Among the arsenal of options available to anglers, spoons emerge as a timeless contender.
Despite their simplicity and unassuming appearance, spoons have proven themselves as formidable tools for enticing the voracious northern pike.
With their shimmering allure and erratic movements, spoons possess a charm that consistently draws strikes from these apex predators.
Delving into the nuances of spoon fishing for pike reveals a blend of tradition, innovation, and a touch of mystery.
Yes, spoons are one of the best lures that you can use for pike fishing.
Spoons aren’t super popular or especially effective for most other freshwater species, but they are a classic pike lure.
Anglers have been catching tons of pike on spoons for literally over 100 years. So yes, spoons are certainly very good for pike fishing.
Spoons are primarily a baitfish imitation. Most of them are chrome or silver which mimics shad, minnows, or other small baitfish.
However, spoons also can imitate nothing.
What I mean by this is that spoons don’t looks super natural and some of them have bright red or yellow colors which certainly don’t mimic pike forage.
These spoons don’t really imitate any real bait, they just catch the pike’s attention and almost annoy them into biting.
For the most part, spoons are all very similar. They are all going to have the same action and imitate the same prey.
But there are a few differences that can help you optimize your fishing success.
This style of spoon is the oldest and probably the most popular for pike fishing.
The treble hook freely swinging off of the back will increase your hook up ratio.
The wire weed guard allows these spoons to be fished in and around more cover.
Grass and brush will not get caught on the hook and you will be able to fish these spoons where you can’t fish others.
This makes them one of the best weedless pike lures available.
Traditional spoons aren’t the most realistic presentations. But these spoons with more natural shapes and paint jobs can persuade cautions pike to bite when they otherwise wouldn’t.
To be honest, I don’t really know why. And neither does anyone else.
They are super simple lures that aren’t as advanced as a pike swimbait or as noisy as a crankbait.
From the outside looking in, spoons shouldn’t be one of the best pike lures out there.
But if you ask any pike angler, they will tell you that spoons are one of, if not the best, northern pike lure that money can buy.
Maybe it is the simplicity that makes them great. Maybe all the advanced and noisy lures that are being made these days are just a little too advanced.
But whatever the reason is, spoons undoubtedly catch tons of pike.
When it comes to retrieval, you can’t go wrong with a slow and steady retrieve.
Every few yards, speed up the spoon or pause it to try and trigger a bite from pike that might be trailing the spoon.
A simple cast and wind technique gives the spoon it’s awesome side-to-side fluttering action.
This makes spoons great for both expert and beginner pike fisherman because they are very easy to fish.
Pike are notorious for hiding in grass and weeds in order to ambush prey.
They are incredibly fast hunters and will burst out of the weeds to eat a your helpless spoon.
The weedless spoons will be a bit better for fishing weed lines so that you can get as close as possible to them.
Similar to the weed lines, pike will sit and hide right on ledges. They will wait for prey to swim out into deeper water and then strike.
I tend to prefer a treble hook spoon when fishing ledges because the water is often a bit deeper and darker.
So if the pike can’t quite hone in on the spoon and misses is a bit, the treble hook can still catch it.
These ledges can be a bit difficult to find if you are pike fishing from shore, but they always hold tons of aggressive pike.
I like to keep my spoons between 3-5 inches when pike fishing. If I am targeting small to medium size pike, a 3-4 inch spoon will work very well.
And if I am trying to catch some giants, I’ll go up to a 5 incher.
A 5 inch spoon might not seem very big considering that some of the big pike swimbaits get up to 10-12 inches long.
I have found that real big spoons just don’t work very well.
And the wide swimming motion of spoons makes them look a bit bigger than they really are, which makes pike interested in a rather small spoon lure.
Also Read: 5 Best Pike Spoons
I like to use a bit lighter gear when fishing spoons. A 7’6″ medium heavy or heavy baitcasting rod is my ideal rod setup.
And then I will use 50-65 lb braided line. Because I’m only using 3-5″ spoons, I don’t need huge rods and reels to handle them.
This allows me to be a but more stealthy while also being able to cast very far and very accurate.
Pike can be caught using spoons throughout the year, but they are most active during the spring and fall months.
During these seasons, pike are often found in shallower waters, making them more accessible to anglers using spoons.
Additionally, early morning and late evening tend to be prime times for pike activity.
Yes, spoons are versatile lures that can be used to catch a wide variety of fish species, including bass, trout, walleye, muskie, and more.
Anglers often modify their spoon selection, size, and retrieval techniques to target specific fish species based on their behavior and habitat preferences.
When landing a pike, prioritize its well-being by keeping it in the water when possible.
Use a landing net to gently lift the fish, handle it with care using pliers to remove hooks, and minimize handling time to reduce stress.
When releasing, gently lower it back into the water, providing support if needed until it swims away.
This approach ensures a safe interaction and promotes the pike’s health and survival.
From the classic treble hook designs to the innovative weedless varieties, spoon fishing for pike offer anglers a versatile and effective option for targeting these formidable predators.
While the exact reasons behind their effectiveness may elude us, their track record speaks volumes.
Whether you’re navigating weed lines, probing drop-offs, or enticing strikes along shallow flats, spoons stand as steadfast companions in the pursuit of trophy pike
