Spoon Fishing for Speckled Trout During late spring, as water temperatures warm and fish become more active, that traditional Texas favorite, the spoon, will once again become employed on a regular basis. By and large, anglers launching these concave chunks of metal will be targeting redfish. However, spoons work equally well on speckled trout. And, by employing a few simple tricks, fishermen can turn a spoon into an extremely effective speckled trout lure under a variety of conditions. Cast-and-Reel: Nothing fancy here. The basic cast-and-reel method is what virtually every fishermen does when using a spoon. And, there's nothing wrong with this method - especially when covering water is important. In fact, when drifting across an expansive flat, a spoon is the best bet for covering lots of water quickly. Spoons cast a mile and can be effective with a variety of steady retrieve speeds. When using the cast-and-reel method, just about any model spoon will work. Weedless versions typically cast a bit further and, of course, won't foul on grass. But, over clean bottom, Johnson Sprites and other spoons fitted with a single treble hook can also be used. Jerkbait Style: Spoons are usually thought of as 'power baits.' However, they can be used in finesse situations as well. One way to do so is to use a spoon as a jerkbait. This is particularly effective over shallow grass flats and around potholes. Essentially, the only difference between fishing a spoon jerkbait style and fishing an actually soft-plastic jerkbait is the timing. Spoons will usually sink a little faster than lightly or unweighted soft-plastics. Therefore, the pause between 'twitches' will be a little shorter. That said, pay close attention to the model spoon you choose for this duty. Although virtually any spoon will work to some degree, some models are better suited for life as a pseudo-jerkbait than others. For one, forget about weight. Find a model that sinks slowly. In many instances, heavier spoons with wider bodies will actually sink slower than lighter ones with narrow bodies. It is also helpful to use models that can be fitted with some sort of trailer - either a silicone skirt, curl tail grub, split tail spinnerbait trailer or something similar. The trailer will do two things. For one, it will slow the descent of the spoon through the water column. Secondly, it will add to the bait's erratic movement when twitched. Some models, such as the Nemire Red Ripper, come factory fitted with a skirt. This particular spoon also features a rattle chamber and comes in a variety of colors, which allows anglers to use their favorite soft-plastic jerkbait color in spoon form. On traditional weedless models, such as the Johnson Silver Minnow, it is helpful to bore a small hole at the base of the spoon to accommodate a split ring and trailer. Slow Roll: Slow rolling originated with spinnerbait fishermen. Over the past few years, anglers have begun fishing soft-plastics in this manner as well. But, spoons are extremely effective when slow rolled. One of the most productive times to slow roll spoons is when big trout are hanging beneath smaller schoolies - as is often the case under birds or around slicks. In this instances, a fast sinking spoon is the best choice. Slow rolling is actually a fairly simply technique. It involves allowing the lure to settle to the bottom before retrieving it with a slow, steady retrieve in order to keep it at or near the bottom. Because the spoon will spend the entire retrieve near the bottom, spoons that have a single fixed hook and ride hook up are necessary. Tony Acetta Spoons, Johnson Silver Minnows, TTF Weedless Spoons and Nemire Red Rippers are all good choices for slow rolling. However, the Tony Acetta and Nermire models have an added advantage in that they wobble side-to-side and do not make a complete rotation when retrieved. Sight Casting: Often times when sight casting on the flats, a spoon will illicit a reaction strike from a sulking speck. As with any sight casting lure, it is important for a spoon to cast true and land as softly as possible. Casting typically isn't an issue with spoons. Soft landings, however, can be. For sight casting purposes, choose a spoon with a wide profile, as wider equals softer landing. Also, a skirt can help cushion the spoon's impact on the water's surface. Once a suitable model is chosen, it is a simple matter of casting a few feet ahead of a sighted fish, allowing the spoon to sink to the desired depth and beginning the retrieve. Usually, either a cast-and-reel or jerkbait style retrieve will draw the most strikes in sight casting situations. Waking: Spoons can also be used to mimic baitfish near the surface. Anglers are able to accomplish this by 'waking' the bait just below the water's surface. When utilizing a spoon as a wake bait, anglers should strive to keep it near the surface, causing it to resemble a waking mullet. In order to accomplish this, a spoon with a fairly slow fall rate and wide wobble are necessary. The Nemire Red Ripper spoon is ideal for this duty. Since the Red Ripper is retrieved 'fat side first' it is easier to keep at or near the surface than other spoons. To get the spoon near the top and keep it there, anglers should start by making a long cast. Begin cranking as soon as the spoon hits the water. To maximize the retrieve over the length of the cast, reel rapidly at first to get the spoon moving upwards. Once the spoon breaks the surface, slow the retrieve to the point where the spoon is struggling to stay near the top. A high rod angle can also assist in keeping the spoon near the top during a slow retrieve. These are just a few of the tried-and-true methods for tempting trout with spoons. But, don't be afraid to experiment. The lesson to keep in mind is that spoons are every bit as effective on trout as they are on reds and can be fished in a surprising number of ways. During the warm weather months, it usually pays to have at least one rod rigged with a spoon any time you're plying the flats.