Spoons also work for fishing the shallows and near snaggy cover. “You can use spoons to catch walleyes in a variety of conditions and situations,” Christensen says. “I prefer using spoons over sandy bottoms, sandy points, or clean bottom areas where I don't have to put up with snags. Most anglers, including me, avoid fishing spoons around snaggy cover, and for good reason. You get snagged. But if I know fish are holding in the weeds, it's worth putting up with the snags.

“I typically work only the weededge, trying to catch active walleyes relating to the edge, not the fish buried in the weeds. Weedpoints, pockets, or cups along the weededge are key spots. I simply cast to the weededge and start snap jigging the spoon over the weeds, visualizing the spoon darting up and away, then letting it fall backwards. When you first get started, you'll probably snag frequently, but eventually it seems you get a feel for where your spoon is in relationship to the weededge, weed tops, and where you need to keep the spoon positioned. It's a timing thing. A feel for what the bait is doing in relationship to the bottom or cover. Snap it all the way back to the boat, then vertically jig it for a little while to catch any walleyes that followed the bait.

“A lighter spoon allows anglers to effectively fish snaggy cover. Light spoons don't fall into the snag as fast, and you're better able to control the depth of the hook. Another trick is to use a thin-wire treble hook in order to pull the hook free from the snag. Lighter hooks, though, are somewhat problematic because heavy walleyes can straighten the hooks when horsed out of cover. I'm always conscious of using light-wire hooks; after I set the hook, I often use my electric trolling motor to position myself over the fish to fight and work it out of the cover and into the boat.

“Walleye anglers have always been leery of using wire leaders, but wire doesn't hinder strikes nor the action of spoons. Along weededges, I use a 4-inch fine-wire leader to prevent pike from swiping my bait. The short leader doesn't affect the action of my spoon, and I catch just as many walleyes.

“For heavy spoons, I use a baitcast rod and a reel spooled with 10- to 12-pound test. Heavy spoons are easier to cast with a baitcaster, plus it's something I've done for over 20 years. Unfortunately in the walleye world, most anglers don't use casting gear for casting crankbaits or spoons. But trying to manage a heavy spoon on spinning gear simply doesn't work well and tends to wear you out over the course of a day. Lighter spoons, like 1/8- to 1/4-ouncers, which are ideal for working the shallows and for fishing snaggy cover, are difficult to cast using a baitcaster,” he explains. “So I use a 6 1?2-foot medium-action spinning rod.”

Bladebaits and spoons aren't widely used, but the anglers who use them often use them just as frequently as they use any other bait. The action anglers create with the spoon triggers strikes. You have to make the spoon resemble the action of a struggling or dying baitfish -- that's it. After you get a feel for casting them or vertically jig metal baits, it seems many walleyes can't resist. Using metal baits is hard work, demands good boat control skills, and sometimes requires putting up with snags and pike bites, but they'll probably forever be great baits for walleyes. Teach yourself how to use them -- they're a real weapon.”