Picked some up yesterday, I've watched some videos on how to fish them-just looking for any pointers. Looks like a cool way to fish, its supposed to work well in winter and get bit by bigger fish-I like all that. Always looking to try something new.

One question I have-do you always need for it to hit bottom before stroking it? What if fish are suspended and up in the water column?

2 major ways to fish them. Cast them out as far as you can and sweep them to the side and let it flutter down (suspended fish) and vertically. MOST fish them vertically, because it is easier. I put a swivel on them to keep line twists down. It is harder for some (me included) to fish them horizontally, as you use countdown method (or should) to get them to the suspended fish. Sometimes, suspended fish will follow the lure down, but sometimes not. Just depends on where the fish are located and their attitude. Fishing them horizontally takes more feel and skill than fishing them vertically. I do NOT let the lure fall all the was down, depends on where the fish are located. Hope this helps. OH, I fish the Joe Spaits spoons, too.

Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

^^^ good advice
Traditionally used in winter and summer when they are deep. Works particular well when bass are set up on in ambush position at a drop off
Agree with start by fishing it vertically (easier)
Watch your graph to see how the fish are reacting to it
In general, the colder the water, the shorter and slower your vertical jigs/jerks of the spoon
If the fish are on the bottom, let it fall on semi slack line to bottom initially, watch your line and graph (sometimes it never reaches the bottom (fish grabbed it on initial fall). If it hits bottom on initial cast, two reels of the handle, then start jigging it
For suspended fish, let it fall to just past their depth, if no bite on initial fall, two reels of handle, then start jigging

There are several other ways to work a spoon (strolling, drifting, trolling, horizontal long casts, etc), but the above methods are what I'd start out with.

The above is good advice. Only other thing I would add is get them in the boat fast and have a net ready because they will throw the lure easily if you let them jump and shake.

I love fishing with spoons but they can be VERY aggrevating, you will lose a couple...Sometimes some pigs!!! Another trick is to run a 2nd treble hook up the line before tying the spoon on the line. This treble will be free to run up and down the line but can actually bring a 2fer and its a 2nd chance to hook em if they are just playing with the spoon

Has a summertime slant, but here's a few tips from Kelly Jordon:

http://www.majorleaguefishing.com/news_details.aspx?id=17499

Hope you picked up more than a couple. They are very easy to lose.

I keep trying to learn how to fish a flutter spoon but I just get them hung up. Haven't caught a fish on one yet

On the newer finders. If you locate a school of known LM. you can jig in the the mid to the bottom of the school and load a boat on occasion. This is not an everyday item.

I have had better luck when fishing the flutter spoon deep in the summer by making a long cast and let it go to the bottom. If I don't get any hits as it is falling I will crank the reel fast about 4-5 complete turns then let it flutter back down to the bottom, then repeat that over and over back to the boat. That works better for me than jigging the spoon.

That's damn clever. Great tip.