Deep Water Jigging Spoons?

[EYEFISH2]

I'm looking for info on jigging spoons for suspended walleye. What kind do you use and what size is needed in a resevoir to get down to say 40 feet? Do you work them like a like a jig? I haven't tried this ever but have wanted to for some time. What kind of rod and reel do you use? ect. ect. ect.

Any info would be helpful as I've never used spoons.

Thanks

[eyedoktr]

EYEFISH, I enjoy jigging for eyes with spoons. I have had alot of success with Little Cleos. I usually use a 2/5 oz. but rarely go deeper than 25'-30' For 40' I would start with something heavier than half an ounce. Acme Castmasters also work well. Wintertime I will use chartreuse mainly while in the summer, plain silver or hammered silver seems to work best. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Pete

[Pete]

Often duplicated but never matched these are the ultimate deep water jigging spoon. The clacker makes them unbeatable. i get mine at http://www.reelbait.com 40 feet I use the 1 ounce on Fireline or 12 to 14 lb mono and a med heavy baitcaster rod.

[eyedoktr]

Sorry, I forgot to mention my equipment, boy work can be a distraction. I use ultralight spinning rods and reels with 4# test when I expect no larger than 5#-6# fish. If I know the fish run larger I use a 6'-6'6" med. to med.hvy. set up with 6-8 pound test. I generally have Silver Thread on my reels but this summer I am trying 6# Cortland Camo and so far I love it.
Pete

[eyewinder]

Dan Ferguson (developer of the Fergie Spoon) showed me how to fish 'em. Admittedly, he catches more fish with them than I, but here goes:

--Below 40 feet, probably a one-ounce spoon is better (to keep you vertical to the spoon). The smaller size (Fergie) can be fished at extreme depths, too, because of its configuration

--Use your electronics to tell you how deep to fish. You can either target large fish that you mark, or schools of baitfish; there should be predators nearby.

--If you have great boat control (or there's no wind), you can watch your spoon AND the fish on your screen (I use a flasher), as in icefishing

--Stay directly above your spoon (if possible) -- you can either anchor or use the electric bowmount to keep you vertical if the wind is blowing

--As you raise & drop the spoon, don't drop your rod tip so fast that you throw a lot of slack into your line -- the fish usually takes the spoon on the drop. Follow the spoon down with your rod tip, and if you feel ANYTHING, set the hook

--Some days you'll find that long lifts (with the rod tip) are more effective, other days you'll only want to raise it a foot or so -- let the fish tell you what they want

--You don't need to tip the spoon with bait

I'm sure that others here can add their own refinements, but this should get you started.

[EYEFISH2]

Thanks for the info. I'm excited to give it a try, I just put in an order to Bass Pro and have some spoons on the way. I will give it a try and see how it goes.

Do your spoons usually have a treble or do you use a single hook?

[SUPERTROLLER]

Hopkins spoons are the preferred spoon in my area. If fish are hugging bottom I use baitcaster with flipping switch. If fish are suspended part way down I use a line counter on a short med. action rod. Sometimes they want three ft. lifts and other times only a 6 in. pop. Experiment and find what they are looking for. 3/4 oz. or 1 oz. fished vertical. Keep very slightest amount of contact with your falling bait so you can feel it and also minimize amount of tangles. It will tangle on your line periodically. It happens with this presentation. I hook to a snapswivel so i can change colors frequently and lessen line twist.

[eyewinder]

Trebles. Actually, oversize trebles (one size larger than come from the package). The Fergie's that I have come with extremely sharp hooks -- you may not need to replace them.

Every once in awhile they'll tangle in your line, but I would think that your hookup ratio would drop with a single -- but I could be wrong.