If you're heading out to the salt water this weekend, you've probably got with least one coho killer spoon tucked away in your own tackle box. It's one of these lures that provides become a staple for Pacific Southwest anglers, and with regard to good reason—it just catches fish whenever other gear is usually coming up clear. While it's theoretically designed for Metallic salmon, it's honestly a bit of a "catch-all" tool that attracts everything from Chinook in order to aggressive sea-run aggressive.
The first time We saw one, I'll admit I had been a little skeptical. It's an extremely thin, longer, and somewhat flimsy-looking part of metal in comparison to the large brass spoons I actually grew up making use of. But that slim profile is exactly why it's so lethal. It doesn't try to look like a generic baitfish; this mimics a quite specific snack that salmon absolutely love.
The Key of the Slim Profile
The main reason the coho killer spoon works so properly is that it's a near-perfect match up for that Pacific fine sand lance, which most of us just call "candlefish. " If you've ever seen a trout stomach content review or cleaned a fish mid-season, you know how often they are stuffed with these long, skinny, silver-colored baitfish.
As opposed to a typical trolling spoon that might be wide plus chunky to mimic a herring, this spoon is slim. When it's moving with the water, this has a tight, erratic shimmy that appears exactly like some sort of panicked candlefish looking to escape a predator. Salmon are visible hunters, and whenever they see that specific flash and movement, their predatory instincts just take more than. It's a "trigger" lure, meaning it forces a hit even if the fish isn't particularly hungry.
Just how to Rig This for Trolling
Most people operate these spoons at the rear of a flasher, plus that's definitely the best way to go about it. However, the particular length of your leader is exactly where most people make or break their day on the water. Because the spoon is so light and thin, it doesn't have a lot associated with built-in "kick" upon its own when the leader is as well long.
If you're trolling with regard to Coho, you generally need shorter leader—somewhere between 24 to 36 inches . This particular allows the activity of the flasher to whip the particular spoon around, creating that frantic motion that Silvers crave. If you're focusing on Chinook (King salmon) with the same spoon, you might want to extend that leader away to 42 or even 48 ins to give this a slightly even more subtle, rhythmic sway.
I've found that utilizing a 20 or 25-pound fluorocarbon leader will be the lovely spot. It's hard enough to transfer the flasher's energy to the appeal, but it's apparent enough that the fish won't obtain spooked in very clear water. Plus, fluorocarbon has better abrasion resistance, which is definitely nice every time a toothy Coho decides in order to go on the wild run.
The Importance of Trolling Rate
One thing to keep within mind would be that the coho killer spoon is sensitive in order to speed. If you're dragging it as well slow, it'll simply kind of hang up there like the dead piece of container. If you're going too fast, it might start spinning like a propeller, which generally just leads in order to a tangled clutter of line and zero fish.
Generally, an acceleration of 2. zero to 3. 0 mph over the terrain is the "money zone. " You would like to see your rod tip twitching with a consistent, rhythmic dance. If the suggestion is vibrating as well fast, throttle back a bit. When it's barely moving, it's time to kick the engine up a level.
Casting from the Shore or Piers
While most of the particular buzz around this particular lure involves boats and downriggers, don't sleep on making use of a coho killer spoon from your beach or the public pier. Since they are so aerodynamic, they throw like a bullet even if there's a bit of the breeze blowing in your face.
The trick intended for shore casting is to let the spoon sink for the few seconds before you begin your retrieve. You don't want this dragging on the bottom, but Coho often cruise that will middle-to-upper water column. A medium-paced retrieve with an occasional "twitch" of the particular rod tip generally does the technique. That little stop in the obtain makes the spoon flutter downward regarding a split second, which is usually often when the hit happens. It appears like a wounded baitfish, and for a salmon, that's an easy meal they will can't pass upward.
Picking the Right Colors
Walk into any kind of tackle shop in Washington or British Columbia, and you'll visit a wall associated with different colors. This can be the bit overwhelming, yet you don't need to buy the entire rack.
- Cop Car: This is usually the classic black and white combo. It functions in almost any kind of light condition and is an excellent starting point if you aren't sure what the fish desire.
- Snacks and Cream: Similar to Cop Car yet usually with a few glow or additional flecks. This really is my go-to for earlier morning or deep water where the light is low.
- Green/Glow: Since candlefish often have got a greenish tint to their backs, any variation associated with green and silver is going to be effective. "Irish Flag" is one more popular variant that gets results.
- Blue/Nickel: On these bright, blue-bird times when the sunlight is high, the blue and silver precious metal combo can end up being incredible. It mimics the way light shows off baitfish close to the surface.
Honestly, the "Glow" factor is some thing I really think in. Even in the middle of your day, having the bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on the spoon helps this stand out in the dark depths from the Puget Sound or maybe the ocean.
Upkeep and Hook Enhancements
If there's one "secret" in order to being more effective with all the coho killer spoon , it's checking out your hooks. Many of these originate from the factory with a decent siwash hook, but after a several fish (or a few bumps towards the rocks), that point can get boring.
I constantly keep a little file in my wallet. A quick touch-up to make sure the lift is "sticky sharp" the massive difference. In case you touch the hook point in order to your fingernail and it slides away without digging within, it's too boring. Also, some guys like to change out the single catch for a small treble, but I discover that just one siwash actually holds better during those crazy Coho head-shakes, plus it's a lot easier in order to release fish you aren't planning in order to keep.
An additional little tip: examine the split rings. Every now plus then, a big seafood will put more than enough torque for the lure to start opening those rings. It's rare, but it happens. If you see any distance in the metallic, swap it out there before your next cast.
Why It Remains a Favorite
It's easy to get distracted by the latest high-tech gadgets, electronic lures, or even scented plastics. But there's something fulfilling about the simplicity associated with a part of bent metal. The coho killer spoon has stayed relevant regarding decades because it doesn't try to become fancy; it just mimics the most common food supply in the water.
Whether you're a seasoned charter captain or someone simply getting their very first boat, having a few of these in your bag is basically a necessity. They don't get up much area, they aren't excessively expensive, and most importantly, they flat-out catch fish. Next time you're out there and the bite seems a little slow, try changing over to that will skinny little spoon. You could be surprised from how quickly the rod starts burying itself in the water.
Fishing is all about confidence, and it's simple to be confident when you're trolling a lure that has a background simply because long as this particular one. Keep in mind to keep your accelerate, keep your hooks sharp, and don't be afraid to experiment with leader lengths until you find what the fish are looking for that day. Happy fishing!