Rinse, dry, and store so the phosphor finish lasts 8 seasons instead of two.
Rinse with fresh water after every trip
Even on a freshwater lake, your spoon picks up minerals, algae, and microorganisms that will dull the finish if left to dry on the lure. Rinse under tap water for 10 seconds per spoon at the end of every trip. Don't scrub — the ceramic clear coat is hard but the finish underneath is harder to repair if scratched.
Dry fully before storing
Pat dry with a microfiber cloth, then let the spoon air-dry on a paper towel for 30 minutes. Storing a damp spoon in a closed tackle box rusts the hooks AND grows mildew under the paint edge where moisture pools.
Store flat, never stacked
Hand-painted spoons should not touch each other in storage. The brass body is softer than the ceramic coat protecting your neighbor's spoon — they will scratch each other within a season if jostled. Use a tackle organizer with individual compartments, OR slip each spoon into the original poly bag it shipped in.
Touch up the snap-swivel split ring
Saltwater-rated snap swivels rust slower than freshwater versions but they still rust. Once a season, swap the snap-swivel for a fresh one. Cheap insurance against losing a $24 spoon to a popped swivel.
Stampede Glow
Hand-painted glow spoon tested by Brent Kowalski on Stampede Reservoir, CA. Built for kokanee, rainbow trout.
