Fishing With Spoons Part 5 – Basic Presentations: Straight Retrieve
By: The Angler
The most basic presentation for spoons is to retrieve it in a straight line at constant speed. This simply means to retrieve your spoon at a constant speed all the way back to the boat. It works for a variety of fishes and it works most of the time be it in saltwater or freshwater.
[ Some spoons can swim really well below a certain speed… ]
How It Is Done
It is a really simple presentation. Just cast your spoon out. Allow it to sink to the bottom or to a depth that you intend to fish. When it reaches that depth just crank it back at a constant speed. The spoon will wobble, buzz, drag the bottom, etc. (depending on its designed swim action) all the way back to you.
The Abu Garcia Island Zebra is a good spoon for straight retrieve technique.
This method of presentation, although basic, is very effective for all types of fishes. All sorts of freshwater fishes and saltwater fishes take spoons on a straight retrieve. It works many a times but there are times that this method needs a little tuning.
Matching Speeds
Different fishes hit spoons at different speeds. All fish probably think that they are faster than the other (who knows) but not all fish can swim really fast and out swim the kelah (mahseer), or the sebarau (Hampala Barb).
The Abu Island II just like the Abu Island Zebra, can be reeled fast or slow, making them versatile spoons.
Understand Your Reels
The same can be said for reels. Some reels are like race cars and are faster than others, while some are made to cruise. If you’re fishing for snakeheads and you are constantly catching them at a certain speed and after changing to this spanking new reel, you suddenly stop catching them; don’t blame the new reel. It is not a bad luck reel. It is just that the speed is different.
Some reels are faster and some reels are slower. It is important to know your reel.
Understand Your Spoons
Another thing you need to look at is your spoon. Some spoons can swim really well below a certain speed. When you go above that speed it decides to just hang on and enjoy the ride. Some spoons need to be worked fast. Too slow and they look like debris.
What About Nature?
With this I mean fast flowing rivers and slow flowing streams, as well as different current speeds out at sea. You will have to take into consideration these things too. If you’re fishing a fast flowing river and you are cranking like your spoon is in a race, certain fishes may not be able to catch up.
Spoons as such can be fished jigged too.
A spoons for speed.
Good To Be Mindful
Pay some attention to these things. Cast out your spoons and reel them back paying attention to how they swim at certain speeds. Pay attention to how fast you are cranking. Pay attention to the environment that you are fishing in. Put them all together and match your retrieving speed to them. Now you are ready to cast out that spoon, use the straight retrieve method, and catch some fish.
Note: try varying your cranking speed if you do not get results and you know that the fishes are there.
