bunker spoon question

[fishhard]

I am going to try trolling bunker spoons this fall and was wondering what is the best size and color, this will be my first year and at a price tag of $25-30 i can't buy every color and size. any help would be great.

[LaceyMarine]

In our area we seem to sell more white as the most popular color followed by green/chartruese.

[fishpro28]

White,chartruese,Silver...More important than color are the length and action of the rods. Thats what alows the spoons to do their thing. Color doesn't matter if the presentation isn't right..:)

[fishhard]

White,chartruese,Silver...More important than color are the length and action of the rods. Thats what alows the spoons to do their thing. Color doesn't matter if the presentation isn't right..:)


Fishpro,

i sent you and email.

[joe kane]

quick question :
how do you attach a bunker spoon or umbrella rig to the wire line?

i bought a couple rods on ebay with the wire line and have yet to give them a try.

[JerseyBrian3]

I tie a 20' piece of 80lb mono to the wire.

[Mullica Bob]

Once again try braid first!!;)

[fishhard]

What is the best rod length and action type for pull bunker spoons?

[Catch my Drift]

What is the best rod length and action type for pull bunker spoons?
i use 7ft barefoot rods.... very nice rods that are short enought to be comfortagble and long enough to get the action...;)

[fishhard]

thanks Catch, glad to know i don't have to buy new rods.

[JerseyBrian3]

What is the best rod length and action type for pull bunker spoons?

One that has eyes that can handle wire line. You want the rod tip to pulse like a tail beat. That is how you know your spoon is doing its thing.

[XXTRA12]

Ive Done Best With A Green Spoons And Dont Waste Your Time With Braid Get The Wire

[paul708]

What is the best rod length and action type for pull bunker spoons?usually spoon rods are 8'-9ft so you get a pulse in the spoon

[Capt. Lou]

Bunker spoons best pulld on modeate action med power 9' rods ,shorter rods limit the spoons action especially on small boats where the wave action can stop the bost at times thus the short rods do not flex into the wave & spoon acytion ceasaes.
Longer rods keep stesady pull ,spoon always working even as bost slows due to length & soft action.
Make sure you hae good quality carbide guides ,wire runs spoons best ,mark every 50' so you can monitor depth against hits / fish. Back with dacron and use 60# plus lds, make sure you attach with quality BB swivels with large sanps to allow spoon to rotate freely.
White / Char Grn, probably catch 90% of fish.

[Mullica Bob]

Do yourself a favor and try the BRAID first. Save yourself the headaches. If you think the braid is not the way to go then try the wire. I have run both and prefer the braid by far.

[fishpro28]

Do yourself a favor and try the BRAID first. Save yourself the headaches. If you think the braid is not the way to go then try the wire. I have run both and prefer the braid by far.
Bob, more info please. I have seen braid rigged a couple different ways. What pound test are you using and how are you marking your line. Also how much line='s how many feet deep:)

[Don C]

Hey Bob, what do you use for your set-up(rod and reel)? Do you use a drail? What advantage do you find the braid has over wire? You know I like the wire I find it simple, I 'm just wondering what you like better about the braid. As I said before I'm going to try the braid when the boat is back in the water. I'm trying to keep an open mind but wire RULES;) .

Don C

[Mullica Bob]

No kinks, no maintenance, cost, flexibility, ever cross two wire lines while trolling?:eek: Just to name a few. Wire works very well, but braid works just as well in my opinion. So the simple fact of the matter is you can cut out on the little idiosyncrasies that come with wire. If you like wire than I suggest you run it. 8 tracks were hot one time as well until something else came along.;)

I run 50lb PP on 8' Star Bunker Spoon Rods with Shimano TLD 15's. As far as drails and line lenghts go that gets determined when I get out there. Current direction, wind with or against the tide or boat, waves and of course depth all play a part in the game. I do not mark my line and anywhere from 4 to 16oz drails get used.

White, silver or green/chartruese Reliable Bunker Spoons.

[enzo]

i have 2 -9' dipsey rods i use 4 salmon fishing with line counter reels an braid not sure how far back to run bunker spoons to achive dept is there a way to calculate does anyone fish with dipseys

[fishpro28]

I don't know anyone that fishes with dipseys, but I'm sure they could work. I would imagine the lure would have to be light enough not to release. Maybe tubes or small spoons.

[enzo]

u live by copperhill u play too i am a local contractor if u need anything look me up here .i am going to give dipseys a shot . to get down 10' how far back bunkerspoons on braid

[Sea Caper 1]

Braid all the way action is more important then color .

[fishhard]

Thanks for all the feed back on my question, i will have to take something from everyone and find out what works best for me. it seems like everyone have thier own way of pulling bunker spoons.

[O'Man]

I find the silver ones get more bluefish, followed by the green ones. I have done best with the white/red ones. Just get that rod tip pumping as you troll and you know your action is good.

[FJ Cruiser]

Bob, more info please. I have seen braid rigged a couple different ways. What pound test are you using and how are you marking your line. Also how much line='s how many feet deep:)

Braid can be marked with a Sharpie permanent marker......good luck

[B-faithful]

Thanks for all the feed back on my question, i will have to take something from everyone and find out what works best for me. it seems like everyone have thier own way of pulling bunker spoons.

I will share what we use on the Chesapeake..

On the chesapeake we pull spoons in tandem with bucktails. We use the bucktails in various weights to get the spoons down and increase chances of catching fish. The spoon runs from a 3 way swivell to the top bait with a leader of ~18' (3 full arm lenghts) and swivell at 9'. The bucktail runs on the bottom with ~9' leader.

See here for how another person rigs tandems. We also run tandem bucktails a lot but spoon/bucktail tandems are very common too.

http://www.cnksaltwatertackle.com/catalog/item/3214874/4107731.htm

The most common spoons are Tony 21's. Cripple Alewife11/0 and 13/0, and Chesapeake Lures bunker spoons. I personally like the Tony 21's as I seem to catch more fish on them and they are cheap. They give great action. I like the Silver and gold ones too. Everyone seems to run white and green with success too.

Here are the spoons we run:
http://www.chesbaylures.com/
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/477660021msk.htm
http://www.boatersworld.com/product/478490071msk.htm

Of course you hear of some big hogs being caught with hub caps and a hook but these are the common ones used especially when being run in tandem with a bucktail.

[Mullica Bob]

Bought a Chesapeake spoon from a local dealer some time ago. Ran it maybe three times and almost all the paint and finish on it have floated down to the Chesapeake. Won't buy one again. They suck IMHO.

[B-faithful]

I havent had any problems with the finish with the chesapeake lures spoons but I do like the action of the tonys and cripple better (and have had better luck) therefore havent run them all that much. I have a buddy who loves them though..

[JBG777]

The secret spoons are the best producing spoons in my opinion. They have tremendous action are extremely heavy so no weight is needed.
White, green:eek:

[take one]

mullica bob, iam doing the braid thing this fall myself. do you use a lenght of mono as a leader? , and if you do ,what lb. test? and what knot do you use to attach the leader to the braid main line, i have 2 charter special 2000's with 65lb braid, thanks in advance

[Mullica Bob]

mullica bob, iam doing the braid thing this fall myself. do you use a lenght of mono as a leader? , and if you do ,what lb. test? and what knot do you use to attach the leader to the braid main line, i have 2 charter special 2000's with 65lb braid, thanks in advance

Yes I use a mono leader. Usually 50lb mono that gets tide to the spoon then to the drail and braid on the other side. Length of the leader is not set in stone but I usually run at least 15' and up to 30' or so. Heavier drails get longer lengths of leader.

[gone_fishing]

Guys, I picked up an Avet Sx that will pull double duty on the surf and from the boat. It has 17# Ande Mono on there. Can I use this to troll spoons and/or Stretch 25/30s? Last year I actually used a Shimano 4500BR to troll.

[LaceyMarine]

The secret spoons are the best producing spoons in my opinion. They have tremendous action are extremely heavy so no weight is needed.
White, green:eek:

I agree, Secret Spoons are the best bunker spoon out there.

[Mullica Bob]

Broke down and picked up two Secret Spoons this morning. They look good.:D

[take one]

bob thanx again, gonna tie everything up tonight

[Mullica Bob]

Forecast looks good for trolling this Sunday 10/14, doing some clams and try out the new spoons later on.

[take one]

bob , yea iam on vacation all next week, gonna hit it hard out of BI and see what i come up, iam praying they're there and hungry

[fishpro28]

Secret Spoons require a much longer rod to make them work properly..I think its a 11' rod...sounds a little crazy, but look at the size of the spoon..

[Mullica Bob]

Secret Spoons require a much longer rod to make them work properly..I think its a 11' rod...sounds a little crazy, but look at the size of the spoon..
The size of the spoon is about the same as a Reliable Bunker Spoon, it's the weight that is way different. Go to the secret spoon web site and see what they have to say as far as tips on what and how to run them. Not a mention of 11' rods. I believe that Jimmy George, the guy who developed them, used to run real long rods with them. The site has "normal" size rods listed, Star, Seeker etc.

www.striperspoons.com

[fishpro28]

The size of the spoon is about the same as a Reliable Bunker Spoon, it's the weight that is way different. Go to the secret spoon web site and see what they have to say as far as tips on what and how to run them. Not a mention of 11' rods. I believe that Jimmy George, the guy who developed them, used to run real long rods with them. The site has "normal" size rods listed, Star, Seeker etc.

www.striperspoons.com (http://www.striperspoons.com)
Yea I saw a show with him and thats what he said. They also were runing like 14" spoons in fluke pattern.

[fishpro28]

Just looked at that link..Do they not have the really big ones anymore?

[Mullica Bob]

I don't know what happened. I called to inquire about buying some or one spoon when the article on him first hit. The spoon(s) was coming with a video and was over a $100 for the package. In fairness I can't remember the size of the spoon he was using back then but I thought it was much larger then the ones he is selling now. Not sure if he still sells them or what, maybe he kept them a bit more "secret".:confused:

[fishpro28]

I don't know what happened. I called to inquire about buying some or one spoon when the article on him first hit. The spoon(s) was coming with a video and was over a $100 for the package. In fairness I can't remember the size of the spoon he was using back then but I thought it was much larger then the ones he is selling now. Not sure if he still sells them or what, maybe he kept them a bit more "secret".:confused:
Yes, you got two spoons and a video. I think he took back his "SECRET"

[Mullica Bob]

Thats what I thought it was, two spoons. He was raving about how much "info" you get from the video and that it was well worth the price.

I'll have to get into my fathers machine shop and try to come up with my own "secrets".;)

[chugbugger]

I attach my reliable or secret spoons to a 25-30 florocarbon leader with a quality barrel swivel midway up the leader. My running line is power pro, the drails I use depend on current, boat direction, and where the fish are in the water column

[Mullica Bob]

With all the blues out there now I'm not sure about giving my $40 Secret Spoons their maiden voyage.:eek: But then again you can't catch if you don't try, right?;)

[Capt. John]

http://www.striperspoons.com/TrollingSecrets.htm

[Mullica Bob]

Yeah and....

[Capt. John]

FishHard

Bring your spoons and call me 215 630 3939 I will show you how I troll spoons I have rods wire and power pro like wire for the spoons the best

[Capt. John]

Read it you might pick up on something new

[Mullica Bob]

Read it several times since I herd about the site.

[paul708]

he uses the same rod i build. the action is great ..they work very well;)

[Mullica Bob]

he uses the same rod i build. the action is great ..they work very well;)

Capt. Luchka or Jimmy George use your rod?

[paul708]

same blank, i use for Most of the spoon rods..the action from these blanks are great, there are about 3 or 4 really GOOD choices,