Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

What’s your favorite setup and why?

Rod?
Reel?
Line?
Spoon?

Thank you

Good seasonal question with the fall transition and strong Summer thermoclines starting to break up.
Structure spoons is broad category covering weights from 3/8 to over an 1 oz and shouldn't include flutter spoon.
My choice for a spoon rod is Loomis PR845C popping rod that has both a soft tip and strong lower blank. You can also get buy with a crankbait rod.
Reel I use your standard 100 size bait caster with at least 6.3:1 ratio, current Tatula 100R 8:1.
Line 12 lb Big Game or Sunline Armilo 13 lb Nylon. Set the drag at 3 to 4 lbs and trust it.
Spoons, 1/2 to 1 oz chrome or Shad colors,size 4 and 2 treble hook with white/chartreuse chicken feathers. The feathers are very important to increase strike where Threadfin Shad are the targeted baitfish. P-Line Lazer minnow is close to Megabait no longer available, Lurh Jensen Crippled herring, Hopkins shortie and Kastmaster should get you started.
Look for grebes, determine the baitfish depth and location, then present the spoon through the boat school, most strike occur a few feet under the school.
Tom

Thanks for the detailed response Tom. What about flutter spoons?
Or the big 6”-8” spoons?

Someone else can enlighten you on the 6" to 8" flutter spoons. I fish them occasionally and use my Okuma 7'10" GS Swimbait rod with Shimnao Cardiff 300 reel, 25 lb Armilo Nylon line, same outfit for rats. The big difference is the 2 1/2oz to 3 1/2 oz weight of these big flutter spoons and making long cast to cover open water with bigger baitfish like Gizzard Shad and trout.
I prefer to use 6" to 10" glide and swimbaits baits where I fish.
Tom

First off, let me say I am not a professional just a weekend angler that has enjoyed fishing spoons for many, many years.

Keeping it simple (I could go on, and on) -

Structure spoons - Dobyns 703C or 663C, 6:3.1 or higher reel, 12lb. mono, and a couple 1/2oz Kastmasters in silver (bright) and gold (overcast), then fish it where you would dropshot.....and IN trees.....you won’t hang up as much as you think


Flutter spoons - Dobyns 704C or 765C, same reel, and line and colors as structure spoons should get you started.....don’t be afraid to pitch docks and other structure


Just my .02, good luck