Spooning for Big Winter Shellcrackers

I just had the best day of shellcracker fishing I believe I've ever had! I fished a jig and redworm for a while and had a few fish, but it was slow then I tried a spoon. Holy crap Spoonman... it was on like a light switch; it was like daylight and dark! I caught fish off one spot, while anchored, on every cast for over an hour. I only had about three or four casts without a bite. Water temp was 47° and they were in 10-14 fow. I ran out of worms and ended up tipping the spoon with half of a Berkley power trout worm which worked almost as good.

I first learned about this technique from an article written by William Modica in the In-Fisherman magazine. I later saw him on another FB group posting some pics and instantly shot him a direct message and he was kind enough to answer some questions for me and give me a little advice. Good guy, funny guy, no filter. My kind of guy. Birds of a feather... So, I have fished spoons off and on over the last few years and Bills advice has been solid.

The techniques work and his recommendations for gear are spot on too. Though today I fished a little different. I would make a long cast and let the spoon go to the bottom, then a short snap with the rod tip to pop the spoon off the bottom a foot or two, then I would watch my line as it fell. Most of the time I would set the hook as I was snapping the spoon off the bottom, the fish would just be there. I tied for my personal best shellcrackers at 13.25" and several over 12" and tons over 10". I should have taken my clicker counter. I'm sure I caught well over 100 fish. It was nuts. Maybe 2023 wasn't so bad.

Troy Seal FB-The Bluegill Network

Stacking two 1/16 oz spoons on top of each other can help you fish deeper.  I can fish this down to 15' of water.  Fished single I can barely get it to 5' deep.  Worked like a charm.  The action is the same. Photo Troy Seal FB-The Bluegill Network

Spoons can be very effective on big crackers in the winter. Photo Troy Seal FB-The Bluegill Network