Seems there have been several references to "The Book" lately…. I read Buck Perry's Spoonplugging book a few years ago, and I have referenced it a few times since. I just started reading it again, and I think it would be fun, and educational to talk about Buck's theory's.
Perhaps those of us who have the book, could read a chapter or two a week over the off season, and have discussions related to those chapters here?
Without a doubt this is the most descriptive information I have ever read on fish behavior/movement. When reading this material, I find it quite easy to understand, and it seems to "make sense". However, when applying these theories on the water, it is a different game…
On a small lake, I think it is pretty easy to apply. However, I have not spent enough time on any one small lake that I can see the correlation to what Buck describes. I know when I try to apply his methodolgy on LSC, I struggle…
Thoughts? Care to have a weekly discussion on "The book"?
I think the thought of an online "study group" is very interesting. We can create a specific "structure fishing" forum. Every week or two, over the winter, the forum moderator (I think Chad just volunteered) could post a new topic.
For anyone interested that doesn't already know, "the book" is Spoonplugging Your Guide To Lunker Catches . Available at:
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Chad and Will-
What you are referring to is a "literature circle" someone is designated as the facilitator and asks pointed questions to draw deeper answers from the participants. When it is done live the facilitator would make sure that all people involved are active in the discussion etc… The idea is that through discussion a truth can de derived, similar to the idea behind the Socratic seminar but related to literature. I love this idea!! My book is on the way and I would be more than happy to set it up and administer it if Chad doesn't want to.
In this particular case we could dissect different lakes/forage bases on a latitudinal basis for ex. look at the forage in Cave Run and bring it north through Webster, LSC, Sanford, Intermediate then The shield lakes. This would allow for cross application of the ideas to a variety of structure, ground water and bottom types and obviously forage. We could invite "guest" speakers from other chapters and ask them specific questions about ideas in the book and use that as a starting point. Just a couple ideas.
Kevin
We might want to keep this hidden in the members only area. My concern is that it might step on the toes of the spoonplugger study groups if we have it in the public area. This is/should be considered a member benefit and yet another way to sell MMA. If it's hidden in the members area but mentioned in the public area we might convince someone to join.
For anyone considering this, I'll say it again – it's not about the lure called a spoonplug, it's about the knowledge of fish and how they move. This isn't the ten commandments set in stone but with this knowledge you WILL be a better angler if you apply it.
Cyberlunge – If you are going to be the admin for this are you going to prepare an outline? For instance, December 1-15 discussion about chapter 1-2 or are you anticipating that everyone reads the whole book beore discussion begins?
Yeah something along that line. I was thinking something like this:
Dec1 to dec10 read chapter one and two.
Dec 10 to 20 Read and answer questions 1-3 posted on the board apply to a specific lake and discuss. Then hopefully we can get an "expert" on each lake to provide insight as to the "correctness" of the observation and people can compare that to their own thoughts as a measuring stick of whether or not they are "getting" it. For example a question may be that lake x is 42 degrees and it is April 10th, what are the likely areas to find forage group y and z and what is the likely proximity of predators a, b, and c to these groups. Are they shoaling this time of year in this lake? do thes types of fish school? what is there spawning habitat? Is predator competition an issue etc…
Ideally keeping the topic and lake in discussion relevant to the the season i.e. start with the southern lakes as I had mentioned so that if someone is considering an off-season trip the info would be relevant and applicable immediately and work our way north as the season progresses. Or do a comprehensive overview of a generic lake that is an amalgamation of lakes in a given geographical area so that the information would have more of an across the board feel. Say SW Mich then SE. Then Flint north to GR. Rivers, Drowned river mouths, Eutrophic lakes, lakes with flow, lakes with no flow but LM access etcetera. I am sure we could keep this going for months easily. I would like to invite someone from different regions/clubs to act as the "expert" so we could involve some new perspectives as well. I know there are many members who are "connected" and perhaps we could draw in some new ones in this way or at least expand or registered users to include inc members from other chapters. I would think Chae or Ice would be great for south, maybe one of the LSC charter guys for LSC, etc…
Kevin
Once you start reading it, you start thinking different about how and where to fish and why sometimes you can't even buy a follow. I don't know that the lake specific thing will be helpful until we get through most of the book. I am only through the chapter about structure the info is very general but the concept of movements is the part that is the most interesting and makes sense to why you don't see fish sometimes, it is not that they aren't biting, it is about where they are at that time of day. It also makes sense why the info about fishing the IMC tournament that Will gave me made so much sense and helped provide some results. And Mike Hulbert who won the tournament told about how their location was a VERY small area but produced BIG TIME. I think he may have read this book too.
Tom-
I agree that some of the information will be too much too soon and other may be old material to some. The beauty of an archived forum is that when it dawns on you that something may be useful now you can go back and get it. I am no expert on fish behavior but I have some insight on area that others don't and vice versa. There are lakes I look at and don't even want to launch because I cant read them. Others where I think I know the fish by name I get blanked- Its all about sharing ideas and interpretations from the book. The lake specific idea wa so people could say "ok I am on Thornapple and the temp is this and wind is this according to the book I should try this…" people can then respond and discuss this and we can all learn from it. make sense?
Kevin
Kevin,
Yes that does make sense. The book gives you a new way of looking at fishing and gives you basic knowledge that you can apply to ANY lake. Combining that with the lake specific idea you have should be a VERY valuable resource. I am excited about the discussion and even through 3 chapters, I would already approach a lake differently than what I used to. I also think you will be a good moderator for this because you have quite a bit of time on the water and big water also, so you will have seen things that a lot of us inland smaller lake fisherman might not see. Looking forward to it, can't wait for December!
Tom
In the first three chapters he hasn't talked about the lure at all. Spoonplugging according to Buck Perry isn't about using spoonplugs, it is about gaining the knowledge and applying it to your fishing. But yes, spoonplugs do work to catch muskies, I can personally vouch for that, but I RARELY use them.
I think targeting 1 to 2 chapters for the discussion is best. There is a lot of information within a chapter, and each chapter essentially builds on the last.
I also think discussing specific lakes will be fun, but we need to keep the discussions relative to the chapters we have covered.
Towards the end, we should have a pretty good recap of what we have discussed with regards to a specific lake, and them perhaps we can summarize.
I say members only discussion area…
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