SPORTFISHINGMAG.COM 25JANUARY 2018 / VOL 33 — ISSUE 1— the Silver Minnow is available in
18 diff erent colors and patterns. Still,
Johnson says that through the years,
traditional silver and gold fi nishes have
always been its most popular.
“The soldered hook and weed guard
create a keeled shape that allows for a
versatile wobbling action,” says Kevin
Malone, of Johnson. “This design
makes it less likely to roll over and
spin. It is also plated with pure silver or
24-karat gold for a brighter fl ash than
other chrome or brass spoons, and it can
be cast and retrieved, twitched, jerked
or trolled. All of these methods can be
eff ective with or without a trailer.”
Johnson off ers the Silver Minnow in
some exceptionally light weights (all the
way down to one-sixteenth of an ounce),
which may limit casting distance but can
add appeal for anglers who like to fi sh
over extremely shallow fl ats. Johnson
also gets a tip of the hat for producing
the least expensive weedless spoons in
this roundup.HURRICANEWhat sets Hurricane’s weedless
spoons apart from the crowd? “The
brass blade, which is nickel- or gold-
plated, casts far and is a proven fi sh
catcher,” says Brian Farrell, product
manager for Big Game International.
“And at $3.29 retail, it’s also a good
value for the money.”
Hurricane off ers its weedless spoon
in gold or silver, though the manufac-
turer says it plans to expand its color
selection in 2019. Farrell recommends
anglers clip the spoon to a ball-bearing
swivel to improve its wobble, and
also notes that adding a 3- or 4-inch
soft-plastic grub might increase the
spoon’s appeal.JOHNSONJohnson has been producing its classic
spoon, the Silver Minnow, since- But don’t let the name fool you
it oscillates through the water. Gator is
the only weedless-spoon manufacturer
I ran across that off ered its spoons
pre-rigged with a number of diff erent
trailers and/or skirted hooks.
H&HH&H spoons are available in a limited
number of options and sizes, but they
do have one unique perk: The Secret
Redfi sh Spoon comes with a small
plastic sheath over the (included) ball-
bearing swivel. The sheath is designed
to add extra weed protection because
swivels are sometimes responsible for
picking up grass and ruining a lure’s
weedless quality.
H&H says its Secret spoons are
twist-free. Note that this is the only
manufacturer you’ll run across that
includes a stainless-steel ball-bearing
swivel on any of its spoons, making its
pricing seem particularly attractive.
POPULAR WEEDLESS SPOONS
MFG LENGTHS (INCHES) WEIGHTS (OUNCES) AVAILABLE COLORS PRICE SPECIAL FEATURE
Bagley 2¼ - 3½^1 / 8 - ¾ 2 $5.35 - $5.99 Weedless attachment point
Bomber 25 / 8 ½ -^7 / 8 7 $6.49 - $8.99 Available with rattles or spinners
Eppinger 13 / 8 - 4½^3 / 16 - 1½ 130 $6.40 - $16.99 Available in glow-paint fi nishes
Gator 2¼ - 2¾ ¼ - ½ 5 $6.49 - $7.49 Pre-rigged trailers create added front-to-back wiggle
H&H 2¾ - 3¼ ¼ - ¾ 2 $4.25 - $6.50 Ball-bearing swivel and weed guard included
Hurricane 2½ - 3 ¼ -^5 / 8 2 $3.29 Nickle/gold plating over brass construction
Johnson 11 / 8 - 2½^1 / 16 - ½ 18 $2.09 - $3.70 Smallest available size for matching the hatchJohnson has in recent times broadened its classic
Silver Minnow weedless spoon from silver and
gold to offer the time-tested fi sh catcher in many
sizes and colors.
H&H uses a steel
ball bearing to
prevent twist.