Custom Wooden Plugs Review and What's New

[DarkSkies]

Luna Lures...nice to see ya again...Nick....
Nick has been absolutely crushing the bass all winter....


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[DarkSkies]

Davis Lures...Glenn and Family...good to see ya's again....



This year, Glenn made it in the March 8th issue of the Fisherman....Congrats and best of luck for the year, All...


(That's his chartreuse swimmer on the Cover, WTG Glenn!)
And a link to his plugs on this site:
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...78-Davis-Lures



In the picture directly below, you can see where they mention him, circled in ink.

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[DarkSkies]

More Davis plug pics, with his plug matching the pic on the cover.....



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[DarkSkies]

Ace Baits

Last but not least, one of the best quality plug makers out there. He uses a special finish for his plugs, hardened epoxy makes them almost bullet proof.

The owner, Phil, is a great guy, I've met him a few times. He loves to talk about his factory and the process they have perfected over the years. They are well-known in Europe and Canada for trophy musky and pike fishing.

One reservation some guys have about buying them is they're not through wired. However, muskie fishermen swear by them and their toughness. Their plugs and the special finish will stand up to those toothy critters, so why not trophy bass and bluefish?

Phil couldn't make it this year, MRBigfish is running the booth for him. MBF is a behind the scenes fisherman, doesn't like to brag, but this kid knows fish, and muskies. Ask him how these plugs hold up, and you won't need further convincing.

I managed to avoid spending $$, because I don't have too much right now. My budget was $20, I got one thing at the RBAC show, and a pink spook here to replace one I lost to a big bass on the rocks.

Crazy Alberto is a good customer of his too, and cleaned Phil out of certain plugs at a show last year. I will personally attest that the Ace baits spook is my goto plug. I have caught more fish on that thing in warmer water. I almost wish I was rich enough to buy them all from Phil so no one else could, I love those spooks.

The famous spook, only $15:

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[DarkSkies]

Here ya go!



jointed swimmers

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[DarkSkies]

Bunker!
These are my other go to plugs from Ace baits, fish get angry when you swim these, best for warm water, mid spring.

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[DarkSkies]

Glad ya liked it, cowherder.

******************




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M Fisher plugs.......

For some reason I have not yet reported on him. Had a chance to catch up and take some pics. His plugs run from $25-45. Mostly guys are fishing them for bass....He said that some guys are now throwing his poppers for tuna, and fish in exotic locations as well.
An interesting thing about his plugs, is that each lip is branded with his name stamped into it.
Interesting marketing touch.




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[finchaser]

Those plugs would never hold up to tuna IMO no HD hooks or hard ware and they're wood

[DarkSkies]

^

He said that some guys are now throwing his poppers for tuna, and fish in exotic locations as well.

I think you have a valid point there OGB...I'm just reporting what folks tell me.....
As one who fishes for tuna a lot, you would know....thanks for the feedback.....

[surferman]

Just read through this thead again looking for some plug porn to get me through till Sunday. Kind of sad to see who isn't here any more. RIP gents and may you have tight lines in heaven!

[plugcrazy]

You must have almost everyone who is a plug maker in here. Awesome and thanks! I got wood lol.

[DarkSkies]

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Met Armand and his son Marcel from RIP, Rhode Island poppers. Sometimes at the hyped up shows, it's difficult to talk to the plugmakers. I like the shows like JSS put on because you get a chance to talk to the guy when he's not rushed, and can have some decent conversations.

Rhode Island poppers has been in business since 1998, and have slowly grown to be one of the better regarded builders out there. Armand stands by his reputation and is proud of his work.

Beyond that, he told me the pride he feels when someone comes up to him and tells him a story how they nailed a nice fish on his plug.

It doesn't have to be a record. He related a story about how last year he and his son were fishing in the back of the bay, and they had 32-34" bass on almost every cast. Father and son fishing, these are the experiences that bring lifetime memories.

It was nice meetin you and your son again, Armand, and thanks for being so helpful about the Rhode Island info. I'm dyin to fish that place.

[RI Popper]

Hey Darkskies, It was great meeting you at the show. What a wonderful event that was. NJ is quickly becoming one of my favorite places. I love the great comraderie that was shown down there and the people were some of the kindest and warmest I've every been around. Great site you have going here. I hope to stope by some and participate .

Thanks for your kind words about our lures

Tight Lines
Armand

[DarkSkies]

Just calling it like I see it, Armand. It was good talking to ya about fishing with your son, those moments are worth more than anything else, the memories last forever. And I thank ya again for the advice about fishin Rhody.

[DarkSkies]

Big Ed! Another guy who's been doing it for a number of years, he'll be at Asbury. Good meetin you guys again.

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[RI Popper]

If at all possible I'll be back next year.

Armand

[DarkSkies]

Time for some plug porn......
Although some may think I'm against buying wood plugs....not really, just can't see the value in buying plugs for $20-30 that I may only use for a week and lose to structure at night......so most of the wood I have, I have "Ho-ed" it from other builders.......

1. There is a fine art to "plug hoing"......we have a whole thread on it.......
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...-becoming-a-ho!
Buying a plug from a builder....does not always qualify in this specialized ritual of acquiring tackle......

2. However, sometimes plugs are in short supply by different builders who are not building anymore, or who have passed on........this is where Kevin K excels at plug hoing........because sometimes you need to shell out big dollars to buy when the demand is high.....

3. I was talking to Monty today...and we estimated that Kevin K....was one of the top 10 plug ho's in the US...the guy has thousands of plugs,,,,all wood, and is probably a little obsesssed with growing his collection ever bigger.........

4. So today, he brought about 200 of his plugs to "get rid of".....and make no mistake...other guys were drooling and buying....so for anyone who thinks you can't find custom wood at a fishing flea market other than Berkeley or Asbury......it just ain't true.....

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^ Big custom pikies, some from Calif builders.


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^ Original Habs in Package...






Here I present to you....about 1/20th of the collection of Kevin K.....one of the top 10 most obsessive plug collectors on the East Coast....
( when Kevin reads this, you know I'm only teasing ya....remember how many times I found an excuse to walk past your table....to "look" at plugs I don't need.... )


You will find plugs from every in-demand builder in America in the stash above....and these are just the cast-offs the guy and his son were selling.....

BTW, nice to finally meet ya's both.....best of luck on the vacation fishing....

[DarkSkies]

The original Striper Swiper from Atom Manufacturing Co in Attleboro, MA
(Bob Pond's original company, RIP Bob)



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The guy selling these had 2 in pristine condition, $10 each....
I told him the boxes were worth that much and not to sell them for less....and it turns out 1/2 hour later some guy eagerly forked over $20 to buy both without haggling.......

[DarkSkies]

The original Goo Goo eye plugs were created by Leo Cooper, a Stamford, Ct tool and die maker who couldn't find plugs big enough at the time to suit him, so he did his own thing until they came out the way he wanted. American fishing innovation at it's best. Goo goo eye plugs still have a fanatical following to this day.

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Goo Goo eyes in mint condition for $20.....(smaller one)

[speedy]

bin a bit so here they are ....
the swimmer is 2.5 oz.
THE SS COPY IS 2.0 OZ.IMA BEST ONES YET!!!!!!