Spoons as mini dodgers?

[steve(IL)]

Is anyone having success with this? For those who are doing this, how are you establishing the depth you're running at? Snap weights? Downriggers? Just flatlined behind the boat or boards? I'd like to try this in depths from 6' to 25' and am hoping someone out there can share some tips so I don't have to learn everything the hard way.

I plan to use some flys I've tied and some little orange or green squids (2.5" & very light) I bought. Do you leave the hook on the salmon spoon or remove it? Unless I hear otherwise, I'll leave the hook on first and experiment with tying the leader and fly to one of the tines on the treble.

For the record, I fish mostly dingy water. Any tricks to matching or mismatching colors?
Thanks in advance to all who reply.

[ETT]

Steve, The hook comes off the spoon. And most guys use snap wts. to achieve depth. The spinner or crawler harness is ussually 4 - 6' behind the spoon, but very short drops are sometimes used in dirty water. In line boards are used to get horizonal seperation from the boat. A typicl set up would be A double hook harness with the back hook being a treble, a # 3-5 blade tied on a 4' snell, then the spoon, then 30' to the snap weight , then the drop to the board (which establishes depth). Most everyone has a prefered snap wt that they use most of the time and get accustomed to. (2 or 3 oz being the most popular). Snap wts. are very speed dependent so your speed must be taken into account, and .6 to 1.3 is the range most run. With 2oz wt , and a speed of 0.9 mph I'd say about 22' from the snap wt to the board will get you near your 6' depth. Sorry to be so lengthy. hope this helps. Catch one for me!!!

[seahorse]

I been using it off downriggers with the squiders, you can get away with higher speeds doing this. When we troll at slower speeds we use the inline chain wieghts. If you go over 1.5 mphs with them they will twist up. I also use a 4 inch wire leader behind the spoon instead of just a swivel. We been playing with them on erie with some luck. Have also been using spoons with ladderback tape on them and gold spoons. good luck.