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Silver
Spoons
June 2002
Other than what those born to affluence eat with or the name of a
long gone sitcom what is the big deal about the silver spoon?
For my first article I figured I would start with something I know
well (good thing I guess). But other than tying it on and fishing
it I was not sure what else to add. I decided to do a web search to
see what turns up. Give me a little room and I will bring this around
to why I use this lure so often.
One of the first things that caught my eye was a summary detailing
patents held for the lure. It so happens that the link lead to an
obituary on the Tecumseh Rotary site. There I read that Bill Haselwood
(1908—2002) held a patent for the Silver Spoon. Unfortunately
he passed away in February. That leaves me with questions I never
would have considered before and likely no answers. I wonder how much
fishing Mr. Haselwood may have done in his long life and when the
last time he was able to take a trip? I could find no other information
about Mr. Haselwood.
No more history of the spoon for now. Needless to say, that spoons
of a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, materials and weights have
been used throughout the years to catch an equal variety of fish.
Like any lure I have seen discussed there seems to be many ways to
present the tackle. I think the right way is the way you fish it when
it works for you. The spoon can be fished at a variety of depths,
facilitated by using lighter or heavier models. One tip I received
was to use a trailer. Whether something made specifically for the
task or just adding a grub tail. This will allow it to be retrieved
more slowly in shallow water.
Aside from the variety of fish that can be taken on the spoon there
are other benefits. With a high ratio of weight to surface, the spoon
can be cast a great distance. The lower resistance means that when
the lure does enter the water it is less likely to run spooky fish.
In fact, I have tossed a spoon in the middle of tailing reds without
any apparent alarm from the fish; of course that is a given day and
reds are moody at times. One other consideration relating to the weight
and surface area factors. Even though it is a fairly sleek profile,
it also resembles a leaf. Of course leaves get caught in the wind.
If you use a baitcaster with the spoon, be cautious when casting into
the wind. On one hand casting anything into the wind with a baitcaster
can leave you with a birds nest that will crimp you fishing for a
while.
When all the conditions for fishing are right the spoon will allow
the coverage of large areas of water. This may be one of the reasons
it provides me with success. Of course covering area is no good if
the lure won’t fool the fish. I have fooled enough fish to say
that the silver spoon (any spoon? can not vouch for anything but silver)
will catch fish. I must say that I use it as a probe. I don’t
give much thought to jigging, or pumping the lure. I get it out to
or over likely looking water, drop it near the mangrove line and then
after allowing some sink time retrieve at various speeds. Normally
I would think that it is always to fast. It may take a touch developed
over time with the lure to use it without consideration. Or it may
just be that I use it however and catch fish in spite of my errors.
The species of fish I have caught on the silver spoon include trout,
more often gator trout, snook, redfish, a 4 inch black mullet and
the first fish, a small mouth or shoal bass. That was interesting
as I was on my local water (Lake Lanier) trying to get the hang of
the baitcaster for my upcoming trip back ‘home’ to Tampa
Bay. I was throwing a spoon as it was easy to cast, weedless and I
could crank it in pretty quickly. That is just what I was doing. I
was only interested in casting. I was on a flat of sorts and cranking
in as fast as I could possibly reel. After one long cast, about half
way in I meet resistance. There are no weeds, just clay, rocks and
stumps, along with what ever may have been dumped. So it did not seem
likely it was grass. After a short tugging match, never any run, I
had my bass. A pretty 14 inch specimen. I laughed out loud. The first
bass I had caught since I was 11 on the Hillsborough River. That may
have been a few years ago.
So, from the start I have figured that the spoon is likely to catch
fish whether I am trying or not. Not a bad lure to have on the end
of the line.
Try a spoon for a trip and see how it does for you. Let
me know how you do.
Good Fishing,
Joe |
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