Spoon Size Guide: Small, Medium or Magnum? Match the Hatch

The best trolling spoon size is the one that looks like what the fish are eating. That is the idea behind matching the hatch: baitfish grow all season, so your spoon should grow with them. King Crusher spoons come in three sizes, Small (8 cm), Medium (9.5 cm) and Magnum (11.5 cm). Here is when to run each one.

This guide is based on my own personal knowledge from fishing out of Port Dover, testimony from King Crusher customers, and feedback from our pro staff about what has worked for them. Your body of water may be different, so treat it as a starting point and adjust to what you see.

Small spoons (8 cm): spring until July 1

In spring the baitfish are small, so a Small spoon is the match. Run it for walleye from the start of the season until July 1. The Small is also a great fall and spring spoon for brown trout and rainbows cruising close to shore, and around the mouth of the Niagara River.

Medium spoons (9.5 cm): July 1 on, and fall staging salmon

By July 1 the baitfish have put on size, and the Medium takes over for walleye. It is also a great choice in the fall for salmon staging off the river mouths.

Magnum spoons (11.5 cm): salmon, all season

The Magnum is the all-season salmon spoon. Its bigger profile matches the larger baitfish salmon feed on, so it stays in the box rotation from spring right through fall.

The size guide in plain text

• Small, 8 cm: walleye in spring until July 1; browns and rainbows near shore and at the Niagara River mouth in spring and fall.

• Medium, 9.5 cm: walleye from July 1 on; staging salmon in the fall.

• Magnum, 11.5 cm: salmon, all season long.

Spoon size FAQ

What size spoon should I use for walleye?

Run a Small (8 cm) spoon in spring until July 1, then switch to a Medium (9.5 cm) spoon from July 1 on, to match the growing baitfish.

What size spoon is best for salmon?

A Magnum (11.5 cm) spoon works all season for salmon, and a Medium (9.5 cm) spoon is great in the fall for staging salmon.

What size spoon should I use for brown trout and rainbow trout?

A Small (8 cm) spoon is great in spring and fall for brown trout and rainbows close to shore and at the Niagara River mouth.

Your body of water may be different

These dates and sizes come from my own experience, from what customers have told us they are catching, and from our pro staff. Every lake and river has its own baitfish, water temperature and timing, so the switch dates may land earlier or later where you fish. Water temperature and the baitfish you actually see matter more than the calendar. If the bait is bigger or smaller than the guide suggests, go with the bait.

For more on running spoons, read How to Catch Walleye Trolling Spoons and Best Walleye Lures for Trolling Lake Erie. Ready to stock the box? Check out the Green Frog walleye spoon or browse all of our walleye spoons.