and wobble through runs and pools, covering the holding water.
- Trolling: in lakes, small spoons trolled slowly behind the boat (sometimes with added weight or an attractor) are a classic way to find scattered and holdover trout.
- Match the size to the trout and the bait, small spoons for stocked-pond fish, and finishes from bright silver and gold to painted patterns depending on water clarity and light.
Classic trout spoons, the little wobbling and casting spoons that have earned their reputation on New England trout, come in a range of sizes and finishes; a small selection covers most situations.
Tip Add a light snap or a small swivel to reduce line twist, spoons spin, and a twisted line casts poorly and looks unnatural. And pinch the barbs if you plan to release, spoons hook well and come out clean.
Gear
A light or ultralight spinning outfit with light line and a smooth Daiwa reel is perfect for casting small spoons and enjoying the fight of a spirited trout. For the bait approach to stocked fish, see PowerBait for stocked trout.