Heavy spoons require long, stiff baitcasting rods, fast reels and heavy lines. Mark Rose opts for a 7-foot, 11-inch, heavy action G. Loomis and 20-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon.

“That long rod is great for making long casts and taking up slack line when a bass strikes,” he says. “I don’t feel comfortable with anything less than 20-pound line. I’ve snapped 15-pound test setting the hook on a spoon. Giant bass bite this bait.”

J.T. Kenny slings structure spoons a 7-foot, 6-inch, medium-action G. Loomis matched with a high-speed Abu Garcia Revo reel—also spooled with 20-pound fluoro.

A heavy-action 7-foot, 6-inch, All Pro rod with 15- to 17-pound Lake Fork Fluorohybrid line gets the nod when Dianna Clark casts a structure spoon

“You can cast a spoon a mile to schooling bass with that setup,” she says. “My 7:1 gear ratio Ardent reel helps me hammer bass fast when they bite.”