Spoon or spinner — which catches more steelhead?

Both work, but spoons cover deeper water and cast farther. Spinners are deadlier in slower, shallower runs. Most steelheaders carry both.

Best spoon for piers and harbors?

Krocodile in 1/2 to 3/4 oz casts the farthest. Kastmaster is also a long-distance pier spoon. Silver/blue or chartreuse are top colors.

Do I need a swivel for spoons?

Yes. Spoons spin slightly during the retrieve and will twist your line into a coiled mess without one. A small ball-bearing swivel 18 inches above the spoon solves it.

Best spoon color for muddy water?

Chartreuse, fire-tiger, or hot pink. High-vis painted spoons get bites in stain that natural finishes miss.

Lures · Updated April 2026

Best Spoons for Steelhead

Spoons get bites when nothing else does. The wobble-and-flash action covers water fast and triggers reaction strikes from steelhead holding deep or moving through. Little Cleo, Krocodile, and KO Wobbler in 1/4 to 1/2 oz are the proven sizes for Great Lakes tributaries. They cast like bullets, sink fast, and fish well from shore or from a wade.

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