Question for James or Joel on slender spoons?

My question is why the preference for 5/16oz. over 1/8oz. beings they’re the same size. The only thing I could think of is differences in flutter?

I could be wrong, but I believe most of the time 1/8 is being used. I say this because the 5/16 is much larger in size than 1/8. Again, when watching the shows it looks to me like 1/8 are being used for walleyes.

With slender spoons the 1/8oz and 5/16oz are the same size but the 5/16oz is a little thicker.

I think they use the 5/16 when there is a current of some sort where they need the lure to be a little heavier…Like when they were on Mille lacs last year they were using 3/8oz spoons, because of the current…But from what I’ve watched they seem to prefer 1/8oz…could be wrong

Quote:

---

With slender spoons the 1/8oz and 5/16oz are the same size but the 5/16oz is a little thicker.

---

I didn’t notice that before now.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

With slender spoons the 1/8oz and 5/16oz are the same size but the 5/16oz is a little thicker.

---

I didn’t notice that before now.

---

The 5/16oz variety is thicker and falls more quickly, offering some positive features, esp. for early ice and aggressive fish.

Part of my on-ice philosophy is to almost always start big/aggressive first. I take the temperature of the fish with these offerings from the outset, then scale back as needed. The advantages are numerous in my book, and as it relates to the 5/16 slender spoon, you’re simply dropping faster and getting it in front of more fish, longer. With roving schools of fish, getting back down to them after you hook one from the school is of the utmost importance.

As winter rolls on, you’ll see fish that need a slower fall-rate and are simply harder to work overall. This gets difficult for fish in 20FOW or deeper, but sometimes it’s what it takes. Lots of people will switch colors amongst those spoons, but often it’s not the color but the rate at which that spoon falls and flutters.

Good luck and let us know what you find when you’re out and about!

Joel

Joel,
I like your on ice philosophy for finding fish and finding out what they want. I already have plenty of 1/8oz. slender spoons. Looks like I’ll have to spend my Custom Jigs & Spins christmas gift cert. from my son on some 5/16th.
Thank you for your knowledge and logic it’s greatly appreciated.