The Spoonpluggers Forum

Lucky day! Our group is a generous bunch with most willing to share knowledge and offer tips. In your S WI area and others, there are more Spoonpluggers on the water than most people realize, if you know what to look for. You converting what you read into focused effort and fishing success is a good...

John, Welcome-You are to be applauded for your efforts to reconnect to the Spoonplugging community. I suspect there are many more out there who wish they had done the same but never did. Time on the water being key here, of course. Anyway, its clear from the several forums and people encountered on ...

Good article, thanks Jim. Anyone interested in Spoonplugging history or Buck Perry should look up author Bob McNally's father, Tom J. McNally. Tom was there for the 1957 Chicago/Fox Chain promotion, in the boat to witness Buck Perry at work, and his writings helped bring Spoonplugging into the natio...

Just wish the name could have stayed "Pro Structure". The "Troller" name (Troller Boat Corp.) pointed out a strength of the boat but IMO inadvertently sent the wrong message about structure fishing and reinforced a common misconception about spoonplugging. The boat for its size i...

Here are some pics attached below. Ken's Pro Structure model and this '97 Troller 1502 are about the same design (front 48" livewell across bow, "cap" along port and starboard gunwales, rear "battery storage box" with cushion lid, usually seen with 25/30 hp 4-stroke but Don ...

Ken, Interesting stuff! I saw your Pro Structure boat at the Indiana Outing...great boat, cool history. I've been in my '97 Troller 1502 also from Indiana for 22 yrs now (front livewell model). Have to agree, it was a game-changer back then and still suits my approach today. While still in good shap...

This week's summer in May saw some progress with 4 days of 90+! Surface water temp in a new lake fished with 3' color not far from Madison went 51-71+ in just 9 days. Multiple muskies were caught on a 400 SP as I started working out a feeder arm with bass heading to spawn. Weather will drop back som...

...but like you Steve I've never fished Madison in June to see the timing of how the color and weedlines develop on the different lakes. I'm looking forward to learning more from others here who have, and of course by fishing during that time!

Great idea to do this, Jim! Your satellite pic shows the situation really well...miles of farmland in every direction once you get beyond the city. I had no idea what to expect either before my first trip there years ago but was sure pleasantly surprised! Mendota for a "1st lake" does try ...

1. yes
2. yes
3. 24
4. 100 days
5. daily

Lake Barkley when other fish get in the way This was part of a club outing in 2007, chasing bass on an 18' roadbed bumping bottom next to 60' main channel. The big Blue used most of that depth once hooked and provided quite a workout, and many laughs!

Craig Hubbard was a great friend and fishing partner completely dedicated to Spoonplugging in all regards. In fact, in the history of Illinois Spoonpluggers Club, Craig was hands down the attendance award winner having never missed a single meeting since well before 2000 until heart valve replacemen...

jwt,
Nice move by you to do that...always willing to step up.
Good to see you back on the board.
Scott

Bobby, Welcome! Yes, this forum is a great resource with tremendous knowledge and experience within the group! Like you, I was glad to know people are still doing this when getting started 20+ years ago and made the decision to build it from the ground up. Sure glad I did. In addition to the treasur...

John said-"Our controls of Depth and Speed will normally take care of those changes but if Mr. Perry took the time to mention that during some of these changes in warming and cooling of the water that we should adjust our fishing during these changes, learning how fish make locational changes r...