BEMIDJI, MN – Tungsten is arguably the hottest topic in fishing. You’ve read about the benefits of the environmentally-friendly metal’s advantage to the angler. To review, it’s denser than lead, yielding smaller jigs and spoons of equivalent weight. Its hardness better transmits ‘feel’ than lead. And it falls significantly faster.

So, how do you get tungsten to fall even faster? Get it in shape. You know, leaner. Such is the case with Northland’s new Tungsten Slim Spoon.

BRO SLIMS DOWN

“The slim design gets it down to the bottom fast when I see fish on the screen,” said Northland pro and trusted guide, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, who put the Tungsten Slim Spoon through the paces last winter. “When jumbo perch, slab crappies, and even trout swim through, you only have seconds to get your lure in front of them.”

“You can get a physically smaller bait down as fast as a big one. That’s important when fishing for panfish, perch, or walleyes that aren’t so into full course meals.”

TUMBLE, DANCE, AND FLICKER

Once reaching the lake floor, the Tungsten Slim Spoon’s unique feature-set results in a deadly dance. Its flat sides and angular head imbue a tumbling action on a freefall once jigging gets underway. An added flicker blade at the base of the body adds further temptation and is ideal for shimmying to turn lookers into a biters.

And about that flicker blade? “The flicker blade is a genius way to give fish a focal point right at the hook,” said Bro. “It also entices fish to bite during cold fronts. Just shake the rod and the flicker blade produces a modest but tempting action.”

METHODOLOGY

Bro’s standard jigging sequence with the Tungsten Slim Spoon goes like this: Set it off on a freefall to the bottom. Tighten your line to see if something slurped it up on the drop. If not, pound it off the bottom with short but vigorous strokes. The pounding kicks up bottom sediments, be they sand, gravel, marl, or mud. Raise the spoon a few inches off the bottom, above the cloud of debris, and pump the bait. And then watch for the screen to light up.

Bro also employs the Tungsten Slim Spoon to play a search role. “Because of its accelerated drop rate, I can quickly move from hole to hole to target the hottest fish.”

Although the Tungsten Slim Spoon is fishable in virtually every depth, Bro has favored situations. “It’s very effective in deep, soft-bottom basins, like in depths of 20- to 50-feet,” he said. Moreover, it’s also a top pick for shallow water walleyes, where Bro actively pounds the spoon off the bottom, especially over rocks or gravel.

TIPS ON COLOR SELECTION

“I always carry Gold and Silver, no matter where I’m fishing,” said Bro about the timeless appeal of the natural metallics. Bro goes to the extreme end of the color spectrum and chooses the inflammatory Sneeze pattern in clear water. He also likes Super-Glo Red Gold, Blue Racecar, and Super-Glo Wonderbread in clearer conditions.

When the water color is between green tea and Colombian supreme, the hardwater veteran prefers the bombastic UV Glo Perch, UV Pink Tiger, and UV Electric Perch. Northland’s UV treatment lets the spoon’s coloration bloom even in darker water, as even the slightest amount of light penetration is maximized.

BAIT OR NO BAIT…THAT IS THE QUESTION

Bro is a carnivore, just like the fish he pursues. “I always add some meat,” he said with zero hesitation. “If I’m fishing walleyes, perch, or bigger, aggressive crappies, it’s a minnow head.” Although any old head will do, he treasures premium shiners.

For panfish in general, or perch that aren’t so into minnows, he gets grubby. “Two to three waxworms work, as will a half dozen maggots.” In the best of all possible worlds, Bro totes a medley of maggot colors – reds, yellows, greens, and natural. (NOTE: Outfits like Vado’s Bait Express ship colored maggots in bulk.)

OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES

·Fatally sharp, blood-red treble hook

·Signature red “T” eyeball

·Northland’s pure tungsten promise

·Super-Glo phosphorescent treatment on glowing models

COLORS AND SIZES

·COLORS: Silver Perch, Gold, UV Glo Perch, UV Glo Pink Tiger, UV Glo Electric Perch, Super-Glo Wonderbread, Purple Racecar, Super-Glo Purple Wonder, Blue Racecar, Super-Glo Sneeze, Golden Perch, and Super-Glo Red Gold

·SIZES: 1/8 (#14 hook), ¼ (#12), and 3/8 (#10)

MSRP $8.99

ABOUT Northland® Fishing Tackle

In 1975, a young Northwoods fishing guide named John Peterson started pouring jigs and tying tackle for his clients in a small remote cabin in northern Minnesota. The lures were innovative, made with high quality components, and most importantly, were catching fish when no other baits were working! Word spread like wildfire, the phone started ringing… and the Northland Fishing Tackle® brand was in hot demand! For 40 years now, John and the Northland® team have been designing, testing and perfecting an exclusive line of products that catch fish like no other brand on the market today. Manufactured in the heart of Minnesota's finest fishing waters, Northland® is one of the country's leading producers of premium quality jigs, live bait rigs, spinnerbaits and spoons for crappies, bluegills, perch, walleyes, bass, trout, northern pike and muskies.

ABOUT Bagley Bait Company

The personality of any company comes from its founder. Jim Bagley was an inventive, fun-loving, passionate fisherman who became one the most respected legends in the fishing tackle industry. In late 2010, Jarmo Rapala and a group of investors bought Bagley Bait Company. As an admirer of Jim Bagley for his attention to quality and of his product ingenuity and innovation, Jarmo initiated significant changes in operations, enhanced production processes and quality control. Now in 2020, Northland® Fishing Tackle, along with Jarmo as its Chief Lure Designer, maintain the legacy of creating premium balsa crankbaits and topwater lures, as well as jigs and spoons for both freshwater and saltwater anglers.