Spoons have changed greatly over the years,
evolving from hammered or smooth chrome slabs,
to realistic baitfish imitations that can be perfectly
matched in size and color to the baitfish present.
Ultraviolet paint adds attractive qualities, as do
realistic baitfish shapes and eyes. One of the best
spoon fishermen in the country is also the best
spoon designer and manufacturer. Rick Tietz of
Sacramento owns Blade-Runner Tackle. Many of
us tournament anglers, are happy he is busy filling
tackle orders, so that he doesn’t have time to take
our money on the tournament circuit any longer.
Blade-Runner Jigging Spoons come in multiple
sizes, but the two I use the most are the 1 1/4- and
13/4-ounce versions. Rick gave me some advice
about spoon size that will help you as well. Don’t
choose the spoon size by its weight, but rather
match the size of the baitfish present.
An entire article could be dedicated on how
to fish these, but the point for this
article is that jigging
Marc Marcantonio
Lands a
Suspended
Lake Casitas
spoon bass
spoons are deadly on suspended bass, no matter where you find them in the water column.
Most times, I fish with horizontal techniques for suspended bass with one eye always on my Lowrance screen. When my screen shows what looks like a pile of spaghetti strands above the bottom, it is time to get some with a spoon.
OUR UNDERWATER EYES
Solving the mystery of catching suspended bass has never been easier than today. Not only do we have better tackle to fool the bass, but modern electronics make it easy to find them and stay with them as they move.
My paper chart recorder has been replaced with Lowrance HDS Gen 3 Touch units, and I use 3D StructureScan and SpotlightScan both to find suspended fish. Way better than the old days, although I do miss the smell of burning chart paper
on a cold morning. I am sure the old timers out
there can relate to this!
Using side-scanning sonar while slowly
searching for suspended bass makes it quick
and easy to find schools of both bait and bass.
Once I locate a good school and move to the front deck, I rely upon my Lowrance SpotlightScan
transducer to pinpoint where to cast and move
the boat. The SpotlightScan transducer
mounts on the trolling
motor, and by slowly
turning the trolling motor
you can sweep with
sonar completely around
the boat to locate where
the school of bass have
moved.
The DownScan
view clearly pinpoints
when the bass are
directly below your
boat, and how
deep they are. This
technology is huge
in not only locating
key structure and
cover, but especially
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