Spoonplugger4Life

Buck also said, U can be Spoonplugging w/out using Spoonplugs! Try & get a comment like that from any other lure manufacturer. The 9 Volume Home Study Guide is an expansion of the material in the book, Knowledge is the Key, is another of his great statements. So w/that in mind, his lures were the tools he developed to acquire the information necessary to arrive at the fish, but if U have some U prefer, that work as well or better, by all means, use em. Again his words not mine. Be certain that as well as the spoonplugs are designed, they're still No Magic Lures. Facts don't change, so its still valid today. The Knowledge he left for us is the closest thing to that! And his Company is still selling Spoonplugs since 1946! They have all the reading materials too! So as he would sign his books, Good Fishing Always.

I may have mis-spoken earlier, if that's what U believe Tom... Lowrance didn't bring Structure Fishing to anyone... (Like Columbus discovered America, & there were already people here?!) Lowrance called it a Fish Locator Remember (Making fisherman Believe it's a Shortcut to Success)... If U would have read & followed Buck's instructions, U could have & still can keep your Spoonplugs in the right place w/out the d**n depth finder. It's ONLY an Aid, the Spoonplug is a Tool...A Huge Difference...

To help w/your question, "Lures like lipless cranks, blade baits, spoons and spinner baits". Negative, these lures will not be able to maintain their depth w/any speed, they would fall into the Jump Type Lures category, as they all rely on weight to achieve depth. A Free Running, Bottom Bumping Lure can maintain its depth at much faster speeds, ie: usually around 2-5 mph but can climb to 10+ mph... during the summer heat, that's why Buck says 'U have to check it out'. The Description: Free Running-Bottom Bumping should be taken as one. Don't take it apart, the lure has to be capable of both, Running Free thru the water until contacting the Structure, & then Bumping the Structure w/out hanging until an increase in depth allows it to run free again. These Features are Built-In to the Spoonplug by Design. From another Member, "Spoonplugs were a special lure that he developed that are supposed to be able to run at the same depth no matter what. Because of this you will always know at what depth you are presenting your lure based on the lure size that you select. You can get his spoonplugging course at buckperry.com and it has some helpful things in it. I have the course and they send spoonplugs with it, but have never used them. I mainly got it to learn about bass movement." Spoonplugs Do Run at their Specified Depths to their Size & Line Length Used... nothing Supposed about it... U would know this if U ever got 'em wet. When U know how deep each & every Spoonplug runs, & know how to contour troll it correctly, U can draw your own map of the Structure being fished that will be more accurate than any depth finder can attempt to show U, since the Spoonplug doesn't suffer lag, or gps variation, or blind spots, etc.etc. Buck Perry wasn't inducted into the Freshwater & B.A.S.S. Halls of Fame for Nothing, He is recognized as the Father of Structure Fishing. From another Member, Don't forget, this was during the dawn of our "fish finders". The most advance being the old flasher, the Lowrance "Green Box"! Actually, Buck & his Spoonplugs precede the Green Box by a Decade, approximately. Buck's Baits made the 1st Spoonplugs in 1946. However he did actually work w/Carl Lowrance on the first "Depth Finder"! It was Lowrance's insisting on calling it a 'Fish Finder' that lead to their parting ways, as Buck said it couldn't tell the difference between a fish or any other object in the water. When Buck designed his own, it was known as a 'Structure Locator'. He always reminded us, that like so many other items in the boat, it is an Aid, & should only be used as such, your Spoonplug will tell U what is down there. Spoonpluggers will also turn off their Depth Finders to get back to basics, so they are Straining the Water Correctly! & They don't have to feel lost or go home if it doesn't work for whatever reason. My Fellow Indiana Spoonplugger has referred to one of my favorite Perry Quotes, "U can be Spoonplugging, w/out Using Spoonplugs!" Try & get a comment like that from another lure manufacturer!! Some of us prefer to fish for all Species of Game Fish, not limiting ourselves to 1 or 2. Really enjoying the Interest in Spoonplugging! & Apologies for some of the Corrections Guys, just trying to help w/accurate info on our Teacher/Mentor.

Its referred to as the "Home Study Guide", & while U can find them from time to time on Ebay, U can go get it direct from the Source, Buck's Baits is still kickin'! BuckPerry.com will get U there, Scott has run it since Buck's passing in '05, & usually has some specials where U can get the Home Study Guide along w/some Spoonplugs, &/or other "Tools" Buck designed to do the Job. Sharing the Knowledge is part of Spoonplugging, which is just the opposite of most all fisherman that are not trying to sell U anything. Buck's Teachings have withstood the Test of Time since he focused on Facts, & not what some might have thought or liked. He mapped lakes using his Spoonplugs before the days of satelite photos... & the fish just got in the way! Another Great way to Accelerate the Learning Curve, is to find a Active Spoonplugging Club U can Attend meetings & local as well as national outings! These gatherings of Spoonpluggers allows one to benefit from their years of experience w/any difficulties they might run into... The Clubs are not as prevelent as they used to be, but there are still several around, just hoping that U are geograophically located to make it easy to join & attend. NSOA, is the National Spoonpluggers of America, & is headed up by Mrs. Perry, 'Jeri', along w/the help of Buck's right hand man, Terry O'Malley, who is in charge of education & our Senior CSI, Certified Spoonplugging Instructor. There are several CSI's that are also available for on the water lessons for someone that would really like to jump start their Spoonplugging. Be sure to look for the links to other Spoonplugger sites!

Keep Reading Mr. Perry's Book there young man! U are on the right track... When U finish it, let me recommend his expanded series, 9 volumes of 'workbook like' versions to better help U understand Everything Buck is saying. As U can see, some of the replies here are from those who don't know who Buck is/was, nor his contributions to fishing. There is more to fishing, even Bass Fishing, than just Tournaments... your personal satisfaction or putting family members on fish is another. Quite a funny reply on here that there are better techniques when U look at his signature comments about "Ignorance can be corrected. Stupid lasts a lifetime", we can see how it lasts a lifetime. Or another that comments he was bored, he wasn't really trolling, just dragging a lure behing the boat. It is OK, however, 'cause U don't know what U don't know, But now U have the Single greatest source of Fishing Knowledge in front of U, so U will know the Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How if U 'Study' Spoonplugging. I mean it is more than a 1 Time Read... re-read it, study, & apply it, then more of it will make sense, when U read it again! Trolling was made illegal in Tounament Fishing to prevent the Spoonpluggers from winning all the Tournaments, since they had already shown this to be the case, & the numbers of entries declined especially if they knew Spoonpluggers were attending. Trolling is our Teacher, as Buck Says... but understand Buck's definition of Trolling vs. just dragging a lure thru the water behind the boat. A couple others here have the right idea, locate the fish trolling, then stop & cast to catch more, but only if the Depth & Speed can be duplicated to make the fish Strike. Some Situations, the Depth & Speed required cannot be achieved on the cast, & Trolling is the only way to make the Catch. What we must do to put the fish on the Stringer/in the Boat is our concern... I would definitely read what Tom has to say on here... he undertands that successful Trolling can be more difficult that just casting one's arm off all day long at whatever can be seen. The Commercialism side of the industry drives many to things they just don't need... fish don't care how fast your boat is, how much your rod cost, or how many lures/rods, Big Screen sized depth finders is on your boat. Most will not want to put in the time & effort to become a successful Spoonplugger... they still believe that Success can be purchased w/this years new hot lure or device, etc.etc. They will never know the Thrill & Satisfaction of Catching 10, 20, 30, 50 or more fish (any Game Fish) on Consecutive Cast or Trolling Passes... which is just one of our goals. Knowledge is the Key to Success, & U are well on your way... So as Buck would say, Good Fishing Always

The Single Most Important thing U can do to Improve your Fishing on this lake is to Invest in a Copy of 'Spoonplugging' "Your Guide to Lunker Catches" by E.L.'Buck' Perry. While U are at it, go on & get his 9 Volume Home Study Guide to follow up reading the Book. Buck has been inducted into both the Fresh Water & B.A.S.S. Halls of Fame for good reason. He is Recognized as the Father of Structure Fishing. He Coined the terminology used on Saturday morning fishing shows, as well as having profound influence on all the Fishing TV Heros, & I do mean ALL of 'em! While Writing for Fishing Facts Magazine, his teachings have benefitted the likes of Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Hank Parker, Al, Jim, & Ron Lindner, Dan Sura, Doug Stange, Rick Clunn, Kevin Van Dam & many more... given by their testimonials they sent to him. Sometimes it is Best to get your Info straight from the Source... Not only will U accellerate your learning curve on your lake, but will find yourself capable of taking on the challenges of waters new to U, & increasing your overall fishing knowledge & confidence. So as Buck would say, "Good Fishing Always" E.L.P. As for me, Thanx Buck! Spoonplugger4Life

Hello All! Just bumped into this question, & wanted to let U know that Buck's Baits is still kickin'! Since 1946! U can find it at BuckPerry.com, & if U like the green book, Spoonplugging Your Guide to Lunker Catches. Also check out the 9 Volume Study Guide, it is the book, expanded. the Greatest single source of fishing knowledge U will find anywhere. 2 Halls of Fame should say something. Good Reading, Good Fishing! Spoonplugger4Life