A learning experience

[Steenie]

During my spinning session I tried a number of different spoons and varying retrieve styles from long before sunrise without raising bites. A while after sunrise I switched to a Chase no 5 white-metal bullet spoon and went tight on my first cast. It turned out to be a feisty 41 cm fork length longfin kingfish on the other end of the line. I placed the fish in a deep rock pool to tag and release it later. Soon afterwards it was joined by a bigger 45 cm fork length buddy who also made the mistake of eating my Chase no 5 spoon. They are very strong and dirty fighters for their size and both dragged my braid over some foul reef structure during the fight. Fortunately the 3.5 m section of 35 lb (PE2.5) JDB braid leader, which I tie to the front of the thinner 20 lb (PE1.5) JDB casting braid via a FG knot, provided some protection and definitely saved me from being cut-off.
 
Whilst the two longfin kingfish were swimming around in the rock pool some natal snoek arrived on the scene. A really big snoek smashed the Chase no 5 right on the surface in a heart-stopping moment. Nothing beats a gamefish chasing a spoon down on the surface and then pouncing all over it. Land-based spinning for gamefish at its very best! Unfortunately it was only a brief encounter before the hook pulled. However, not long afterwards I hooked into another snoek with the Chase no 5 spoon on a different retrieve style. All was under control until a big wave washed the fish around a rock ledge that put the JDB braid leader through even more abuse. To make matters worse the 1.5 m section of Siglon fluorocarbon (0.66 mm diameter) leader at the front of the braid leader got badly snagged around a rock with the snoek lying on a ledge below me with the spoon in its mouth. With the next wave that broke over the fish the hook pulled, washing the snoek into a deep gulley. Fortunately the fish had enough and washed back up onto the rocks where I could casually go and pick the awaiting fish braai up – very lucky indeed!
 
The snoek went home, but the two longfin kingfish were tagged and released. From the deep rock pool I transferred them into a shallow pool for the tagging procedure and some quick photos. The gentle handling of fish during tagging, and also when taking photos, are of supreme importance!
 
The fish were biting far out but my Assassin Sierra heavy (1 – 2 oz) 11 foot spinning rod paired with a Shimano Twinpower 5000 reel spooled with good quality thin JDB braid allowed me to get into the strike zone of the fish. A while ago I converted the original guides on the Sierra to Fuji KR concept guides, which enables the effective use of braid leaders and optimises overall casting performance.
 
Contrary to some opinions that braid leaders reduce casting distance, I have found the opposite. The FG knot that I use to join the braid leader to the thinner casting braid travels silently and effortlessly through the KR concept guides. The braid leader protects the first few meters of casting braid, which removes the fear of snap-offs during casting from one’s mind. This in the long run improves casting rhythm/consistency, which benefits distance. I also find that the slight extra weight of the short braid leader travelling behind the lure stabilises the lure during flight, reducing lure tumbling and tail-wagging through the air, similar to the feather effect behind an arrow or a dart. With the lure doing less unwanted movements through the air (poorer aerodynamics) casting distance is increased. These individual elements add up to increase overall casting performance.

[Steenie]

Snoek action on Chase no 5 spoon.

[DownUnder]

Good job Steenie, always enjoy your informative posts

[colin]

  and   . wish I could follow you someday . I am sure I would learn a lot about .

[Steenie]

and   . wish I could follow you someday . I am sure I would learn a lot about .

Welcome to let me know when you are down here in Durban! Then we can do a session together.

[colin]

   Steenie  , hope I can take you up on the offer someday . 

[sardinella]

Nice write-up and some good fish, thanks Riekert

[GT]

Hi all


Theses  Chase Bullet spoons and other similar spoons don't come with a shiny finish . DoEs one have to shine them up before using ? If yes, how do you go about doing that


Thanks in advance

[REEFMAN]

Metal spoon shining... http://www.ultimateangling.co.za/index.php?topic=18727.0

[Steenie]

Lately I actually only use the back of a knife or scissors, nothing more! The last snoek and two longfin kingfish were caught that way.

[Steenie]

The new CID Sprat spoon is going to catch loads of fish.

Since testing this new spoon it is the second session where relatively “locked-jaw” fish still cannot resist it.

Last week I managed to catch 3 greenspot kingfish on the red-head one. Last week I also hooked, but unfortunately lost, a tigerfish in Swaziland on the red-head!

This morning I caught and released 7 shad on the sardine colour one. They were not interested in the red-head!

Cannot wait for these lures to hit the shelves and to try some of the other colour options like the pink-flash!

[Steenie]

Red-head sprat spoon

[Steenie]

Sardine colour

[Steenie]

Side by side

[stephanhavenga]

Will definitely have to add a couple to the tackle bag. Do they come standard with inline single hooks

[Clayton Kleynhans]

Exciting times Steenie, thanx for sharing.
Will definitely add to the tackle box and hopefully land a good couple of Yellowtail - especially those "locked-jaw" ones.
 

[Steenie]

Will definitely have to add a couple to the tackle bag. Do they come standard with inline single hooks

They weigh 30 g and come with treble hook. I use 3/0 Rockpoint inline hooks on them. Appears to work well!

[Steenie]

This queenfish was extremely feisty and treated me to some spectacular aerial acrobatics when I had it just behind the big shore-break meters from the side.

It ate the couta casting pink glow spoon on a very long cast towards a deep-lying sand bank. It smashed the spoon once on a fast retrieve near the surface and came back for a second attack during which it ate the spoon properly.

This is a good size specimen for local beaches here in Durban. I tagged and released it after the photo.

[Steenie]

Another view

[Steenie]

The new CID sprat spoon (1 oz - 90 mm) is finally on the shelves at Basil Manning branches.

I have been testing the sardine and red-head ones in the photo for a short while before release and they have accounted for 11 fish already. I have now purchased the pink-flash and pearl ones to expand the arsenal.

I have fitted them all with no 4 splitrings and a 3/0 Rockpoint inline hook.

These spoons are going to catch a lot of fish due to their great casting ability and powerful action. Slow to medium retrieves work great, but even at very fast retrieve they do not jump out of the water easily. So they are extremely versatile!