What is spinning?
Spinning (Swedish “spinnfiske”) means casting an artificial lure with rod and reel and then retrieving it so the lure moves through the water and triggers a bite. It is an active method — you cover a lot of water and learn quickly where the fish are holding.
The technique forgives beginners and still rewards specialists. It is also the cheapest method to begin with: one rod, one reel, a spool of line and three different lures will cover most situations.
Tackle
For Swedish conditions a 2.1–2.7 m rod rated 10–30 g covers almost all freshwater fishing for perch, pike and zander. For salmon in fast water go longer and heavier; for sea fishing off rocks and jetties the rod gets shorter and stiffer.
A small fixed-spool reel (size 2500–4000) is the all-round choice. Line: 0.18–0.25 mm fluorocarbon or mono, or 0.10–0.17 mm braid with a fluorocarbon leader. A wire trace is compulsory when you fish for pike.
The classic lures
Spoons (Toby, Atom, Krokodill) — they sink steadily and can be worked through the whole water column. Deadly on trout, salmon, perch and pike.
Crankbaits — floating or sinking lures with a diving lip. Good for zander, pike and trout in lakes and rivers.
Jigs — a soft plastic body on a leadhead. The modern all-rounder; especially effective on zander and perch, and every bit as good on pike.
Spinners — a rotating blade. The classic for trout in running water and small perch in lakes.
When and where
Early morning and late evening are the best times in summer — the fish are active in shallower water then. In the middle of a summer day, work deeper ground or shaded margins.
In theory, autumn is spinning's best season. The fish are feeding up for winter, the water is cooling, and oxygen and activity are both at their peak. In winter you can still spin in running water that never ices over.
