How To Tie A Buttlöffel Rig or Flatfish Spoon Rig

by David Proudfoot

Buttlöffel Rig or Flatfish Spoon Rig

The Buttlöffel rig or flatfish spoon rig, as translated, is widely used in the Baltic Sea and around the coasts of Denmark and the Netherlands. Used from the boat and kayak, in shallower water, and shore it is a productive rig for flounder, plaice and turbot.

The spoon itself is a figure of eight shaped lure cast from lead. It has reversed concave and convex surfaces which both stir up the seabed and flutter on the drop when lifted. It is difficult to source in the UK but they are widely available online including from the Askari store. The spoons fish best when using the minimum weight required to maintain contact given the tidal movement and drift.

It is an ideal rig for covering ground while roving along the beach.

Flounder on a Buttlöffel Rig

Flounder on a Buttlöffel Rig

The version shown has a sliding two way bead dropper, similar to the Portland rig, which lifts and falls when fished sink and draw due to the buoyant bead.

Normal fixed droppers can also be used above the spoon either with two-way beads of trapped swivels.

Buttlöffel or Flatfish Spoon Rig Components

Main Body

1 x Medium Swivel

1 x 10-12mm Buoyant Bead

1 x Two-Way Bead

1 x Buttlöffel 30-90gm

1 x Length of PowerGum

Approx. 1 – 1.5 metre length 20-30lb BS rig body monofilament


2 x 450mm approx lengths 10-20lb BS snood

2 x 6 to 1 hooks

Buoyant Beads or other attractors

The Rig Body

  1. Tie the rig body line to the top of the buttlöffel, the top is the smaller of the two sides of the figure-8
  2. Thread on the buoyant bead followed by the two-way bead.
  3. Tie on the swivel to the top of the rig body.
  4. Using the Powergum tie two stop knots approximately 450mm apart. The bottom stop should be far enough from the buttlöffel to ensure that the top snood does not tangle.

The Snoods

  1. Tie the hooks to the snoods adding any attractors.
  2. Tie one snood to the swivel at the base of the buttlöffel.
  3. Thread and secure the second snood through the two-way bead.

Click on image for larger version

buttlöffel rig or flatfish spoon rig


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