You'll love the jon boat I will tell you the wider the boat the stabler it will be for you. I had 4 jon boats before I got my bass boat and still have a small 12 footer for the pond out back. My last jon boat was a myers was a 16 footer. I tore everything out and made my 1st bass boat. They are nice you can get across shallow water but what they are not good for is big open rough water.

Mine is a Lowe 1236; 12' long by 56" wide so it should be pretty stable.  I plan on using it for pond fishing only.

Rick do you mean it's a 1256

The bottom width is 36" but the beam is 56" so I guess that's where the 1236 comes from.

Now I understand be careful especially if you stand a lot like I use to do. I can tell you I have been swimming on more than 1 occasion once in March and I can tell you the water was super cold just after ice out.

Spoon fishing seminar coming to Chicagoland June 31st 2013, at the Walleyes Unlimited USA meeting at the VFW in Gurnee, Illinois at 7pm....I will be the speaker, and I will be covering the entire methodology from rigging to presentation, and seasonal locations....this meeting is open to the public for a $5 fee

Excellent, Bill1 If I were in the area it would be on my 'must see' list! I encourage all who value bluegilling in the Chicago area to put this on the calendar!

WTG, Bill Modica!

Date correction.....the seminar will be held on Wednesday June 26th

Can't make that one. Are you doing the Walleyes unlimited in Milwaukee?

Sorry Steve....I'm only booked for the Gurnee event.

I thought you all might get a chuckle at my spoons.   They do catch fish........

Steve,

 Do you make these yourself? How do you fish these?

Ok, I'm a total convert!  read through all these posts...ordered the spoons, gulp minies, and went for it tonight at our local resivoir.  count in an hour and half...four crappie...no keepers and one bluegill!  I am so stoked at this method...lots of long strikes and a blast!

Got gills today on 1/10th ounch pimple in 5-6 fow all bulls making nests. Sorry no camera but 6 of 19 were 9 or just under.Tipped a brass colored pimple with wax worms. Southern wi.

Got 49 fish ,5 species ,chuckin' spoons today from 3:30-7pm Most fish came from an old downed tree .The Fire Tiger Blue Fox Flash spoon was the best spoon in muddy water conditions .Worms and Gulp Maggots for tipping . Gold Kastmaster caught some and a Knock off brand  Firetiger Kastmaster caught a great fighting 14" Brown Bullhead .Score: 44 Bluegill,1White Perch ,1Yellow Perch ,2 Crappie ,1Brown Bullhead .

Wow John...that is an outstanding spoon haul! Congrats!

Thanks Jim! I was due for a big time outing .  .The fallen tree was loaded and commandeered by Bluegills mostly about 7.5 and under I'd say but the rain came and the fishing got even better with bigger 8.5 and over I'd say .It was a lot of fish on consecutive casts .I ran outta worms and switched over to Gulp Maggots .A few came on an untipped spoon . It was a hoot in a 10 boat with oars .The rain felt great .I couldn't believe on a Saturday no one else was fishin"!

Great job John on you fishing outing. Looks like the spoons connected for you.

Thanks Dick .The fish were into getting caught with a sinking tight line not into chasing spinners or a lot of fancy twitching of the lure/bait.

I might have to keep the spoons handy for next weeks hybrid sunfish trip. I have caught them on spoons when they have ignored all other items.

I tossed one of my 1/8 oz. Rattle Flash spoons last week.

I had it on a spinning reel, with no idea how far it would go. First time trying one.

initial cast, into a tree branch on the other side of the cove. Spoon lost.

I was pissed.

End of story, LOL!

Ordered me some 1/12th oz. Hus Spoons today .Unique design and they catch .Good ice fishing spoon too! http://www.fishusa.com/Product/Luhr-Jensen-HusLure

Got the Hus spoons today .They come prepackaged with an interchangeable single hook which is great .Five  1/12th oz. spoons .Total  cost was including  shipping was $21.50 .Have to admit I was disappointed in seeing the spoons were made in China .I like to buy Acme spoons usually ,they are still American made .The Hus spoons are a good spoon and have a unique bend in their design though .

What size spoons are you throwing Greg?

Spoon rig for off color and muddy conditions: 1) Apply  rubber float stop ,2) add spinner  and clevis 3) attach  bead, 4) tie on duolock snap and attach spoon 5) pull float stop down line to compress the stop ,spinner and clevis ,bead ,snap and spoon package .6) Tip single hooked spoon with Crawler piece or other tipped bait like a mealworm .The float stop is needed to prevent the spinner from sliding up the line when casting .Spinner is added for extra flash and vibration. Bead is added for visual attractor and to prevent clevis from hanging up on snap knot. Duolock helps create a freeer spoon action.Spoon imitates a bait fish or other organism feeding on a piece of food. (the tipped bait)

Oh yea that Colorado Blade will give of lots of vibration. My go to color on the blade in muddy water is copper. There getting a little hard to find but you can still find them if you look around. The bigger the blade the more vibration trying not to get to gouty.

You are right Dick. Copper is a better choice in  muddy water .I don't think I have any panfish sized Copper so I'll look out for them .I have Bass sized Copper Blades I switch out on Spinnerbaits but they are BIG!

Another good visual idea would be a big Chartreuse bead .You're getting me thinking Dick, thanks!  

John fishing muddy  water can sometimes be overwhelming. Nothing more frustrating than trying to fish muddy water. It's a trial and error thing. What works in clear water often does not work in muddy waters. This is the time when we go to colors and vibration. John I have always had good luck with copper colored blades in muddy water.  You will find Colorado blades to be a little better because they give off more vibration. So now you have the color of the blade with added vibration which helps in the  fish catching process. I usually get my blades  at net craft. They usually have a pretty fair selection. Hope this helps you in your thinking process it's something I've learned over the years and use it often.

Thanks Dick ,Chartreuse Blades worked well on Smallies on the Delaware River  when it was muddied by rain . Copper and Chartreuse are both worth having .

I have size 3 Colorado blades in both diamond-pattern chartreuse, and hammered copper.  I use both of these for my own in-line spinners.  I put an 8mm chartreuse bead on the spinner's shaft as well.  I also dress my own trebles.

The in-line spinner I did this past Spring (actually two, lost one of them to a fish), with a copper Colorado, chartreuse bead, and green-dressed treble caught HORDES of aggressive 'gills and hungry LMB's.

sounds great Allen .Glad you joined Musky Mods group here !

Anyone know where I can get Acme 'Fiord' Spoons?The smallest sizes should work great on Gills as they have a slender profile like the Blue fox Rattlin' Flash spoons .

John: I had the same thought about the Acme Fjord spoon. Unfortunately Acme stopped making them. I have some of the Fjord Jr. and the tiny size Fjord spoons. I have had success on trout and panfish with them.

Yes Badger the Acme company also discontinued another of their successful ( for me ) baits, the Shad King Flutter spoon . It was a a real fine April lure when the Bass first start hitting decently .The small size Fjord spoon  would be great for Gills I feel .I did once catch a 13" rainbow Trout  on one a long time ago .

Had success with Gills on three style spoons tipped with crawler chunks yesterday .Hus Lure , Kastmaster and Super Duper all caught  Gills .

            Thanx for reminding me about the super-duper John. Used them 30-40 years ago.......they work quite well.....will have to pick up a couple

I'll be using them more now Steve I usually throw Kastmaster ,Hus, Swedish Pimple and

Rattlin flash before choosing the Super Duper .

I think its a 1/6th oz.

Jim I 've used the three smallest I believe . http://www.rapala.com/luhr-jensen/lures/spoons/super-duper/Super+Du... v

I tipped with a worm let sink and swam it back slowly but a lot of times the lure/worm piece were interrupted and swum off on the sink . I count down when fishing this way .Yesterday , I switched to a heavier spoon and started fishing deeper because tiny females were interrupting the sink 3' below the surface

OK John you got me spending some of my hard earned savings on spoons.  I probably should have talked with Bill 1st but I did read some of his info which brought me to my opinions on what to buy.