Jim I'm tired of watching videos of people catching big fish you learn virtually nothing. You're the only one out there who teaches people how to actually learn something your videos have helped me put more and bigger fish in the boat thanks for sharing your knowledge I really appreciate it. Good fishing always sincerely Record 🎣
Record, Your thoughts and positive comments are appreciated. It's always good to hear from individuals who get something out of the videos. I've been helped by a number of other Spoonpluggers over the years and this is my way of passing it forward. This is ALL Buck Perry and I encourage everyone who watches to study the Green Book and the Home Study Course. Spoonplugging is a continually learning process and the more we learn, the more there is to learn. Knowledge is the Key. Jim
Hey Jim, I watched nearly all of your videos during the winter months of 2022 and can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge. I bought a boat in April 2022 and was excited to start fishing the Madison chain. I was constantly getting skunked and was lucky if I caught one or two fish, pretty discouraging. I bought one of Buck's books, watched your videos, and bought probably 30 spoonplugs during the winter (probably a little overboard). Yesterday I went out for the first time this year and fished according to bucks methods with your help and absolutely killed it. There were boats around me not catching anything while I caught northern after northern. First pike was within 2 minutes of fishing the shallows. I progressed through the lures to deeper depths and caught several pike in the low 30s and a 40 inch fish. From barely catching anything to catching fish after fish while other boats around me weren't catching anything was eye opening. Can't wait to continue learning each time I go out. I really appreciate it!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! The best teacher is Time-On-The-Water and what you did is proof. Being able to contour troll the shallows is key and from there you just carry it to the deepest water in the area. You did not go overboard in your purchase of Spoonplugs. They are the finest fishing tool available and they will serve you well over the years. I would also recommend a lure retriever for those times you get hung. Your commitment to learning will be the key to continued success. I'm glad I was able to help in a small way, but it all boils down to you. You. Did. It. WAY TO GO, Jim
I appreciate you watching. The videos are meant to pass the knowledge forward. I've been helped along the way by other Spoonpluggers and hope this does the same for you.
Man.. It all started a couple of weeks ago. I have a job that I can watch lots of YT videos. The algorithm sent me this vintage lure guy, I saw the spoon plug and after 2 videos all this Buck Perry and spoon plug stuff started popping up. Yours came after lots of Don Dickson stuff.
I wish your videos would've came up before Don's, he wears me out. Don't get me wrong, I respectfully appreciate his type. I grew up with it. I'm 55 and your approach delivers more meat in less time.
You should have thousands of subscribers. But those who dare to tell it like it is just don’t get the following like the ones with a PHD in BS. But keep up the good work. Have you seen any of Don Dickson’s channel? He is definitely worth watching also. And he don’t have the following he deserves either. Dennis
Dennis, Thanks for your comment. Buck said it all when he stated, some people just don't know what they don't know. But that goes for a lot of things besides fishing. It all boils down to "Knowledge is the Key"; ignorance is not bliss. I've seen all of Dickson's videos and I took his Spoonplugging class in the late 70's when he was an active teacher and promoter. There are a lot of accomplished Spoonpluggers out there that don't post videos and I'm lucky to have them as friends. Spoonplugging is a skill that requires dedication, perseverance, and effort. Thanks for watching, Jim
@@jjd8277 Mr Jim, I figured you knew about Don Dickson.!! Somehow you just know. I have never met him myself, but I was well acquainted with Buck. I started following Buck’s teachings when all that was available was the little booklet A Spoonplugging Lesson. And rushed to buy his first edition of his book. The black one. Then the second edition, the green one , to carry in my tackle box. When he finally got the full course ready I drove over the mountain to see him and bought one of the very first ones sold. He wrote a little note in it also. He would have me check out certain features in various lakes and have me report back to him as to wether things were actually as he thought or not. He helped me out a lot with any questions that I might have. He was a friend. So I have been a Spoonplugger for well over 50 years. The only way to fly!! About a year and a half ago I started a UA-cam channel primarily so my wife and I could watch the footage taken on a back country camping trip to Utah.? To my surprise a few folks started watching them. I found that I liked playing around with the video thing so I kept making videos. Videos of life here at the farm, elk, deer and Turkey hunting. Camping , and a little cooking. You name it. I finally started making a few fishing videos in response to requests asking me to show how I make my catches. They had no idea what they were asking. And since Don had it all on video I make my videos just to encourage the viewer to watch Don’s work. I will also start to include your channel from now on. Hang in there Sooonplugger! Dennis
@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882 Dennis, It sounds like our Spoonplugging journey followed a similar path. I ran across the Green Book while visiting a local sporting goods store, and when I saw the pictures of those catches, I was hooked. Buck always encouraged fishermen to write to him and that's what I did. To my delight and amazement, he wrote back! I first met him at the Muskegon outing in the early '90's. There was no one at the campsite when I arrived so I headed down to the dock and who should be coming in but Buck and Jeri . He waved and said, good to see you, Jim, and I almost fell in the water. I was speechless. Later that day, he signed my book and I got a picture with him. We had an active club at the time, The Illinois Spoonpluggers, and helped when he came to a Chicago for a fishing show a couple of years later. Over the years, we kept in touch and a number of us visited him in Hickory for his 90th birthday. Unfortunately, it was a few months later that he died. I've still got that picture, the letters, and the memories of meeting a true genius. Spoonplugging has literally changed my life and I'm forever grateful. Like you, I started making videos a while ago with the purpose of recording my fishing success. I started sharing with fellow Spoonpluggers and it's grown from there. Over the years, the focus has changed from showing catches to spreading the word and, hopefully, helping those new to Spoonplugging. I've had a lot of help along the way and it's my way of paying it forward. Spoonplugging is a skill. Like Buck said, you can't buy success and, as I'm sure you know, you've got to earn it by putting forth the effort. It has been a great ride. Over the past few months, I've been researching old newspaper articles related to Spoonplugging and Buck Perry. I found numerous stories documenting his catches and confirming ALL the stories I've heard over the years. He was amazing. EVERYTHING in fishing today can be traced back to him. It's unfortunate that his story has never been told in the detail it deserves. But I'm going to keep spreading the word. It's the least I can do for him for all that he's done for me. Take care and keep in touch. Jim
@@jjd8277 one time when talking to Buck he said that people call him the first Spoonplugger, but he affirmed that he was not the first. I told him that I knew who the first really was. And he said , “And who would that be?” I pointed to my belt buckle. He said, “Yep”. My brass buckle had. J E S U S embossed on it. I knew that he had based his first findings on a couple of passages of scripture. The key to fishing success has been in the Bible for a couple of thousand years. It took a young genius from North Carolina to figure it out. Life is amazing ain’t it?
In this particular video, the casting was done on the contact point. When I went to the troll, the passes were made alongside the fingers and across the tip. The entire area being fished wasn't more than 150 yards. The same passes were made throughout the day after casting the contact point. This allows for checking the faster speeds. There were times in the past, due to fishing pressure, that it was best to anchor and wait them out. That can be tedious, but if you can exercise patience, they'll eventually move up. Jim
@@jjd8277 Thank you so much! I am a younger fishermen, and I have read all of Bucks books/study guides and bought a pack of spoon-plugs. Your channel has been invaluable to understanding how to apply his knowledge with this era's tech. Is trolling still necessary with modern graphs? I can locate their depth, and troll that depth. Or do I need to suck it up and "check it out (trolling shallow to deep)" regardless of what the graph says. And when I find fish in the shallows; does it mean. 'Fish are using some structure in the area, and a good movement has occurred.' Is there a need to fish deep? Do I try and locate that structure they're using to find the school? If you have time, thank you for reading responding to these questions.
@@eugenebatiste Eugene, It looks like you've got a great start by reading Buck's material but that's only half of what you need to do. Spoonplugging is a skill that you hone by a combination of time-on-the-water and studying the material. Go out and apply what you've read. If you run into difficulty, go back to the material and find out what you did right or wrong. That's the process. As Buck says, "trolling is your teacher." Modern depth finders are great for identifying structure but they will not show you the small breaks that are holding fish. They will not tell you anything of the bottom in the area being fished. Only the lures will tell you. You always check from shallow to deep. And then you recheck. And then you recheck. And you do this until the fish become active or it become evident that this is a structure that doesn't hold fish. When you find fish in the shallows it means you are in a productive area. If you find adult fish in the area, that's where you to go to work. Why are they here? How did they get here? Where's deep water? What type of structure is this? When you fish it, you fish from the shallows to the deepest water in the area with the goal being to locate the school. Through the learning process you will find ALL the answers to your questions on the water. It is the way that it's done. There are no short cuts. You can't buy success at Bass Pro or Cabela's. Live Scope won't help if you don't know where to look. You can do it! Go get 'em. Jim
Jim I'm tired of watching videos of people catching big fish you learn virtually nothing. You're the only one out there who teaches people how to actually learn something your videos have helped me put more and bigger fish in the boat thanks for sharing your knowledge I really appreciate it. Good fishing always sincerely Record 🎣
Record, Your thoughts and positive comments are appreciated. It's always good to hear from individuals who get something out of the videos. I've been helped by a number of other Spoonpluggers over the years and this is my way of passing it forward. This is ALL Buck Perry and I encourage everyone who watches to study the Green Book and the Home Study Course. Spoonplugging is a continually learning process and the more we learn, the more there is to learn. Knowledge is the Key. Jim
Hey Jim, I watched nearly all of your videos during the winter months of 2022 and can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge. I bought a boat in April 2022 and was excited to start fishing the Madison chain. I was constantly getting skunked and was lucky if I caught one or two fish, pretty discouraging. I bought one of Buck's books, watched your videos, and bought probably 30 spoonplugs during the winter (probably a little overboard).
Yesterday I went out for the first time this year and fished according to bucks methods with your help and absolutely killed it. There were boats around me not catching anything while I caught northern after northern. First pike was within 2 minutes of fishing the shallows. I progressed through the lures to deeper depths and caught several pike in the low 30s and a 40 inch fish.
From barely catching anything to catching fish after fish while other boats around me weren't catching anything was eye opening.
Can't wait to continue learning each time I go out. I really appreciate it!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
The best teacher is Time-On-The-Water and what you did is proof. Being able to contour troll the shallows is key and from there you just carry it to the deepest water in the area. You did not go overboard in your purchase of Spoonplugs. They are the finest fishing tool available and they will serve you well over the years. I would also recommend a lure retriever for those times you get hung.
Your commitment to learning will be the key to continued success. I'm glad I was able to help in a small way, but it all boils down to you. You. Did. It.
WAY TO GO,
Jim
Awesome video , great info. and thanks for sharing.
John, Good to hear from you. Hope you're getting ready. The cooling lakes will all open over the next 6 weeks. Jim
Way to go, Jim. You make a very good point. Find the structure, and the fish will come.
Great stuff Jim. A great review of the stuff that really matters.
I love the balance of instruction and demonstration of your videos. It's easier to digest this style of video. Thank you!
I appreciate you watching. The videos are meant to pass the knowledge forward. I've been helped along the way by other Spoonpluggers and hope this does the same for you.
Willy, How did you happen to come across my videos? Jim
Man.. It all started a couple of weeks ago. I have a job that I can watch lots of YT videos. The algorithm sent me this vintage lure guy, I saw the spoon plug and after 2 videos all this Buck Perry and spoon plug stuff started popping up. Yours came after lots of Don Dickson stuff.
I wish your videos would've came up before Don's, he wears me out. Don't get me wrong, I respectfully appreciate his type. I grew up with it. I'm 55 and your approach delivers more meat in less time.
@@KissmyBasss Thanks, Willy. I hear from a lot of fishermen but I'm never quite sure how they've found out about the videos or Spoonplugging. Jim
I always look forward to your videos, Thanks for sharing
You're very kind. Thanks for watching it's much appreciated. Jim
Nice video. Great to have you back again. Hope you can do more videos this year.
Thanks for watching and I'll try to post additional videos this year. Jim
You should have thousands of subscribers. But those who dare to tell it like it is just don’t get the following like the ones with a PHD in BS. But keep up the good work.
Have you seen any of Don Dickson’s channel? He is definitely worth watching also. And he don’t have the following he deserves either.
Dennis
Dennis, Thanks for your comment. Buck said it all when he stated, some people just don't know what they don't know. But that goes for a lot of things besides fishing. It all boils down to "Knowledge is the Key"; ignorance is not bliss. I've seen all of Dickson's videos and I took his Spoonplugging class in the late 70's when he was an active teacher and promoter. There are a lot of accomplished Spoonpluggers out there that don't post videos and I'm lucky to have them as friends. Spoonplugging is a skill that requires dedication, perseverance, and effort. Thanks for watching, Jim
@@jjd8277 Mr Jim, I figured you knew about Don Dickson.!! Somehow you just know. I have never met him myself, but I was well acquainted with Buck. I started following Buck’s teachings when all that was available was the little booklet A Spoonplugging Lesson. And rushed to buy his first edition of his book. The black one. Then the second edition, the green one , to carry in my tackle box.
When he finally got the full course ready I drove over the mountain to see him and bought one of the very first ones sold. He wrote a little note in it also. He would have me check out certain features in various lakes and have me report back to him as to wether things were actually as he thought or not. He helped me out a lot with any questions that I might have. He was a friend.
So I have been a Spoonplugger for well over 50 years. The only way to fly!!
About a year and a half ago I started a UA-cam channel primarily so my wife and I could watch the footage taken on a back country camping trip to Utah.? To my surprise a few folks started watching them. I found that I liked playing around with the video thing so I kept making videos. Videos of life here at the farm, elk, deer and Turkey hunting. Camping , and a little cooking. You name it. I finally started making a few fishing videos in response to requests asking me to show how I make my catches. They had no idea what they were asking. And since Don had it all on video I make my videos just to encourage the viewer to watch Don’s work.
I will also start to include your channel from now on.
Hang in there Sooonplugger!
Dennis
@@dennispritchardoutdoors7882 Dennis, It sounds like our Spoonplugging journey followed a similar path. I ran across the Green Book while visiting a local sporting goods store, and when I saw the pictures of those catches, I was hooked. Buck always encouraged fishermen to write to him and that's what I did. To my delight and amazement, he wrote back! I first met him at the Muskegon outing in the early '90's. There was no one at the campsite when I arrived so I headed down to the dock and who should be coming in but Buck and Jeri . He waved and said, good to see you, Jim, and I almost fell in the water. I was speechless. Later that day, he signed my book and I got a picture with him. We had an active club at the time, The Illinois Spoonpluggers, and helped when he came to a Chicago for a fishing show a couple of years later. Over the years, we kept in touch and a number of us visited him in Hickory for his 90th birthday. Unfortunately, it was a few months later that he died. I've still got that picture, the letters, and the memories of meeting a true genius. Spoonplugging has literally changed my life and I'm forever grateful. Like you, I started making videos a while ago with the purpose of recording my fishing success. I started sharing with fellow Spoonpluggers and it's grown from there. Over the years, the focus has changed from showing catches to spreading the word and, hopefully, helping those new to Spoonplugging. I've had a lot of help along the way and it's my way of paying it forward. Spoonplugging is a skill. Like Buck said, you can't buy success and, as I'm sure you know, you've got to earn it by putting forth the effort. It has been a great ride. Over the past few months, I've been researching old newspaper articles related to Spoonplugging and Buck Perry. I found numerous stories documenting his catches and confirming ALL the stories I've heard over the years. He was amazing. EVERYTHING in fishing today can be traced back to him. It's unfortunate that his story has never been told in the detail it deserves. But I'm going to keep spreading the word. It's the least I can do for him for all that he's done for me. Take care and keep in touch. Jim
@@jjd8277 one time when talking to Buck he said that people call him the first Spoonplugger, but he affirmed that he was not the first. I told him that I knew who the first really was. And he said , “And who would that be?”
I pointed to my belt buckle. He said, “Yep”. My brass buckle had. J E S U S embossed on it.
I knew that he had based his first findings on a couple of passages of scripture. The key to fishing success has been in the Bible for a couple of thousand years. It took a young genius from North Carolina to figure it out.
Life is amazing ain’t it?
i always look forward to your videos too !
Bill, I hope they're helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Jim
Could you show you trolling runs. Are you driving the along the contour line? Or is something different?
In this particular video, the casting was done on the contact point. When I went to the troll, the passes were made alongside the fingers and across the tip. The entire area being fished wasn't more than 150 yards. The same passes were made throughout the day after casting the contact point. This allows for checking the faster speeds. There were times in the past, due to fishing pressure, that it was best to anchor and wait them out. That can be tedious, but if you can exercise patience, they'll eventually move up. Jim
@@jjd8277 Thank you so much! I am a younger fishermen, and I have read all of Bucks books/study guides and bought a pack of spoon-plugs. Your channel has been invaluable to understanding how to apply his knowledge with this era's tech.
Is trolling still necessary with modern graphs? I can locate their depth, and troll that depth. Or do I need to suck it up and "check it out (trolling shallow to deep)" regardless of what the graph says.
And when I find fish in the shallows; does it mean. 'Fish are using some structure in the area, and a good movement has occurred.' Is there a need to fish deep? Do I try and locate that structure they're using to find the school?
If you have time, thank you for reading responding to these questions.
@@eugenebatiste Eugene, It looks like you've got a great start by reading Buck's material but that's only half of what you need to do. Spoonplugging is a skill that you hone by a combination of time-on-the-water and studying the material. Go out and apply what you've read. If you run into difficulty, go back to the material and find out what you did right or wrong. That's the process.
As Buck says, "trolling is your teacher." Modern depth finders are great for identifying structure but they will not show you the small breaks that are holding fish. They will not tell you anything of the bottom in the area being fished. Only the lures will tell you. You always check from shallow to deep. And then you recheck. And then you recheck. And you do this until the fish become active or it become evident that this is a structure that doesn't hold fish.
When you find fish in the shallows it means you are in a productive area. If you find adult fish in the area, that's where you to go to work. Why are they here? How did they get here? Where's deep water? What type of structure is this? When you fish it, you fish from the shallows to the deepest water in the area with the goal being to locate the school.
Through the learning process you will find ALL the answers to your questions on the water. It is the way that it's done. There are no short cuts. You can't buy success at Bass Pro or Cabela's. Live Scope won't help if you don't know where to look.
You can do it! Go get 'em.
Jim