Best Spoon Lures for Trout in Ireland (2026 Guide)
Best overall spoon lure for trout in Ireland: the Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit. Best for jack pike and all-round river work: the Abu Garcia 100 Year Edition Retro Spoon 3 Pack. Best budget pick for small stillwaters: a plain 3-5g brass or copper wobbling spoon fished slow and shallow.
- Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit wins for finicky trout in clear Irish rivers and lakes in 2026.
- Abu Garcia 100 Year Edition Retro Spoon 3 Pack is the all-rounder for trout and jack pike.
- Heavy 18-28g wobbling spoons cast furthest for bank pike anglers working big Irish loughs.
- Jigging spoons suit boat anglers working deep pike lies where a straight retrieve doesn't reach fish.
Why this matters
Spoon lures for trout have stayed in Irish tackle boxes for one reason: they work when spinners and soft plastics get ignored. A spoon's wobble mimics a dying baitfish at almost any retrieve speed, which matters on rivers running low and clear through summer 2026.
Pike anglers use the same shape at bigger sizes because the flash triggers a reaction strike even from fish that aren't actively feeding. If you already fish pike lures on Irish lakes, a couple of heavy spoons fill the gap when jerkbaits get refused.
What makes the best spoon lures for trout and pike
- Wobble at slow speed — the action has to hold together on a crawl retrieve, not just fast cranking
- Weight-to-size ratio — enough mass to cast into wind without looking oversized in the water
- Finish matched to water clarity — silver and gold for clear water, copper and black for stained water
- Sharp trebles out of the packet — soft factory hooks cost you fish on the first take
- Sink rate suited to the venue — slow sink for shallow rivers, faster sink for deep stillwaters
- Value across a multi-pack — losing one spoon to a snag shouldn't end the session
Spoon lures for trout and pike: at a glance
| Spoon | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit | Finicky trout in clear water | 10 spoons across two sizes with real silver and copper finishes | Small hooks pair only with light spinning tackle |
| Abu Garcia 100 Year Edition Retro Spoon 3 Pack | All-round trout rivers and jack pike | Classic heritage wobble action | Only 3 spoons per pack |
| Light brass/copper spoons (3-5g) | Small stillwater trout | Slow, tight flutter at walking pace | Struggles for distance in wind |
| Heavy wobbling spoons (18-28g) | Bank-caught pike | Long casts, strong flash pull | Too much lure for small rivers |
| Jigging spoons | Boat anglers, deep pike lies | Works vertically with no retrieve needed | Needs a boat or kayak and a sounder to find fish |
1. Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit: best spoon lure for trout in clear water
This is a 10-piece kit split across size 1c and 2c spoons, built with real silver and copper plating instead of painted finish. The small profile suits low, clear Irish rivers where trout get spooky in bright light through spring and early summer.
Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit pros:
- Two sizes cover most river trout conditions in one box
- Genuine metal finish holds flash better than painted spoons over a season
- 10 spoons per kit means losing one or two to snags doesn't end the trip
Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit cons:
- Sizes are small — not built for pike
- Needs light line and a soft-action rod to cast properly
Best for: clear-water river trout on light spinning gear. Verdict: Buy.
2. Abu Garcia 100 Year Edition Retro Spoon 3 Pack: best all-round spoon for trout and jack pike
Abu Garcia built this pack to mark 100 years since the company started in Svängsta, Sweden, in 1921, and the retro shape still fishes as well as it looks. The wobble is wider than the Savage Gear micro spoons, which pulls in jack pike as readily as it does bigger river and lake trout.
Abu Garcia 100 Year Edition Retro Spoon pros:
- Wide wobble works across both trout and jack pike
- Suits river and stillwater venues without changing retrieve style
- Compact enough to carry alongside other lure types in one wallet
Abu Garcia 100 Year Edition Retro Spoon cons:
- Only 3 spoons per pack — fewer spares than the Savage Gear kit
- Finish options are limited compared to a dedicated micro-spoon set
Best for: anglers who want one spoon that covers trout and jack pike without swapping gear. Verdict: Buy.
3. Light brass and copper spoons (3-5g): best spoon for small stillwater trout
A plain brass or copper spoon in the 3-5g range is still the standard opening lure on small stocked stillwaters across Ireland. The slow flutter at a walking-pace retrieve suits trout that are cruising rather than chasing fast-moving spinners.
Light brass/copper spoon pros:
- Cheapest way into spoon fishing for trout
- Slow retrieve suits pressured, wary stillwater fish
- Copper finish reads well in slightly coloured water
Light brass/copper spoon cons:
- Short casting range, especially into wind
- Action can wash out at fast retrieve speeds
Best for: small day-ticket stillwaters and beginner anglers learning spoon technique. Verdict: Buy for stillwater starters.
4. Heavy wobbling spoons (18-28g): best spoon for bank-caught pike
Step up to an 18-28g wobbling spoon once you're targeting pike rather than trout. The extra weight gets you across big Irish loughs from the bank, and the wider blade throws more flash and vibration than anything scaled for trout. Pair a heavy spoon with the tactics covered in our guide to trout and salmon spinning lures if you're switching species mid-session.
Heavy wobbling spoon pros:
- Long casting distance covers more water per session
- Strong flash triggers reaction strikes from inactive pike
- Durable build handles repeated contact with weed and gravel
Heavy wobbling spoon cons:
- Too big and heavy for small rivers or trout
- Tires out light spinning rods over a full day
Best for: bank anglers working large stillwaters for pike. Verdict: Buy for pike-specific sessions.
5. Jigging spoons: best spoon for boat anglers working deep water
Jigging spoons drop instead of pulling, which matters when pike or big trout are holding deep and won't chase a straight retrieve. Worked vertically off a boat or kayak, the spoon flutters on the drop and gets a second look on the lift.
Jigging spoon pros:
- Covers depth a straight retrieve can't reach
- Effective with minimal casting, good for tight boat swims
- Works well alongside a sounder to mark fish before dropping in
Jigging spoon cons:
- Needs a boat, kayak, or solid platform to fish properly
- Slower method — fewer casts per hour than bank spinning
Best for: boat and kayak anglers targeting deep pike lies. Verdict: Hold — only if you already fish from a boat.
How we ranked these spoons
Each spoon was scored against the six criteria above: wobble at slow speed, weight-to-size ratio, finish options, hook quality, sink rate, and pack value. The Savage Gear kit and Abu Garcia pack scored highest on hook sharpness and finish quality out of the packet, which is why they sit at the top for trout and jack pike respectively.
“A spoon that still wobbles on a slow crawl retrieve will out-fish a fast spinner on a low, clear Irish river almost every time.”
Which spoon lure should you choose?
If you're fishing rivers or small stillwaters for trout, start with the Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit — the size and finish match Irish water conditions through most of 2026's fishing season. If you want one spoon that covers trout and jack pike without switching tackle, the Abu Garcia 100 Year Edition Retro Spoon is the safer all-round buy. Pike specialists working big loughs from the bank should go straight to an 18-28g heavy wobbling spoon instead.
FAQ
What's the best spoon lure for trout in Ireland?
The Savage Gear Nails Micro Spoon Kit is the best spoon lure for trout in clear Irish rivers and small stillwaters in 2026, thanks to its real silver and copper finishes and slow-speed wobble.
Are spoons better than spinners for trout?
Spoons hold their wobble at slower retrieve speeds than most spinners, which makes them a better choice on low, clear rivers where trout are wary of fast-moving lures.
What size spoon works best for pike?
An 18-28g wobbling spoon casts far enough and pushes enough flash to draw strikes from pike on Irish loughs. Trout-sized spoons under 10g are too light for consistent pike results.
Do spoons work for pike in Irish lakes?
Yes, heavy wobbling spoons and jigging spoons both take pike on Irish lakes, particularly when fished with a slow, steady retrieve or vertically over deep lies.
What colour spoon works best in stained water?
Copper and black finishes read better than silver in stained or coloured water because they hold more contrast in low light.
How do you retrieve a spoon lure for trout?
A slow, steady retrieve with occasional pauses keeps a trout spoon wobbling without spinning out. Speeding up too much washes out the action on lighter spoons.
Can spoons be used in rivers as well as stillwaters?
Yes, light 3-5g spoons suit small stillwaters while slightly heavier spoons cast and sink well in river currents. Match the sink rate to the depth you're fishing.
What weight spoon gives the best casting distance?
For bank casting on open water, an 18-28g spoon gives the distance most anglers need, while anything under 10g is better suited to close-range stillwater work.
One last thing
Swap out factory trebles on any spoon that's had a season of hard fishing — a dulled hook point loses more takes than the wrong colour ever will. Carry both a copper and a silver finish in the same size; on an overcast Irish day the difference in strikes between the two can be the whole session.