Mastering Forest Spoons: A Simplified Guide for Trout Fishing Enthusiasts
When choosing the world's best casting spoons for trout fishing, your #1 choice is Forest. In Japan, the spoon is considered the most versatile lure. It can be used in still and flowing water environments, cover the entire water column, and use a simple retrieve and rod action.
Understanding Area & Native Spoons
Area Spoon
Forest Area Spoons are Japan's #1 selling brand, designed for shallow ponds, lakes, and slow-moving water. While they perform best up to 4 meters (about 13 ft) with standard shore or wading setups, some models can be fished at 20–30m depths using specialized techniques. Different models have varying buoyancy, affecting how quickly they reach depth.
Native Spoons
For deeper lakes, reservoirs, and faster currents, Forest Native Spoons are a better choice.
They are designed to handle stronger water movement while maintaining an attractive action.
Pro Tip: While each spoon type is designed for specific environments and conditions, both can be used interchangeably depending on the technique.
Ready to start fishing?
Fundamental Technique: Simple Yet Effective
The key to success with Forest Spoons lies in consistent side-to-side movement. Follow these steps:
● Cast the spoon to the desired spot.
● Let it sink to the appropriate depth.
● Retrieve at the right speed.
Dialing in Your Retrieval Speed:
- If the spoon rotates like a spinner or is erratic, your retrieve speed is too fast.
- If the spoonʼs movement is unstable or inconsistent or sinks below the desired level in the water column, your retrieve speed is too slow.
- Just right: A smooth wobbling action that stays in the strike zone.
Retrieval Technique: The most effective technique is often a slow, steady retrieve. You can start by turning the reel one complete turn each second and adjust to attract bites.
If that is not creating bites, please see our section below on Expert Techniques.
Basic Tackle Setup
For spoons weighing less than 4g or micro spoons (1.2g and lighter ), here’s the ideal setup:
● Rod: 4'5" to 6'2", UL or L power.
● Line: 2lb to 3lb nylon. A leader to braid works as well.
● Reel: 1000 to 2000 spinning reels and ultralight BFS casting reels.
Note: Use a snap instead of a split ring for easier lure changes and better action. Avoid tying the line directly to the spoon, as this can reduce movement and cause abrasion at the knot.
Rod Positioning: Precision Matters
Your rod angle determines the spoon’s retrieve path through the water.
- When retrieving, keeping the rod parallel to the water creates a smooth, slightly upward-curving path for the lure
- Holding the tip below the surface results in a more level, horizontal retrieve.
- Meanwhile, raising the tip upwards brings the lure closer to the surface, which is ideal for near-surface retrievals.
Examples:
Parallel to Water: Gently curved upward path.
Tip Below Surface: Flat, horizontal path.
Tip Upwards: Near-surface retrieval.
Adjusting your rod angle while retrieving can significantly impact the action of your lure, helping you better match trout behavior and varying water conditions.
Choosing the Right Spoon Color
Selecting the right color is crucial for success. In Japan, unless the angler prefers to start with a specific approach, Forest suggests beginning with the MIU 2.2g color #1. Work across the color range from color #1 to #14. The reason for this method is to eliminate randomness so that the angler can monitor progress. As the angler matures with the different models, they can formulate strategies according to the various environments & conditions.
Color Chart Forest MIU Area 2.2g Explained
The color chart provides a clear progression to match trout activity levels. Follow the suggested approach to experiment and observe results. Let's assume when we start fishing for the day that trout have high activity; that is why we will begin with and progress down through the examples below:
● High Activity (Aggressive Fish): Bright, vibrant colors (e.g., #1, #2, #3, and #4) are ideal for active, aggressive trout.
● Moderate to Low Activity (Pressured or Less Interested Fish): Transition to more natural and subdued colors like browns, olives, or muted reds (#9 through #14).
● Glow Colors: Utilize glow options (#15, #16) in murky water or during low-light conditions for better visibility and attraction.
Pro Tip: If you are not getting bites (or chases). You can downsize/upsize. Generally, we suggest downsizing if your target area remains the same, but if you want to go deeper and further, we recommend upsizing or change to a different model (e.g., MIU -> PAL -> Factor).
Using this straightforward system, you can adjust your approach by working through colors #1 to #14, ensuring you find the ideal color trout will bite under the prevailing conditions, such as water temperature, weather, pressure, and water clarity. The color chart guides each change, helping you make effective adjustments to match any condition.
Note: If you don’t want to purchase each color, buy a few from each color range and purchase more colors as you go along (or buy only odd colors). As you become more experienced, experiment progressively with the color range and adapt based on the trout's responsiveness. This systematic approach helps refine your strategy for better results.
Forest Spoons: Models & Best Uses
Forest spoons come in various models tailored for specific conditions and skill levels (this is our current selection):
1. MIU (Beginner to Expert): Ideal for high trout activity. Perfect spoons to start your day and gauge the conditions you will be fishing. Again, start with MIU 2.2g in color #1 and work your way up the numbers.
2. PAL (All-Rounder): Stable movement at varying speeds, making it perfect for beginners. Additionally, PAL has a larger silhouette than MIU (1.6g vs 1.4g, 2.5g vs 2.2g, 3.8g vs 2.8g). This larger profile makes PAL more effective in murky conditions, as it presents better to trout.
3. Factor: An excellent alternative for pressured trout, balancing MIU and PAL. Micro spoon versions (0.9g & 1.2g) are available for ultra-slow finesse presentations.
4. MARSHAL: This model stands out with its ability to adjust swim pitch based on retrieve speed— slightly faster retrieves create a higher pitch, while slightly slower retrieves result in a lower pitch. Its slim design improves casting distance, while the MARSHAL’S enhanced buoyancy sets it apart from most slim models, making it ideal for an optimal medium-to-slow retrieve.
5. MIU Native: Designed with a slim profile, the MIU Native is tuned for strong currents and depth control, featuring irregular movements that trigger strikes. Its versatile weight range allows for precise adjustments based on water conditions, making it highly effective in streams with moderate currents or deeper pools.
As with the MIU Area 2.2g, simply start with color #1 and work up the range on the PAL, Factor, and MARSHAL. Keep it simple.
Note: We start with the MIU model for multiple reasons:
1. Is that it can be used in still and flowing water due to its wide weight range (1.4g - 8g).
2. The MIU spoon stands out for its unique ability to randomly generate irregular movements that trout find irresistible. Its swim mimics a tail-wagging, wobbling roll, occasionally stopping or diverting aggressively in response to water resistance. The MIU is designed to react to moments of zero or high resistance created by small changes in water flow, triggering strikes. This innovative design and simple retrieval have made the MIU a favorite among anglers.
Expert Techniques
To truly master Forest Spoons, experiment with these advanced strategies:
● Bottom Tactics: Use heavier spoons with techniques like Dragging & Bottom Bumping (Bottom Bump involves casting and allowing the spoon to sink to the bottom. While holding the rod parallel to the water surface or pointing upwards, flick the rod tip, promptly return to the original rod position, and retrieve. This will lift the spoon, which will fall back to the bottom. Repeat. You can also vary the flicking tempo).
● Adjusting Depth: Modify rod angle or retrieve speed to explore the water column.
● Ultra-Slow Retrieval: Effective for highly pressured trout.
Final Tips
● Keep your retrieve speed consistent to maintain proper spoon movement. Start with one rotation of your reel per second and adjust from there.
● Use heavier spoons for deeper waters and lighter ones near the surface.
● Always experiment—your unique strategy can yield unexpected results.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to trout fishing, Forest Spoons like the MIU, PAL, Factor, and MARSHAL offer unmatched versatility and reliability. Grab a rod, pick your spoon, and confidently hit the water! Forest Spoons are the #1 selling Japanese brand for a reason, and the system is easy to learn!
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