Guide for Forest Trout Casting Spoons by Shape, Speed, & Water Type

Guide to Forest Trout Casting Spoons by Shape, Speed, & Water Type

Choosing the right spoon is key to trout fishing success. Forest spoons are known for their performance and versatility, making them a favorite for stocked and wild trout fishing. Here’s a refined guide to their Area and Native models, with tips for different water conditions.

Area vs. Native Spoons

• Area Spoons: Designed for controlled environments like stocked lakes and ponds. They are ideal for subtle action and finesse in slow or still water.
• Native Spoons: Built for wild trout in streams, rivers, and natural lakes, handling currents and mimicking natural prey.
  

Note:

The MIU Series (1.4g - 8g) spans both Area and Native categories and is designed for every possible environment where you would fish trout. It includes variations with a thicker material to adapt to different conditions. The 1.4g vs. 1.5g and 3.5g vs. 4.2g spoons are the same design, with the thicker versions offering more weight for deeper or faster water. Heavier MIU spoons cast farther and perform better in strong currents and deeper water, making them ideal for the MIU Native Series. The lighter weights excel as finesse options, perfect for controlled presentations in still or slow-moving water, as seen in the MIU Area series.

In addition, the thick-plated 1.5g and 4.2g can also perform well in still water if you need a farther cast, a deeper presentation, or a faster retrieval. The options overlap to create small changes and techniques, allowing anglers to cover all fishing environments effectively. By mastering the MIU spoon, you can outperform other anglers in almost any condition, adapting to both finesse and dynamic fishing techniques with precision.

Area Models

MIU (1.4g | 1.5g | 2.2g | 2.8g | 3.5g)

• Design: Slim, mid-weight, generates irregular movements.
• Best Use: Middle to lower water column and for active trout with faster retrieves.

PAL

• Design: Broad body with a heavy wobble.
• Best Use: Lower water column, larger silhouette for higher appeal in murky conditions, ideal for less active and slightly pressured trout.
• Additional Note: Due to its wide shape, the PAL spoon creates more resistance during retrieval, maximizing the rod's sensitivity to bites.

Factor

• Design: Medium body combining MIU’s appeal with PAL’s stability.
• Best Use: The middle to lower water column is effective for inactive or pressured trout.

MARSHAL

• Design: Very slim, elongated, long-casting, with a crisscrossed flutter.
• Best Use: Use the upper to middle water column to vary your presentation during the retrieval by transitioning between moderate and slow retrieval speeds.
• Additional Note: Its adjusted buoyancy allows controlled, slower retrieves, unlike standard slim spoons. *
  

Native Models

MIU (2.8g | 3.5g | 4.2g | 5g | 7g | 8g)

• Design: Slim profile, tuned for strong currents and depth control, with irregular movements.
• Best Use: Streams with moderate currents or deeper pools.
  

MIU AWABI

• Design: Natural shell coating for added flash and realism.
• Best Use: Clear, shallow streams or rivers with moderate currents.
  
  

Shapes & Retrieve Speed Chart

Note:

• All models can be fished at different depths, with their action varying depending on rod positioning. Each model's reaction to rod positioning will vary to a certain degree. For example, lighter body models are generally more buoyant and, therefore, easier to maintain near the surface when retrieving with the rod tip pointing upwards.
• Sink rates differ by model and weight.
  
  

Water Type Chart

Note: where Still water depth is approximately 4m or 13 ft.

Which Spoon to Use?

Following the simple chart above, we know that when fishing in shallow, slow-moving water, you should opt for spoons with a light, fluttering action to entice trout without alarming them. Stable spoons work best in deeper, slow-moving water as they sink steadily to reach the fish. Choose spoons designed to maintain their movement and control in strong water flow for faster currents. In clear, shallow streams, spoons with extra flash are ideal for mimicking the natural shimmer of baitfish and attracting trout.

Final Thoughts

Keep it simple—match your spoon to the water conditions, experiment with retrieves, and enjoy the process. The charts above make picking the right spoon for the job easy, and more trout will follow.

See all of our Forest Spoons by clicking the button below:

Go to Part 3 of this series by clicking the button below: