Celebrating ice fishing spoons

As a kid, I was lucky to have my dad, grandpa, and family friends introduce me to fishing — an experience that quickly became my greatest passion. Early on, my dad was all about fishing for meat. Our fishing trips often targeted walleye and lake trout, and the goal was simple: bring home fish for dinner. We never stocked the freezer, but we always aimed to enjoy a fresh catch that night. My dad didn’t fuss over fancy tackle either. He stuck to the tried-and-true jig and minnow, both during open-water season and through the ice — a method he still relies on today. Spoons for ice fishing Growing up, I wanted to absorb every piece of fishing knowledge I could find, and fishing magazines were my gateway. My grandpa had several subscriptions and I always looked forward to flipping through these magazines. Back in the 1990s, many ice fishing stories focused on spoons as a versatile bait for a variety of species. Jigging spoons, with their many shapes and sizes, quickly caught my attention. Their sleek profile, ability to sink fast, and resemblance to wounded baitfish made them an excellent choice for ice fishing. My dad owned a couple of spoons, including an old Swedish Pimple and a Buzz Bomb. Once I found those, I made it my mission to catch my next walleye or trout using them. The idea of actively tricking a fish into biting seemed far more exciting to me than the usual jig and minnow. By the time I hit my teenage years in the late 1990s, spoons had become my go-to bait for the ice season. I used them almost exclusively for walleye, perch, and crappie, while mixing in soft plastics for lake trout and pike. Even when I started guiding, spoons were often the bait of choice for my guests. Around this time, I discovered the Northland Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon — a lead spoon with a built-in rattle chamber. It was the latest and greatest back then, featuring excellent colour options, and it delivered. Thousands of fish later, it’s still a staple in my tackle box. Today, while there are countless spoon options available, they all share a similar purpose. They sink quickly to deeper water, mimic a wounded baitfish, and excel at triggering strikes. Modern spoons cover the entire colour spectrum, with features like rattles, clanging components for subtle noise, and variations