The steelie type spoons are good too, 1/4 oz size are not a spoon that I use much at all but they will have there time and place. I use 2/5oz bc's most of the time and 2/3oz if needed. I like longer and softer rods for spoon fishing, I like to feel the whole rod thump when I'm swinging the spoon. When spoon fishing all you want to feel is the thump, if you can't feel the thump then reel in slowly till you do feel it, if you are getting a constant pull on the rod and no thump you need to pay out line to make the spoon thump instead of spinning.

A good rod to start with would be in the 9'6"-10'6" Lenth And around 8-12 or 8-15lb range.

If your spoon is banging bottom all the time your not fishing, on the other hand if you fish a spoon too high in the water your not fishing then either. It takes some time to learn what your spoon is doing under water, but just keep tossing it and when you do get hit you will know it!!!