lure, the better your chances are of enticing a cast across and downstream, into the edge of the even though the most effective method has proved strike. tailout. When the spoon or spinner hits the water, to be a slow-moving lure, fished near the bottom RIVER FISHING take a few turns of your reel handle and then let the — an easy meal for a nearby fish. Rivers, unlike lakes, have built-in currents which current do the work for the rest of the way, pushing Colors and patterns of spinners closely re- make it more difficult to present a spinner or spoon and activating the lure as it crosses the river back to semble those recommended earlier for lake fishing. properly. There are three basic kinds of casts used to your bank. You will also find contrasting color combinations best, fish rivers with hardware and these are illustrated Extremely deep holes or fast water require yet such as a Nickel Blade/Black Body, Brass Blade/Red above. When fishing spoons, the most common cast another kind of casting technique called “upstreaming”. Body with black spots, etc. Spinners may be pur- # will be across the stream from your position or just The lure is cast upstream and then allowed to settle chased with feathered hooks as an option. These TECH REPORT 6 slightly upstream, allowing the spoon to sink a mo- toward the bottom as you reel in a line very slowly. By add extra color and action to the lure. Single hooks the time it has reached a position across from you, it are also available for situations where they are re- should be near the bottom and then can be slowly quired by law or where weeds or moss are a problem. A Complete Guide for reeled in until the current catches it. Then the cross-stream technique is used. With spoons, the SHARP HOOKS CASTING upstream cast provides the “extra weight” to get your Another of the easiest, yet most important, lure down in deep water. things you can do to improve your fishing success, is NOTE: Hardware should not be bounced to maintain super-sharp hooks on your lures at all SPOONS & along the bottom like drift tackle. Although some times. A fine-toothed file such as Luhr Jensen’s anglers catch fish by accident this way, it does not Sharp Hook File™ is the absolute best hook sharp- SPINNERS allow the lure to obtain the fish-enticing action needed, ening tool available. Hold it parallel to the hook point besides the fact it will often result in snagging up and and with gentle, one-way strokes, remove a small IN LAKES & STREAMS losing the lure. However, spoons should be fished amount of metal on at least two sides of the point to (Revised) NEAR the bottom. If you feel a tap now and then from obtain a sticky-sharp point with a knife-like cutting rocks or the bottom, you are fishing the correct depth edge. Keep the file clean and dry and occasionally and reeling at the correct speed. If you feel a series spray it with a non-corrosive lubricant such as WD-40. of taps, speed up your retrieve. No taps — slow down Files are available in 5 1/2' x 3/4" or 4 1/4" x 5/8". the retrieve. A hard tap (strike) . set the hook! SPINNERS IN RIVERS Spinners can effectively be used in rivers with all three casting methods previously described — Good Luck upstream, cross-stream and downstream. With Fishing ment or two before beginning a retrieve. As the spoon Metric Pro Spinner™ wide-blade shapes like the and Have a works downstream and gets caught in the current, and Bolo® (French-type spinners), the upstream tech- you should slow your retrieve. As it works across the nique can be particularly deadly and is best accom- Safe Trip! stream, back toward your position, stop reeling alto- plished with a high-speed spinning reel. Cast the Casting weighted spinners and gether. Once the lure has reached quiet, soft water spinner out and as soon as it hits the water, begin spoons for trout, bass, salmon, pike and and has begun settling toward the bottom (vibrations reeling to start the blade in motion. As soon as the This is one in a series of more than 25 detailed other gamefish is an art practiced by at the rod tip will fade), then it’s time to reel the lure blade begins turning, you will feel vibrations and your technique reports produced by Luhr Jensen & hundreds of thousands of anglers slowly in and make another cast. rod tip will throb. If you feel steady ticks from the Sons. For a complete set, a patch for your jacket throughout the country. It is a challeng- Tailout areas are favorites for feeding, resting spinner blade, the lure is too close to the bottom and or cap, a price list and a full-color catalog show- ing, exciting and productive fishing tech- and holding fish. These areas are at the tail end of a you should reel faster. If you don’t feel a tap once in ing all of our quality fishing tackle and accesso- nique that can easily be learned. hole or drift where the water gets shallow and begins a while, slow down as the lure isn’t working close ries, send $5 ($3 credited to your first order of $20 Whether a beginner or a more expe- picking up speed. Because of their shallowness, enough to the bottom. You should use a retrieve or more) along with your name and address to: rienced angler, this Luhr Jensen Tech tailouts are hard to fish with cross-stream casts and speed that causes the spinner blade to nick a rock or Luhr Jensen, P.O. Box 297, Hood River, OR 97031, Report can help you become even more are best worked with downstream casts. Position touch bottom every few seconds. Attn. Customer Service. successful using this technique. yourself above the tailout you wish to work and then Most anglers try to fish spinners too fast, © Luhr Jensen & Sons, Inc. Visit us on the web at www.luhrjensen.com #8822-006 Revised 051002 Litho in U.S.A. 6 7 8 The greatest joy that comes from “hardware” constantly-revolving blade. If your spoon is spin- freely and one or more small beads which act as tiny onds it takes to reach bottom (the line goes slack) and casting is being able to use super-light tackle. This ning, you are reeling too fast. If the blade on your ball bearings for the clevis and blade. then make your first retrieve slow and close to the both magnifies strikes and allows a more direct spinner is not constantly revolving, you are reel- If a line attachment device such as a barrel swivel bottom. On each successive cast, subtract two confrontation between you and the fish. Spinners ing too slowly. is not all ready on the spinner, you will need to attach seconds of sinking time until you have covered every and spoons, however, are fished differently in lakes a snap swivel to the eye of the spinner. Spinners, foot of depth in a particular area. from in rivers and there also are differences in how because of their action, should be used with a snap If fish appear finicky and hard to catch — they each type of lure is most effectively used. The SPINNERS swivel, the ball-bearing type being the absolute best. follow the lure but won’t strike it — the probability is ® following information is designed to help you under- Treble Hook with One spinner, the Shyster does not require an addi- that your line is too visible. Remember that clear line stand these differences and provide you with many of Feathered Red Attractor Blade tional swivel as it features a keel-type wire shaft which is the most invisible. By switching to a smaller the proven tips and techniques utilized by successful Treble Hook helps prevent the lure from revolving or twisting. Your diameter line which fish can’t see as easily in the hardware anglers. line may be tied directly to its eyelet if you choose. clear, still waters of a lake, your success rate should Clevis In learning and mastering hardware casting, There are many variations in spinner construc- rise. For trout and other fish up to five pounds, a four- the most important aspect is to become com- tion and patterns including the Shyster®, which fea- or six-lb. test line is recommended. pletely familiar with the feel and action of indi- tures the anti-line twist keep shaft; Metric Pro Spin- For larger fish, try 8- to 10-lb. test line. However, vidual lures under a variety of water conditions. A ner™, with an oval, French-type blade and Sneak™, remember the heavier your line, the easier it will be clear water lake or pond, or a quiet, deep hole in with a special oval-rippled blade. seen by fish and the harder it will be to cast. Heavier a river are excellent spots to study the action of SPINNERS vs. SPOONS All spinners produce sonic vibrations under wa- line also will create friction in the water and your lure a particular lure. This will help you get the feel of Three basic spoon shapes have evolved over the ter. Some produce more than others, depending on won’t run as deep as it will with lighter test lines. a lure under different retrieve speeds, as well as years.