Custom Wooden Plugs Review and What's New

[DarkSkies]

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



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[speedy]

the paint is dry now its time for the wiring and epoxying ..
just have to remmber how i did it lol.......lmao ..

[speedy]

What kind of epoxy did you use?

did not use any yet but i use ...aristocrat epoxy it works great this one is done ..

[DarkSkies]

One of those people is Surfstix.....

He sent me a package a few weeks ago.....
What is most compelling to me,,,is that despite all the health and other problems he has had in the last 3 years, he is still able to make these great plugs and teasers....and most generous in sending them on to be tested by the jaws of death, aggressive bass and angry bluefish.....

Finally got time to post the pics.....
thanks again Surfstix!

Hope Pebbles and I can beat some of these up by showing the "after" pics......


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These are the "before" pics....


the 2 above are shots of the biggest pencil I've seen in a while...this pencil I think weighs in at 4.5oz......

The teaser below is one of Surfstix's hand-made teasers.
He's been making them for awhile now and the craftsmanship really shows......
(Note the good quality epoxy heads on the teasers/tails and the heavy duty split rings......)



Some of Rip Plugger's plugs, and the ones Surfstix has sent me, are usually dressed up now with these teasers at the end.

They make a real difference in getting a fish to hit when they are sluggish or the water is colder.

[baitstealer]

Wow this is the coolest thread. Like the best of plug porn. Keep em coming!

[jigfreak]

you can see the difference in Billy between the first year you filmed and the year after. Good read but a little sad. Thanks, still miss Gary Hull, Lefty and Billy

[hookset]

Can't wait till Berkely and Asbury

[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)

[DarkSkies]

Sephus Plugs....AKA S3 Lures



^ The black one in the middle.





Sephus is a member here from a while back....but I heard from Kevin he isn't making plugs anymore. If anyone can confirm or refute that feel free....

[DarkSkies]

Stirpe Plugs - J Stirpe Woodworking....





I was told that J Stirpe was working with RM Smith..... if anyone has anything further to add, please feel free.

[DarkSkies]

you can see the difference in Billy between the first year you filmed and the year after. Good read but a little sad. Thanks, still miss Gary Hull, Lefty and Billy

You noticed that...good observation. I didn't either until I looked at them together. From one year to the next Billy's health got progressively worse. It was a blessing that Big Gene Amato and family helped to take care of and looked out for him during that time.

That is a story that some may not know about, but Big Gene of Fish On Plugs, and his family, are some very charitable and caring folks. for all they did to make Billy's life a little more comfortable while he was still here.

[cowherder]

Wow this thread is like the hottest for plug porn. Need a glass of water after looking at it. Beautiful stuff thanks for sharing.

[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.....

[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!!!!!!

[DarkSkies]

Nice work, who's the goog that tied those tails?

[speedy]

Nice work, who's the goog that tied those tails?

A GUY FROM LI NY THAT WILL KICK UR A$$...