Last spring I started buying up painted spoon blanks in an effort to discover a combination that would work well for lake trout, salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout and anything else that would hit a spoon that is trolled.  So this is what I taped up for this past spring:

 

The black & red ones turned out to be winners for lake trout and pike.  The following is what I taped up this year (2009) and will field test this spring:

 

 

Wish me luck!!

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

Much luck for you and those who accompany you.   And the spoons look great.  Have you ever tried dressing the hooks on the spoons, or not enough advantage for the extra work?

I have never thought of dressing one of these...Spoons that have trebles I do.  I may have to experiment this year!

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

The spoons look great. Have you ever tried adding a blade just below the spoon for more action on the free fall?

 

Lifer!

Do you mean attached to the split ring with a clevis?  Or just attached to the split ring?

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

Here are two more I will try...

 

 

Any comments?

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

You already know what I think about those colors!!!!!!

Here are three new ones...

 

I am excited about trying all the new ones  ...Except for the white ones!   Comments?

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

I dont know for sure Pete as I very rarely use a spoon, But I think the white ones will work OK too because that bars pattern is "baby bass" I like the one on the right.

 

 

Hi Pete--As usual your products look great!! I would use them in a heartbeat. As Az said trydressing a few like Foxtails, etc.. Also you may wish to try trebles instead or duals and with or without dressings! Regardless you do some fine work!! Keep it up!! Take Care and God Bless.

Bill J.        

This is my latest creation...

 

 

This is a heavy spoon.  It would make a good casting spoon as well as for trolling.  It is all silver and I put the green tape on it.

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Keep this up and your going to have to open your own tackle shop. Do you mark these in any way? So that 10 years from now someone can identify that they were made by you and they could say they own an original turnip spoon. (Worth hundreds$$)
Lifemember and Bushwacker SMF upstate NY

I made these today.  The spoons are Lucky Strike (Canada) Wobblers; silver on one side and copper on the other.  Three of them are 31/2" long and the other is 3" long...

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

They look awesome, man!  Where do you buy the blanks?

The painted spoon blanks I purchased on eBay, in lots of 25pcs.  The silver ones came in different tackle boxes I have purchased on eBay over the last couple of years.  I then just added the tape.

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

My new tape order came in and so I just had to make a couple more!

 

 

I will be taking these to Seneca this year for a trial run...

 

 

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Hope Ed let's ya put some of them in the water 'bro  

 

At this rate....you should ALMOST have as many as I've collected from Ebay boxes too. I'll try to take a pic here soon

 

The thing about spoons is that if you don't EVER have any luck with a color combo...you can strip / paint / tape them to be just about anything

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

I received my nickle plated spoon blanks today.  These are also flutter spoons.  This is what I came up with...

 

 

I will try these out in NY also!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

These are looking great, as usual.

Lifer! Fred NKy

Here are three more I made up a couple of weeks ago...

 

 

These will be tested at Seneca and Harveys lake.

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

I had an opportunity to test the three spoons above at Harvey's lake this spring.  Only one produced for me, a nice brownie!

 

When I got back from Howards I attempted to make a few that resembled the alwive

 

I used the white flutter spoon blanks and tried different spray painting ideas.  I will need to test these...

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

LIFE DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN A STRINGER OF EATER WALLEYES AND GREAT FRIENDS. L/M NAFC, L/M NAHC, L/M B.A.S.S. LARKSVILLE, PA

They look fantastic. I`ve made lures, spinners and poppers and flies.Never really used spoons maybe I`ll give it a try now. Thanks for sharring them....

Old-fart Catfisher

Pete, i am interested in knowing what size your spoon blanks are..6"? How heavy, size of hooks, size of split rings, as well as your best source of supplies!!  I too am preparing to craft my own...the "big box stores" don't seem to carry a kit of supplies...catalogs can kill us on shipping!! Am learning more by following your work, am sure others are too!! Your "work" is terrific...hope mine is a good copy... PLEASE KEEP TEACHING US...see you on Seneca....hope to find time for WALLEYES...Chuck       

Chuck, these spoon blanks are 3 1/2".  They are thin, light weight flutter spoons.  I usually buy them on eBay, along with my hooks.  I think these hooks are a size 1 or 2.  I don't remember the split ring size....I have several sizes for different size hooks.  These I purchased at my local tackle shop!  I hope this helps!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Pete take the second one down , run that tape bottom side, add a "black - round -spot" 3/4 the way up at the belly (electrail tape?) or pait a black dot (bottom of the spoon as it's in this picture and I think you will have a good copy of the Alwife (sawbelly) that I've been using up here.

 

Time for me to quit talking and see what I can do with the ones that the paint came off..........................LOL................I'll take before and after pictures so you guys can beat on me............................................

Hey Ed----It looks like you are doing a pretty good job of beating yourself on the wall!! Why do you need us too?? LOL. Bill J.

I don't know what has happened to the site, but it won't let me post pics...
LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

And someone suggested we contact Turnip for help in posting pics? Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Here you go Pete. So when are we going to be seeing these on the shelves of the local bait shops?

Lifer since 05/08....Ky....Fred

Hi Pete--It was me who posted to contact you ( thePix Guru)   on posting pictures! I suggested your PA fishing buddy Ryfish to contact you! Bill J.     

turnip wrote:

Turnip, did you just upgrade to Windows Explorer 8 ?

 

When I upgraded, I couldn't post anything either. I switched back to Explorer 7 and everything is back to working.

 

 

Dave D. Oklahoma member since 2003

My problem is a Microsoft upgrade - IE8...I am trying to remove it!
LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Hey turnip, if you're having any problems removing it, I posted step by step instructions in " NO SMILEYS " in the computer section. The instructions are the ones microsoft sent me in an e-mail.

 

 

Dave D. Oklahoma member since 2003

Thanks DaveD!  I talked with the Techie & his supervisor and I posted the process for removal from XP in the computer forum - "no smilies" thread.

 

Sooo, what I wanted to post is, Ed, I took your suggestions and came up with these:

 

 

I will bring them along on Monday!  Woo wee!!

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Glad you got up and running again Turnip.

 

 

Dave D. Oklahoma member since 2003

wow you made a lot of spoons there .
fishin in eastern PA

Pete: What does it take to obtain an original Turnip Spoon before you become rich and famous? Some of your spoons are looking awfully good. Did I ever mention that a freind of mine sells trolling gear through a retail store and at www.flynspoon.com ? If you want to market your spoons, I'll put you in touch with him. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Tom, I appreciate the offer, really!  But I do this as part of my "fishing fix"!!  LOL!  If you would like a spoon send me a PM identifing which one ya want and your mailing addy and I'll send you one.  Thanks for the kind words!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

I took an old and damaged Dardevel Imp (2/5 oz) and stripped off what was left of the original  finish, repainted , added tape and replaced the hardware as needed...

 

I have started a new thread in "Member Tips" titled: "Tweaking Spoons".  I will do a step by step (with pics) technique for refinishing spoons for your tackle box!  Enjoy!

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Ok I got to it today......

before:

Cleaned up :

New tape job :

 

 

Ed, nice job!  I'mm glad to see someone else post besides me!  I have been working on one that you showed me at the NE meet....I'll finish the tape job and post it tomorrow!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Yea it took me a while to get to it but it was fun and had the ole mind agoing on what I wanted to do. I see I have two more in my box of the long thin ones and I think I'll just do a basic side to side scallop tape job with that blue tape.............unless that yello/geen is HOT today..............

Boy I wish I was old and retired so I could do this stuff! Nice looking spoons Ed!

Southeast PA LM '99

Ok Ed, here it is!

 

 

What do ya think?  Does it have a chance???  It's a nickle plated spoon, VMC hook.  I ordered this tape last winter and I guess I forgot about it!  Those two orange strips are from one small strip (cut down the middle).

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Looks good Pete some what like the one I had that the tape got bad , then I had ya take your knife to one to ope the middle up. Nice job..............

I ran the two long thin one yesterday nothing.................I'll try them again but not right away we had a steady bite going so fish should have got a eyeball on them.......

Pete this guy :

And the one above got some rips the other day but didn't hook-up. The one above took a laker deep (82') down and I hit bottom with the rigger ball to see if it would stay clean with the single hook in the up position and it did. I'm not sure which one they were popping the other day but my best guess is the bottom one because that was on the slider line and is harder to hook up and lose more fish on that rig.

I did two more up yesterday but didn' take a piture, I try to get one when I got out later today.

I think Turnip was born with a Johnson Silver Spoon in his mouth.

 

 

Be Fishers of Men, You catch, He Cleans Trophy Life Member and Proud of it. You got a problem with that?

I was thinking the other end! LOL Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Wow Turnip. You are both  an angler and an artist!

Here are the three that I did in my "spoon tweaking" thread in "member tips" forum:

 

 

These are casting spoons.  They were originally old Dardevel spoons.  Thanks for the compliment, Ledwith!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Hey Pete, do ya have any spoons that are black with white stripes we could try at Blue Marsh?

Southeast PA LM '99

That is a real nice set of spoons and a great presentation. If you are into spoons you might like this if you haven't seen it already. Tight lines, Steve

Tricking Out Spoons

Northeast Bass Fishing For Trophy Bass http://delawaretrophybass.com

Great topic by Pete AND good posts by others here too!

 

I have 200 - 300 various spoons with "jacked up" finishes on them that I will be working on later this fall....and will post both my process and end results in Pete's Spoon Tweaking topic in Member's Tips

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

Well overall, my favorite way to modify spoons is to take a plain Silver Streak and put on some light and dark orange reflective tape to give it a Monkey Puke resemblance, only more flash. Or my other one is to use purple and dark purple reflective tape and put on a glow eye onto a plain Silver Streak. And best of all, these spoons work great here in Illinois and can be used on Wally Board Planers behind 50 yd of leadcore, just plain leadcore out the back of the boat, on a Deeper Diver, or on a downrigger.
Tight lines.

Turnip, I lke the spoons that only have the single hook. I cant find them anywhere. The only thing close 2 it is the Johnson silver minnow, I really would like to have some.
"Give a Man a Fish, Feed Him For a Day. Teach a Man to Fish, Feed Him For a Lifetime"

I'm not an expert when it comes to spoons, but couldn't you just replace the treble hook with a single hook.

Nice one Yanosick. johnnaughton, you can easily get these hooks from Cabelas ( either at the closest store or by online order). The ones that I use are the Gamakatsu Siwash hooks.
Tight lines.

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Nice to see that I am not the only Gamakatsu fan in the club! Seems they are the only hook mfgr. that produces octopus circle hooks! I do a lot of live bait fishing, and find that these hooks really increase the survival potential of fish that I release. It seems that lip hooked fish fare better after release. Tom
Fishin' fool in N.E. Illinois

Nice to see that I am not the only Gamakatsu fan in the club! Seems they are the only hook mfgr. that produces octopus circle hooks! I do a lot of live bait fishing, and find that these hooks really increase the survival potential of fish that I release. It seems that lip hooked fish fare better after release. Tom
Fishin' fool in N.E. Illinois

             Turnip, thanks for posting this thread.
              I bought some spoons after reading this thread when it first was posted.One day fishing it got windy and nothig seem to be working so I thought I would try one of the spoons.Low and behold , BAM BAM BAM 3 almost in a row made my misserable day pretty good.
Old-fart Catfisher

http://www.olepetestackle.com/olepe...slarge.htm Check out this website for some idea''s Pete.
Lifemember and Bushwacker SMF upstate NY

Old-Fart, I am glad that I have inspired you to use your spoons...Ya know, that is probably one bait that has been shoved to the back of many folks tackle boxes.  Especially if you are strickly a caster!  There are many good manufacturers out there and there is an unlimited number of patterns to make yourself!  Best of luck to you!

 

Hey Frank, nice link!   It sure fires up the imagination!!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

I made these up based on the performance of the ones I made for 2009.

 

 

These will get tested on lake Seneca (NY) & Harvey's lake (PA) in 2010.

FYI, there was a discussion on another thread about using clear lacquer to help hold the tape on the spoon...Well I have discovered that if you put a little fingernail polish on the area that is coming loose it will hold without damage to the tape.  Thanks davesett2000 for the tip!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Turnip: Most fingernail polish is just that-lacquer, and fingernail polish remover works great for cleanup. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

___ LIFE DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN A STRINGER OF EATER WALLEYES AND GREAT FRIENDS. L/M NAFC, L/M NAHC, L/M B.A.S.S. LARKSVILLE, PA

Great job Pete. I'm still waiting for turnip spoons inc.

Turnip, your latest batch kind of looks like some Rainbow Trout. Might be good on some lunker bass in California.

Here's a link that might shed a little light on things.

 

http://www.educatedangler.com/index...amp;id=921

 

Nice Frank!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

I never saw this thread until now. Pete that is an impressive array of spoons! We usually use J-13 Firetiger Rapala's for trolling for lake trout and salmon but I'm certainly going to look to purchase a few spoons in the color patterns you've displayed. Nice work and keep posting them 'cause I'm certainly interested!

Wayne: I fish SW Lk Mich. for salmon and the occasional trout. The past 2 seasons 75% of our fish have come on spoons. In the 3 previous years it was more like 20%, if that! I fully expect it to swing back to a dodger/fly bite but don't know when. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

That's good to know Tom. We usually don't experiment much when we think we've found something that works...but that's not a great policy, is it? We fish Lake Superior and the Nipigon River and this summer and fall I can see us experimenting with spoons more often

Wayne: we are allowed 3 lines per fisherman on the lake, and in Il we can run a slider but not in Wi. We usually set up 60/40 with the hot pattern getting the 60. We gradually swithch over to what is working best but always have out one experimental rig. Seems to work for us. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Sounds like a good pattern, Tom. We can run as many lines as we have people in the boat. Only in the winter can we set two lines. I'm looking forward to testing those new spoons!

With only one line per angler that makes it hard to experiment. On a "normal" day on my buddy's boat we have 3 or 4 aboard which allows us 9-12 lines. A normal spread for us would be 3 downriggers, 2 planer board(inline) rigs and 4 Dipseys. Gives us plenty of room for experimentation. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Boy-o-boy, that would be an information overload for me!  LOL!  You would have to have a good sized boat to keep from running into each other...LOL!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

The boat is a '75 Trojan 30 Hardtop w/twin 233 mercruisers (inboard, not I/O) 10'beam. I made up a dry mark board to keep track of what is where. It is actually easier with just 2 of us aboard until we get a double. You can't stop or you tangle something awful and the fish are normally too large to swing so someone has to net. Fortunately we have Otto to do the driving in a pinch. I'm sure you've heard of him, he is on a lot of larger boats. (last name Pilot). My bud may be moving to Iowa due to employment and in that case would sell the boat. Wish I could afford it. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

...............maybe cut out the green on the scallope tape that would give more room for the pearl scale to show up !!!!! and add to the design !!!!!

That will be an extra $2.50 Ed! Minimum order a dozen.

Ok Ed, I hear ya.  The problem is I can't find any more of that tape!  It must have been a short run of that pattern...If I can find the tape I'll make some up.

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

The tape I used is an orange & green scalloped (with some kind of sparkly stuff on top) over top the chartrouse...I guess we could try different types of orange...I used your link and I didn't see anything that even came close.

 

So, if I understand you correctly, use a spoon that is half black & white with orange strips down each side with the pearl down the middle?  Or would the spoon be all black and then the tape over-lay?  This is some kind of a test...I just know it!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Ok, I see it...Let my play with the idea a little...Think about it...

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

If I would do it again I would make that strip down the middle smaller and put it on last.

Instead of running the red strip all the way to the nose, how about a red gill slit behind the eye and then the red tape line the rest of the way back?

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

I received an email from Ed today.  A fella was looking for silver spoon blanks so he could make a lure.  He proceeded to discribe it and this is how it turned out...

 

 

The pic didn't turn out so good...There is a thin black line across the top edge of the spoon.  The instructions were for the black strip to be 1/8" wide, but I made it a little wider.  So, what ya think Ed?

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Looks good Pete , nice job........as always.

I've noticed that a nickle finish seems to look black in the posts, or is it just me? Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

Hey Pete will any of theses colors work?

___ LIFE DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN A STRINGER OF EATER WALLEYES AND GREAT FRIENDS. L/M NAFC, L/M NAHC, L/M B.A.S.S. LARKSVILLE, PA

In this first pic the orange/green is EXACTLY what I need!

 

And these next two also!

 

 

These I can cut like Ed wants me to try...I can't find that color any where!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

 

 

You are correct, Tom!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

This next spoon is also nickle plated.  It is 2 1/4" long (not counting the hook).  I put the same black paint across the top and added a red holographic eye instead of yellow.  I am not sure that this may be a little small for us, Ed?  What do you think Howard?

 

 

That little "S" in front of the eye is a piece of dirt!  The black strip is running across the bottom in this pic (I had the spoon upside down)!  The hook is a size 4.

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Some how you have to find away to mark these spoons, so that they can be idenified as turnip spoons.

Interesting thought, since you do have fans!!!!

Posted By wellsley on 20 Dec 2010 05:37 PM
Some how you have to find away to mark these spoons, so that they can be idenified as turnip spoons.

Wellsley: Thinkin Pete needs to come up with a small Turnip Emblem to put on each spoon as a signature!

I agree retired psg