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Fig. 56 shows how to use a knife blade to spread a split ring apart so that it can be forced into the hole on the spoon. Once you have the split ring started, just keep turning it until it snaps on completely. You can put two split rings on most spoons, one in front for the fishing line and the other in the back, to which a treble hook is attached. The treble hook can be plain or it can be wound with bucktail hair. Figure 56. Using knife blade to open split ring. Although spoons with metal finishes are the most popular you can paint them in various colors such as all white, all yellow, or red and white stripes if you want to do so. Usually only the convex side is painted, the concave side retaining the metal silver or nickel finish. You can also paint or spray the convex side with a natural fish-scale finish. For painting by hand with a brush, enamels are best. For spraying, use the quicker drying lacquers. Clear lacquer or varnish can also be sprayed on a metal finish to keep it from tarnishing. Although it doesn't pay to cut or stamp out your own fresh-water spoons, it's a different matter when we come to the larger salt-water spoons. These are more expensive and it often pays to make your own. Also, you cannot buy the larger metal spoon bodies already stamped out and plated, as you can the smaller fresh-water ones. So you either buy the finished spoon or make your own.
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