Johnson SM11/8-GLD Spoons Review
Our verdict
The Johnson SM11/8-GLD spoon costs $5.99 and weighs 18.14 grams at 1-1/8 ounce, built with a treble hook in gold, and its 4.4 star rating across 191 reviews backed by 200+ bought last month makes it a solid value pick among Johnson and Berkley spoons priced within a dollar of each other.
Check price on AmazonBest for
Anglers who want a 1-1/8 ounce gold spoon with a treble hook at the lowest price in this Johnson and Berkley comparison, backed by 191 reviews and a steady 200+ bought last month.
Skip if
Skip it if a higher rating matters more than price, since the Johnson SM3/4-GLD sits at 4.6 stars and the Berkley SM1/2-GLD at 4.7 stars, both beating this spoon's 4.4 stars by a meaningful margin.
- Material Blend
- Weight 18.14 g
- Target Species Fish
- Technique Treble Hook
- Size 1-1/8-Ounce
- Color Gold
- Priced 38% below the category median ($9.64 across 14 tracked models)
Our scorecard
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Owner rating4.4/5
4.4 average across 191 owner ratings
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Popularity3.9/5
191 owner reviews, more than most models here
The overall score is owner satisfaction weighted by how many reviews back it, so a high rating from few reviews counts for less. The bars below show where this model stands against the other fishing gear and tackle we track in this category on price, popularity and size. Context, not marks against it, and our read of the data, not a lab test.
Overview
Picture casting into open water for schooling fish and wanting a spoon heavy enough to reach distance without wind drift pulling it off course. The Johnson SM11/8-GLD fits that need at 1-1/8 ounce, or 18.14 grams, priced at $5.99 and finished in gold with a treble hook setup.
Built from a blend material rather than pure metal, the spoon is listed under the bait feature category, and its weight puts it on the heavier end for casting long distances or working through wind. The treble hook is a standard setup for a wobbling spoon retrieve, giving multiple points of contact when a fish strikes the flash of the gold finish.
At $5.99, it undercuts the $6.12 Johnson SM3/4-GLD and Berkley SM1/2-GLD, and the $6.99 Johnson SM3/4-SLVR, making it the cheapest of the four spoons in this comparison. That savings comes with a tradeoff in rating, since its 4.4 stars across 191 reviews trails the SM3/4-GLD's 4.6 stars on 426 reviews, the Berkley's 4.7 stars on 393 reviews, and the SM3/4-SLVR's 4.6 stars on 486 reviews. Its 200+ bought last month sits mid pack too, ahead of the Berkley's 100+ but behind the SM3/4-GLD's 400+ and the SM3/4-SLVR's 500+.
Pros
- Priced at $5.99, the cheapest of the four Johnson and Berkley spoons in this comparison.
- Weighs 18.14 grams at 1-1/8 ounce, on the heavier end for long casts against wind.
- Treble hook setup gives multiple points of contact on a strike.
- 191 reviews at 4.4 stars is a substantial sample size for gauging consistency.
- 200+ bought last month shows solid ongoing demand, ahead of the Berkley SM1/2-GLD's 100+.
- Gold finish and blend material construction match the bait feature category listing for flash and durability.
Cons
- 4.4 star rating trails all three comparison spoons, which sit at 4.6 to 4.7 stars.
- 200+ bought last month is behind the Johnson SM3/4-GLD's 400+ and the Johnson SM3/4-SLVR's 500+.
- Only offered in gold here, versus the silver finish available on the Johnson SM3/4-SLVR.
- At 1-1/8 ounce, it may be heavier than needed for lighter tackle setups suited to the 1/2 ounce Berkley.
- Treble hook exposure can mean more snag risk around cover compared to spear point designs.
Specifications
| Material | Blend |
|---|---|
| Weight | 18.14 g |
| Target Species | Fish |
| Technique | Treble Hook |
| Size | 1-1/8-Ounce |
| Color | Gold |
| Pieces | 1 |
| Feature | Bait |
Performance notes
At 18.14 grams, or 1-1/8 ounce, this spoon sits toward the heavier end of the four compared here, which typically means longer casts and less drift in wind or current compared to the 1/2 ounce Berkley SM1/2-GLD. The treble hook setup is built for solid hookups on the classic wobble and flash action a spoon produces as it is retrieved or trolled, giving three points of contact rather than the single spear point design used on the Johnson SM3/4-SLVR. Being listed as a blend material rather than a single metal type suggests a construction built to balance weight and flash without the cost of a solid metal body. The gold finish is a fixed choice here, unlike the SM3/4-SLVR's silver option, which matters for anglers who match spoon color to water clarity or light conditions. Overall, the weight and hook setup point to a spoon suited for active retrieves over finesse presentations.
What buyers say
A 4.4 star rating across 191 reviews is a healthy sample size, though it lands below the other three spoons in this comparison, all rated 4.6 to 4.7 stars. That gap suggests this particular spoon draws slightly more mixed feedback even with a comparable review volume. Its 200+ bought last month places it in the middle of the pack, well ahead of the Berkley SM1/2-GLD's 100+ but behind the Johnson SM3/4-GLD's 400+ and the Johnson SM3/4-SLVR's 500+. Taken together, the pattern points to a spoon with steady, established demand and a large enough review base to trust the rating, but one that buyers rate slightly less favorably than its closest Johnson and Berkley siblings at a similar price point.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does the Johnson SM11/8-GLD spoon weigh?
It weighs 18.14 grams, listed as a 1-1/8 ounce size, which is heavier than the 1/2 ounce Berkley SM1/2-GLD in this comparison. That extra weight generally helps with casting distance and holding up against wind or current on the retrieve.
How does the price compare to similar Johnson and Berkley spoons?
At $5.99, this spoon is the cheapest of the four in this comparison, undercutting the $6.12 Johnson SM3/4-GLD and Berkley SM1/2-GLD, and the $6.99 Johnson SM3/4-SLVR. The lower price comes with a slightly lower 4.4 star rating than those alternatives.
What hook setup does this spoon use?
It uses a treble hook, a common choice for spoons that rely on a wobbling, flashing retrieve to trigger strikes. This differs from the spear point setup listed on the Johnson SM3/4-SLVR, another spoon in this same comparison group at a similar price.