Spoons[/b]
With spoons most people use Triangle Hooks, I’m not a fan of them so I remove the triangle hooks and replace then with normal J-Hooks. For certain species of fish it is better to use triangle hooks (so it is said) but I have definitely not had less success since I changed to Single Hooks.
In part 3 we will look at how different species of fish attack, and based on that you can then make more changes to your lures. Or even rig them different.
What I have found is that my REEF hookup rate has come down quite a bit.
Looking at the design of a triangle hook, it is basically a 3 in 1 hook and it hooks anything and everything that comes close to it, INCLUDING THE REEFS and YOU.
I have lost MANY spoons over the years because of that.
I have not lost a single lure since I changed to Single Hooks, maybe I’m just lucky, but I believe it’s because of the fact that I’m using a single J-Hook.
I have also seen many people get hurt with triangle hooks, most of the time when they are trying to get the fish under control to remove the hook. A splashing fish is strong, very strong, and if that triangle gets into your finger or hand that fish will return the favour and make sure that you feel what it feels like to be hooked.
Remember that when fishing with Triangle hooks, don’t go anywhere near the hook until you are sure that you have a very firm grip on your fish and have it under control.
You must make your own choice on whether you are going single J-Hook or putting better quality Triangle Hooks on.
For the purpose of this article, we going J-Hook.
Look at the picture of the silver spoon, notice that it has an oval shaped split ring, well the reason for that lies in the location of the holes on the spoon. Normal round split rings are VERY DIFFICULT to put on without damaging them, the oval ones goes on a lot easier.
I know I forgot to tell you to get oval split rings, but they work best on most spoons. You can use normal split rings, or just keep the standard ones on (if they are strong and of a good quality). If you go the normal round split ring route, take care and don’t damage the split ring.
The way to put on a split ring is after grabbing the ring with your split ring pliers (which pushes the split ring open) and turning it sideways in relation to your spoon, you then slowly but surely work it onto the spoon and through the hole in the lure. Be patient, you might destroy a split ring on two. Once you have the hang of it, do it on all your spoons.
The way to see if you damaged the split ring, if it doesn’t close properly, meaning it doesn’t return to the way it looked when it was new, the ring as pictured middle above basically stays open. If this is the case you must remove it and put another one on. It has been “stretched†too far and cannot return to normal shape.
Some spoons have a solid ring on them, you can choose to either cut it off and replace it with a split ring or to simply add a split ring to it. If it is a strong solid ring (normally the case) there is nothing wrong with leaving it on, you will just have to cut that ring off.
Now that you have replaced or inspected all the split rings and you now happy with the quality of the split rings it’s time to add J-Hooks. I use 3/0 and 4/0 hooks on my “light tackle spoonsâ€. You can go smaller, but it’s a good size. If you have very very small spoons you can go 2/0. Don’t worry, fairly small fish will swallow that hook, it’s not too big, this I promise you.
Put hooks on all your spoons (you only have 3 … correct ? or is it 10 plus)
Another note on all lures, if you are going the J-Hook route (and if it’s possible) add your hooks so that they point up, it helps with getting hooked into reefs.
You can now choose whether you want to put a swivel on the front of your spoon, if you do so make it a smallish power swivel. The power swivels are stronger than you think, in fact most swivels are. I put swivels on the front of all my lures, it helps with line twisting. It is also not a good idea to tie a knot directly to a split ring, for one it can damage your line and if the split ring is damaged, work the line out … spoon gone.
Somewhere between your leader line and your lure there needs to be a swivel, it prevents line twist, you must choose where.
As an exercise to prove my point, cut 2 x 1m pieces of mono line. On the one tie a swivel to the 1 end and on the other nothing.
Now take the one with the swivel on and hold onto the swivel, with the other hand take the other point of the line and start turning it between you fingers, trying to wind the line up. Nothing should happen.
Now take the line without the swivel and do the same … see what happens.
You need a swivel … somewhere.
You can choose not to use a swivel, but then I would strongly suggest using a quick change clip with a swivel on it. Your choice …
The one pictured is just another variation of the quick change clip. Lots of different ones available
Here are some pictures of some of my spoons, some complete some not. Just to show you I practice what I preach.
Some of my small spoons, notice the size of the hook on the first one, 2[suP]nd[/suP] one has a 2/0 hook, but it’s a very small lure, about 3-4cm long.
Double Rings
“Bigger Spoonsâ€, all 1oz and lighter with 4/0 hooks
Okay, it seems we’ve covered rigging the spoons and getting them ready for action, you can now put the spoons away.
Let’s move on.
