104 Louisiana Sportsman^ | April 2015
Fluoro, he said, helps him detect a strike a lot easier than mono.
But there are some problems with which to deal, especially on
lakes like Toledo Bend that are packed with old trees.
“One of the challenges of the spoon is the exposed treble
hook,” Freeman said. “Where there is any kind of timber, there
is a great chance of hanging up.
“If this happens — and it will — the trick is to position your
boat directly over the spoon and give it short, quick jerks. The
weight of the spoon will usually knock itself loose.”
Johnston also wrestles with the occasionally overzealous
treble hook, but not for long. If he’s snagging too frequently,
he’ll replace his spoon’s treble with a weedless single hook.
While spoons will definitely put fish in the boat, there are some
modifications that help make them even more effective — and
can eliminate a nagging problem inherent with the lures.
- More bite — Add a stinger harness to the spoon’s top end to
enhance its grabbing power.
Similarly, with the giant “mag” spoons made to imitate foot-long
gizzard shad, drilling holes in the long sides allows you to place
another split ring and treble in the middle of the lure and grab a
bass no matter how it bites.
Bass by the spoonful
Modifications that
maximize spoons
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For tough offshore bites, the
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