Very Tiny Spoons Head South

by Alan Luecke
(Kansas City, MO)

My wife and I and the tiny spoons are leaving for Isla Mujeres, Mexico next week. She's going to the beach, I'm going to the tide pools and reef rocks. In the past the Isome sand worms and Mummy Worms have been the answer in most situations but I'm hoping that a small shiny spoon churning in the foam will get some hits.

I recently located some thin stainless steel (Metal By The Foot) to add to the brass and copper I've been experimenting with. Since the spoons will be used on a tenkara rod there is no minimum weight requirement. The small spoon in the photo is next to a .4 gram Daiwa. It's about 10mm long with a size 12 wide eye hook. I've also made a number stainless spoons with the Daiwa as the pattern.

Over the last four years I've caught 16 species of fish in Isla Mujeres. I always think I'm about to get it figured out, but there is always a surprise. I can't wait to see what I don't know this year.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.

Seriously, all the hooks sold on TenkaraBum.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or incorporated into flies, are dangerously sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Be aware of your back cast so no one gets hooked.

Also, all the rods sold on TenkaraBum.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunder storm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!