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The debate over whether a fish survives because of intelligence or instinct will continue as long as anglers ply the waters for their favorite species. Dedicated anglers experiment on various waters, applying new products and methods during all times of the day under different weather conditions searching for answers that cause fish to bite.
Some serious anglers apply the latest electronics like GPS, LCD Sonar, Side Imaging and underwater cameras to their arsenal to locate fish. They look for fish holding on primary and secondary points, channel swings, bays, rocky and pea gravel shorelines, and brush around docks or along creek channels.
But, at the end of a dismal day on the water, the question still begs an answer, “Was I outsmarted, outfoxed or just couldn’t find ‘em?”
Buck Perry (1915-2005) originated the term “Structure Fishing” 60 years ago. His conclusions that fish live deep and migrate shallow to feed were groundbreaking. So radical were his beliefs that most anglers dismissed them immediately. But, he had the uncanny knack of going to waters proclaimed to be ‘fished-out’ by locals and catching huge stringers of bass, muskie, northern pike and walleye.
He keyed on paths that he believed fish used to get from deep to shallow water and return, calling them migration routes. His method was foreign to anglers because he usually trolled with a 16-foot long aluminum V-bottom boat running a 10-horsepower outboard at speeds that defied conventional wisdom.
Perry’s technique was to systematically troll an odd shaped metal lure of his manufacture (called a Spoonplug), over structure at different depths until he caught fish. He didn’t use a depthfinder because they weren’t affordable to anglers then; instead, he bounced his Spoonplug along the bottom to telegraph depths and conditions.
Perry never credited fish for being intelligent. “Their brain is smaller than a pea, and no fish has ever had an original thought,” he often said. It was his belief that any fish would strike a lure if it were presented at the proper depth, speed and was the right color. And, since they lacked intelligence or reasoning he didn’t believe in their ability to remember being hooked.
Perry passed away a few years ago, leaving his legacy of structure fishing to a loyal cadre of ‘Spoonpluggers’. His web site, www.buckperry.com, is the source for books on Spoonplugging, a Home Study Course in Structure Fishing, trolling rods and reels, line, snap swivels, buoy markers, and Spoonplugs.
In spite of his conclusions, many professional anglers believe fish can learn from bad experiences, such as being caught on a certain lure and then released.
“Almost any pro will tell you that bass get used to seeing the same lures, that’s one reason new lures are hot for a few years and then cool off,” said Bass Pro Shops angling pro, Charlie Campbell from Forsyth, Mo.
Campbell, who has fished professionally for nearly 50 years, once participated in a visual test to see how largemouth bass would react to hookless lures presented repeatedly to them.
“After mouthing a hard plastic lure one time, no bass would touch it again, but they picked up soft plastic lures several times – obviously interested and unafraid,” said Campbell.
My own experience falls somewhere in the middle. I’ve hooked and lost the same spotted bass on the same lure on consecutive casts. But, with a largemouth, I usually need to use a different lure to make it strike a second time.
Agreeing with Campbell, Pure Fishing’s Research Team always use ‘fresh fish’ when testing new soft plastics and attractants. Their laboratory experience shows that once a fish realizes the lure isn’t food they won’t strike it again for a while, obviously associating the shape, sound and taste with a negative experience.
For that reason, after a fish participates in a Pure Fishing taste test, it is released to the wild and a new bass from a fish farm is used for the next test.
Pure Fishing’s practice doesn’t actually contradict Perry’s beliefs on a fish’s intelligence. He fished in a time when fast moving lures like crankbaits and spinnerbaits were the norm – lures that caused fish to react from instinct rather than be selective.
Today’s product manufacturers are keying on hard plastic lures that perform well at various depths and speeds, plus they are aggressively developing soft plastic lures that look, taste and smell like creatures that are essential to the fish’s daily diet.
Sponsors for some of the world’s best professional anglers draw heavily on their experience to help design a steady stream of new products. Obviously anglers are constantly looking for lures the fish haven’t seen before and aren’t conditioned to.
Arbogast’s frog-colored Hula Popper, Heddon’s red-and-white River Runt, Helin’s spotted Flatfish and Nick Crème’s ‘rubber worm’ were the forerunners of a myriad of manufacturers from all over the planet who now produce a plethora of lures, all designed to outsmart or outfox today’s pea-brained fish.
Reader Comments:
I like your article since it share's Mr Perry's Spoonplugging w/angler's that have yet to hear of it, or him. However, I have found some inaccuracies in your comments, which have found there way into other articles & furthering misrepresentations of Spoonplugging. "It was his belief that any fish would strike a lure if it were presented at the proper depth, speed and was the right color." Mr Perry repeatedly proved this to be a FACT, that a Lure presented at the right Depth & Speed, the fish will instinctivley Strike it, Color is a Aid... & was not part of his Statement. Color has been used to Sell Fisherman more than fish, it is an Aid & not nearly as important as the 'Controls', Depth & Speed, & should be kept in perspective. We have caught many fish w/tails of 'Gills or other Prey sticking out of there throats, obviously not hungry, as well as w/having old lures stuck in them as well. Mr. Perry was a Physics Professor, & not interested in any1's favorite color, lure, technique, etc... only in reproducable FACTS! These he could teach, ever the teacher. As far as Depth Finders... Mr Perry worked w/Carl Lowrance on the 1st Depth Meters. Its not that they were too expensive, they didn't exist. He was also paid by the gov to Map lakes out west w/his Spoonplugs before the days of Satelite Photos. OutSmarted?? We Spoonpluggers credit our Successes & Failures to Depth & Speed Control, ie: Fishing where they Are, or where they Ain't!! 'Most water contains No Fish' is another Buck Perry Profound Statement that can take an angler along way to fishing smarter, not harder. Since our Goal is to Catch Schools of Fish on Consecutive Casts, who cares if some of the 'Remember' or 'Associate' a Bad Experience?? We will never catch the Entire School, thankfully... but after 20, 30, 50, 75, or even 100+ fish on Consecutive casts U would be too tired to care! Thanx for the Plug of Spoonplugging & Buck's Baits. Spoonplugging has 2 be taken in its Entirety, Not bits & pieces. MM