Re: jigging spoons
jws - you failed to mention what type of fish you are trying to catch with those jigging spoons. I may be able to help if it's the largmouth bass your seeking. I find the jigging spoon the most productive from Oct. - Feb. (depending on what part of the country your fishing). To start, you only need two colors - chrome and gold. Use the chrome on sunny days and gold on overcast days. Use the spoon in moderate to clear water (best used in clear water conditions). Depending on the depth your fishing you can use anywhere from 1/2 to 1 1/2 oz. jigging spoon. They're good around bridges, humps, and points. Drop your spoon all the way to the bottom and turn the handle a couple of times to bring it about 5' of the bottom and just start jerking it about 12" to 18" at a time. No luck at that depth crank the handle of your reel a few more times and try at that depth. Most hits will occur on the fall of the spoon, so ensure you control your drop. Cold water bass are sluggish - you may only feel a slight tic when a bass hits it so be ready. Jigging spoons are best fished 20' to 30' in most lakes (exception is some of the deep water impoundments around the country). You may need to fish deeper in some lakes, but the deeper you go the less feel you'll have. You'll need a good fish finder - I won't fish in an area that I don't mark fish or baitfish (baitfish will appear as clouds on you fish finder screen). Also, I don't spend a lot of time in one place. You're looking for feeding fish, so don't spend more than 10 - 15 minutes in one area. Keep moving until you find some active bass. I normally use 12 - 14 lbs test clear line and a 6 ft. graphite rod. Now, if your fishing over grass beds in Florida using a johnson spoon - that's a whole different ballgame! Hope this helps. P.S. ensure your hooks are extra sharp (due to the depth you'll be fishing).
