Custom Wooden Plugs Review and What's New

[DarkSkies]

Glen Davis, another Asbury Club member. He's also a locksmith, been fooling around with fixing things and working on machinery his whole life, so plug building was a natural extension. 5 1/2 and 6 1/2" swimmers with bucktail, $20-25. Nice meetin ya again, man.

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[Rip-Plugger]

The bass doesn't care if the plug cost 35.00 bucks. At least I don't think they do.

JZ,

only the high maintenence female bass do,you know how they are,,,

R-P

[Rip-Plugger]

Pretty plugs catch fishermen, not the fish. But I sure do like looking at them.

7DP,

thats fishermans porn!

R-P

[Rip-Plugger]

I hear big numbers thrown around a lot for wooden lures and I know that there are some that start in the $24. + but for me that's a lot of cash so I keep mine in the $15 to $20. range. And I guess I'm an old school kind of guy because I build them first to catch fish and then fishermen. I think most of the new styles out there are to catch fishermen first.

Armand

RI-popper,

thats well said,I am old school too!

R-P

[DarkSkies]

Hope I got the name straight guys, I was writing notes faster than I can talk at the end, and can't read my own handwriting.

2 guys, Larry and Ralph. Members of the Asbury club, been doing it since 2004. Plug prices from $15-20. Nice meeeting you both.

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[DarkSkies]

Steve of T Bone Tackle Co.




T Bone tackle company, started by the other Steve about 3 years ago. Steve lists Gary Hull and Harvey plugs as his influences . Right now it seems he's focusing on one style of swimmer. It's a decent size, about 3 oz, good for stayin on top in fast water.

I never fished one, so I don't know how it swims. I like how the back underside is offset. Looks to me like that plug needs a little extra effort to come out as smooth as it looks, and that Steve has some decent building skills.

Nice meetin both Steves.


Some pics of the T-bone swimmers:


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[HandCarvedLures]

I have independent reviews on my website from users..
www.handcarvedlures.com

[Rip-Plugger]

Pretty plugs catch fishermen, not the fish. But I sure do like looking at them.

Dats whacha call fishermens porn!


R-P

[DarkSkies]

I have independent reviews on my website from users..
www.handcarvedlures.com

Hey Kev, I don't think there was a dig at your stuff, I've seen your handcarved lures, it takes you a long time, and talent, just like some of the stuff Loki makes.

I think $15-25 is the psychological barrier for a lot of regular guys. If we're going to bash something up, it's a little irritating if something cost over $30 and it sails out to sea or gets swiped by a monster bluefish.

There are a lot of collectors around who pay $50-$150 on ebay for plugs, for me I think that's insanity. If they're paying that price for a plug just to lock it up in a case and never use it, that's their perogative.

That's not me, I fish everything I have, except for a custom "Darkskies special" Eric made for me. I can't bring myself to fish that plug, but that's just me.

[DarkSkies]

Met Alan from Lemire's plugworks. One of the newer builders on the market. First time I had heard of him. These newer builders and people on the fringes are usually the things that catch my eye because they seem to have interesting stories.



Some background:

This is one of the newer plug builders out there, Alan Lemire from Lemire's plugworks in RI.

He's been doing this for about 4 years now, and fishes heavily out of Block Island.

One of the things that impressed me about him is he claims he test swims all of his plugs before he packages them for sale.

I realize the big builders can't do that, but for a novice builder just starting out, it was refreshing to hear he has such a committment to quality control. Without getting into names, I have at times met builders who brag to me how they sell the plugs "that don't swim right" on E-bay. I don't understand that. If I was making plugs I wouldn't want a bad plug to be put in the hands of a fisherman. That would matter to me because I would want the guy to catch a fish, and toss the bad plugs away. Maybe that's just me.

I can't tell you anything else about the quality of Alan's plugs as I just met him for the first time today. However, I like his business philosophy, and wish him success in the years ahead.

Nice meetin ya Alan.

[DarkSkies]

This is a small company, run by Rob Koch and Larry Wellcome, that has enjoyed some great success this year and last. I believe last year was their first year selling plugs to tackle shops.

Before that, as I understand it. Larry Wellcome was making plugs for a few years in a shop in his basement. All made from wood. Years of trial and error to build the "extreme" plug that would stand up to brutal Montauk conditions, swim straight, dive just right, and catch fish in the blackness of night where good construction was important, and critical to a good outing.

Along comes Rob with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was friends with Larry. Out of that friendship developed a thought of a partnership.

Rob took their best producing wooden plug, and set out to copy it in plastic so it would consistently produce the same results for all fishermen.

A lot of fishermen are stuck on the "legacy of wood". I never imagined a plastic plug could gather so much interest, but it has.
I think it's safe to say that Rob and Larry's company is one of the better success stories in this terrible recession we're living through.

I really wanted to know the reason behind the success.

Was it all hype, or was there some good science behind it?

I think the interview today provides those answers. Take a look and make your own judgement.



Best of luck to you guys.

[DarkSkies]

Northbar pics:

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This is the 63 Rob caught while testing. Beautiful fish, man.

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[DarkSkies]

Always a pleasure to run into Armand and his son Marcel. They're full of great stories, and top it off with good family values.

I ran into Armand from RI poppers and his son Marcel. They gave a nice interview not only on the business of plug-making and some of their background info, but on Armand's philosophy and his outlook on life.



It was nice to meet you two again, always a pleasure, Armand and Marcel.

Some of the hardwood plugs Armand is now putting out there:
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[DarkSkies]

RV Plugs, Brick area, NJ
Met with Ralph & Jerry from RV plugs. The talk a little about what they do, show off some of their work, and Ralph (behind the table) talks about an awesome hand carve piece he did. Amazing detail.





Next stops for these guys, Shorecatch seminars, and Asbury on the 14th.

[DarkSkies]

Tony Spina and his friend Howell.
Tony has been around for a long time, used to partner in a few businesses with Charlie K, Driftwood Lures, and some others.
More about Tony Spina:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...ead.php?t=2469


He was here at a table with his friend Howell. They were selling Tony's plugs, and some tackle and teasers.



I think Howell said Tony will be doing area flea markets for the next 4 weeks.
Next one might be Lacey Twp Elks in Forked River.

[DarkSkies]

Fish on-8 Middlebury CT
Rob with his sons Rob & Danny





You can next find Rob at the Asbury show on the 14th.

[DarkSkies]

Loki Lures, SI, NY

Met Greg and his brother in law.
Greg makes a particular style of plugs that require some extra time because of the way he shapes/shaves them.
He's famous for the "Loki Slider"

[DarkSkies]

Bodega Bay Lure Co

Joe Riviera from Bodega Bay, he's also known as Sporty Guy.





Joe will be at Asbury on the 14th.

[DarkSkies]

Big Ed's Lure Co

Carmine from Big Ed's Hamilton, NJ







They will be at Asbury on the 14th.

[DarkSkies]

Kevin's Lures, Jackson, NJ

Kevin had an interesting story. This was the first time I ran into him. He started making plugs because he didn't have to money to keep throwing away on plugs that he might eventually lose on the rocks.

He has always been handy with tools, and a tinkerer. So he started making plugs to fill his fishing needs, saw that they worked well, and branched out from there.

Because he's making only a few at a time as a hobby, his prices are attractive, from $7-$15 per plug.

He even sells unfinished plug kits, for a beginner to try, or a Dad to get into plug building with his son. Very reasonable, I think each kit with everything included is around $5

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Nice meeting ya, Kevin, best of luck.