Bass Pro Shops® Wind Rider Spoon

The Wind Rider from Bass Pro Shops is a solid brass casting spoon available in three sizes (1/8 oz., 1/4 oz., 1/2 oz.). More compact than most spoons of comparable weight, and armed with a single treble hook, the Wind Rider is well-balanced and casts incredibly long. Finished with a polished surface, five colors are offered: Chrome, Chrome/Blue bi-color, Firetiger, Rainbow Trout, and Gold.

First Impressions

I originally "threw" one of these into my cart while at Bass Pro Shops late last year, not thinking much of it at the time. I arbitrarily choose the Chrome/Blue bi-color in the 1/2 oz. size. In late April, after a frustrating wash-out of a Saturday morning, I grabbed it for the first time on a hunch and a desperate attempt to catch something. My first cast went at least 60 yards...maybe further! I was using a new rod, reel and tackle set-up (review coming), so at first I wasn't sure how much it was the lure and how much it was the set-up. One thing I did figure out quickly, was that I could cover water like never before. Consequently, I took a limit (all safely released) with a 2 to 3 pound average over the next two hours.  That evening I was online at BassProShops.com, buying three of each color option!

Fishing the Lure

Fishing metal spoons have strong pros and cons. The pros: you can cover a lot of water, fish a wide variety of open water habitats including deep-water trolling, and the lure will attract a large number of species. The cons: they are prone to snagging underwater cover such as stumps, impossible to fish in areas of heavy vegetation, and you'll no doubt lose a couple to line fray. Overall however, when it comes to open water fishing, it's hard to find a more effective and diverse lure.

The spoon's success in fishing lore is in its simplicity. The Wind Rider uses a compact, offset body design that allows for a subtle rhythmic swimming motion on the retrieve. You can also jig the spoon, causing a fluttering drop on the pause like a dying, spastic shad. One of the most effective retrieves I have found is a simple steady crank, with an occasional pull and pause, causing a 2-3 ft darting motion, followed by a flop during the pause.

Another great aspect of this lure is that the Wind Rider truly lives up to its name and seems to cast even longer when throwing into the wind! The body shape is a small, tight oval that seems to glide through the air effortlessly. One of my theories is that you need to be in the wind to win, meaning that a heavy wind in your face will push bait and other deeper fish up onto the flats in your direction. Basically you want to be on the downwind shore of the lake, wind in your face. The Wind Rider helped prove this theory and a 50 yard cast is not uncommon, even into a brisk wind.

Review Summary

Like any other spoon, the Wind Rider from Bass Pro Shops has its limitations: you can't throw it in heavy cover and you can't throw it into the Hydrilla or lillys.  However, outside those areas there may not be a more effective lure in existence when you consider the amount of water you can cover and the fact the virtually any species will hit it. If you are fishing or trolling any open water, you cannot go wrong with a spoon. Other than the peak growth months on June-July, I find that you can fish the Wind Rider even in mild vegetation with a little practice. For our review, we give it high ratings in all categories although we have to knock it for versatility for the reasons listed above. As for value, at $2.99 for the 1/2 oz. size and sometimes on sale for $1.99 (I'll try to let you know when), it rocks and I personally suggest this lure. My favorite color is the Chrome / Blue Bi-color, but I carry several in every color whenever I'm going to open water. Outstanding and recommended.