A better way to spoon: Assist Hooks

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One of the things that drew a lot of interest from the big crowds at my striper seminars the past couple days at the International Sportsmen’s Expo was the way I rig my jigging spoons.

We had a lot to cover in one short hour so I didn’t linger too long on this subject. If you missed it, here’s a closer look:

I simply remove the stock treble and replace it with an Owner assist (size depends on the size of the spoon).

These hooks come with a looped end so all you do is run it through the line attachment eye and loop it back over the hook…Done!

Soon, I will do a full blown post on striper spooning but for now, I’ll tell you that this rigging style is more snag resistant, never flips over and hooks the main line on the fall and is easier on the fish (fewer gill hooked fish). Give it a try!

Small Creek Troutin’

Small Creek brown trout fishing

Sometimes, you’ve just gotta leave the boat, the expensive graphite rods and 27 tackle boxes at home and head for a tiny creek for some trout fishing. There’s just something so pure and basic about it. I don’t care if most of the trout are 9 inches long — it’s still a blast and, if I happen to catch a 12 incher, I’m as fired up about it as I would be a 12-pound steelhead.

Of course, summer’s the time to head out and try a little small stream fishing or “crik hoppin,” as we used to call it when we were kids. To get you all primed up for a season of light tackle fun, here are some basic tips.

Let’s start with the four main lure styles you’ll need to be successful.

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