The other thread got me to thinking about needlefish plugs. I used to cast them alot and caught my largest bass on one but have not used them much since the late 90's. Now I cast them once in while usually when distance is needed or windy big sea conditions. I also use a needle with a skin on it with alot of success when I do remember to take it out of the frig before leaving home. Well anyway, if you could only use one needlefish plug, which one would it be?

Striper sniper, habs, mac's or my own.

Just 1 my own.

I havent had alot of success with needle fish. I own a variety of afterhours, gibbs, SS, ect but lack of confidents keeps it in the plug bag. I want to make it a point for the rest of the year to really fish these more and gain some confidence in them.

Habs all Black (or black over dark purple)

habs, afterhours

although i probably lost the fish of a lifetime on cutty on a black beachmaster

just one

HABS black and purple

Gibbs and Habs

Steve,
I do use most of the major brands but if I could only use one it would have to be the most versatile - that would be the Super Strike model with a bright neon green back/white belly. I have other favorites for specific conditions... but Musso's needle will catch fish in the most varied conditions.

DZ

habs, afterhours

although i probably lost the fish of a lifetime on cutty on a black beachmaster

just one

HABS black and purple

I can still hear the scream...

I can still hear the scream...

i have nightmares still about that fish

Super Strike.

I also experimented with small Stetzko's in fresh water and was impressed by the wake they leave, more like a hump. Looked good to me.

Super Strike - the chart/white that DZ likes and the dark green/white.

I havent had alot of success with needle fish. I own a variety of afterhours, gibbs, SS, ect but lack of confidents keeps it in the plug bag. I want to make it a point for the rest of the year to really fish these more and gain some confidence in them.


As long as you fish them slow you can't go wrong. Don't make the mistake of thinking it should be worked like a pencil. A trick I learned from a sharpie- reel it very slowly- every 10 turns of the handle lower the tip while reeling- stop reeling for a couple seconds- gently pump the needle back to the surface with 1-2 pumps- resume reeling- WHAM!

Needle I have done best with- Salty's 2.5oz. in everybody's favorite color- Blurple (with glow in the dark eyes).

Woody

Super strike. Don't really fish needles anymore though. The 7" amber colored super strike was a good one for me. Super strike plugs are nearly indestructable too.

if I could only have one needle and it would be my only plug, i'd probably go yellow/white afterhours

if I could only have one needle but still have other plugs (redfins, jrs., etc.) i'd go with a blurple habs 2 oz

the AH is more versatile IMO, but it can be replaced with other plugs in most conditions without a big drop off in catches. the hab's is great in certain conditions and nothing comes close as far as artificials.

Frist light floresent green or olive.Dark night dark green or black

Frist light floresent green or olive.Dark night dark green or black

Pete,

How about the bic pen needlefish you used to make? The toothbrush was a good one too....

Agree with DZ. The SS needles are versatile and might be my pick if I had no clue on the conditions or area that I was fishing. Have done well with the flour. green/white belly and the pink/white belly. I'd prefer throwing wood needles though. Mainly Gibbs since my father fished with Stan Gibbs as a kid and remains fairly loyal although Gibbs isn't the same as it once was. I'm always up for trying new things and hopefully becoming a better fisherman though.... Oh yeah and a white spoffords needle for bass, bonito, and albies. Guess it is hard to pick just one.

Superstrike. White, Black/Purple, and Yellow/white.

Second would be the stubby Habs.

habs and afterhours and rm

SALTY BUGGER yellow over White// pink- White

Needlefish are a weird plug - people either love them or have no faith in them.

If only one, then it would be Superstrike lime green.
other than that one, second choice is a loaded superstrike stubby with an eelskin.

I love fishing needles, I've caught a lot of fish on superstrikes, habs and my own.

As long as you fish them slow you can't go wrong. Don't make the mistake of thinking it should be worked like a pencil. A trick I learned from a sharpie- reel it very slowly- every 10 turns of the handle lower the tip while reeling- stop reeling for a couple seconds- gently pump the needle back to the surface with 1-2 pumps- resume reeling- WHAM!

Needle I have done best with- Salty's 2.5oz. in everybody's favorite color- Blurple (with glow in the dark eyes).

Woody

thanks woody. I mean I will get to a spot, conditions look good for a needle. Ill toss one out sllloooowwwllly reeeling it in, couple twitches here and there. 6 casts later, im switching to a plug I have more confidence in. Its just a mental thing I guess.

Habs 2oz - yellow, olive, blurple

There are so many good ones being made commercially it's tough to pick.

I use my own most times ( I don't dringe as much when I snap one off)

The last two years though I have caught more fish on the old style Gags than any other but you go through phases and one must remember that no one manufacturer makes the perfect needle for all conditions so I carry quite an assortment, Gibbs, Afterhours, SuperStrike, Gags and Salty's.

Tagger's big blue/white needle...local....:humpty:

afterhours!!! :bgi:

Anyone catching on the RM Smith needles? They look great, but I haven't had a chance to get out and use one yet.

I've had success with the Habs stubby needle in yellow.

Anyone catching on the RM Smith needles? They look great, but I haven't had a chance to get out and use one yet.

I've had success with the Habs stubby needle in yellow.

i've got one and havent fished it yet, do look nice tho

My favorite would be Salty's 2.5 in parrot
2nd would be the new Salty's 1.5 toona tamer in parrot

I own hundreds of needles and only usually go out with a couple

BM 2.75

Hab's 2oz in yellow or black, Salty's are very good in the 2.5oz just got a few more.
I dying to try my new RM Smith

salty's olive/silver stubby- no belly hook.. tuna hook with hackles on the tail..

2 oz. white hab's if i could only have one.

The 1.5 oz. Habs in yellow is sweet. Salty's 2.5oz. are awesome too, and the Gag's Chubby needle is pretty nice too.

My Gag's, blueback-rustsides,white belly and a flouro yellow shot on the arse.
I mostly fish needles these days, and catch on a few others SS, Saltys and Habs etc.

Billy D's fat stubby

Salty's olive over white :btu:

habs 1.5oz

Habs Blurple (so pyched to have this plug), Salty's bananna (u can't go wrong), Choopy's in sand eel color (see the video, ha ha), Stetzko's also in yella, and just recieved my first RM Smith in pink/white, haven't fished it yet but will not be shy about it. Would of thought this guy was a hockey player stitching himself up and all then going to the hospital. Nice work there.

thanks woody. I mean I will get to a spot, conditions look good for a needle. Ill toss one out sllloooowwwllly reeeling it in, couple twitches here and there. 6 casts later, im switching to a plug I have more confidence in. Its just a mental thing I guess.

Stick with it

It is mental... It does not feel like it is working so you switch,,,, I have to say that Salty's, Hab's or afterhours are the way to go,,,, Personally,,, It took me a long time to catch my first fish on a needle,,,, and fortunately enough I was given a needle by the Hab-man himself and told how to work it,,, I have never looked back,,, I have the most confidence in needlefish out of any type plug in my bag,,,,

The Charlie Gargano magic stubby, hands-down favorite. Hear that Charlie, gotta get me a few more for September.

Favorite Needle for what? :confused:


Tell me the tide/ depth/ current/ wind direction & speed, bottom structure/ stickiness (or not)... bait present, etc., etc., & I'll choose my favorite Needle for THAT situation! (I fish 10 makes & more sizes/ styles frequently! :)


There are nights a 2 oz. Habs will sink like a stone to bottom & get stuck... & there are nights it will be tossed about ineffective... then the 3.5 or "Night- N- Gale" needed! :humpty:


My "emotionally" favorite Needle? Just which make me happiest when I acquire? BM all three sizes/ styles, Parrot esp.... & Blurple Habs! :cool:

The Charlie Gargano magic stubby, hands-down favorite. Hear that Charlie, gotta get me a few more for September.

Amen George, that thin stubby Charlie gave to me has quite a few battle scars now! :btu:

I love Salty's bannanna!:shocked:

Not to sound like a two year old, but why are these your favorites? Or better yet per LeCounts, why which one when (conditions, where in the water column...etc.)?

Oh and, Marc Z comes out of nowhere and posts! High Z! How was weakie fishing this spring? Seemed kind of quiet, but I was tied up coaching boys lacrosse and did not participate.

Hab's fat stubby has saved me from more than one skunking. If I ever lose' em I will :crying: I got two and fish them hard. Name escapes me though - 3 oz I think with belly hook.

One for two on 150 - 200 lb Bluefin yesterday. Thanks Salty.:thanks:

A year ago it woulda been a white Habs 2ozr..but im running low and switched to the AH..JUST AS GOOD IMHO!!

Hab's fat stubby has saved me from more than one skunking. If I ever lose' em I will :crying: I got two and fish them hard. Name escapes me though - 3 oz I think with belly hook.

Lost a brandy new one last nice on my first cast str8 outta the bag :doh:

anyone finds a florescent yellow at the Gurnett I will reward ya...

if you could only use one needlefish plug, which one would it be?
The one that has a slob attached to it :hihi:

boogerboogerboogerbooger

mine.

always have a fishdoc in my bag

great post...just want to keep it alive

wondering if you are using trebles or dressed siwash on the tail end ?

Mine, Hab's, Afterhours, Salty's...in no specific order,,, Can't go wrong with any of them,,,,,

I am going to be the farm on an AH skin needle it is only a matter of time....:fishin:

It depends on the conditions, but if it was just one to cover all conditions, I'd go with Super Strike in black or Chartreuse.

My own 2.5 oz yellow over white with a red throat.

nice that this thread was re-opened. as stated earlier this season my goal was to really build some confidence in the plug and I definitley have. I was out at cutty, and was tossing an afterhours black over red 2oz and had 5 fish on 5 casts. Really built up my confidence in the plug, and its become a good "fish finding" plus when I first come to spot.

I havent had alot of success with needle fish. I own a variety of afterhours, gibbs, SS, ect but lack of confidents keeps it in the plug bag. I want to make it a point for the rest of the year to really fish these more and gain some confidence in them.


Recently caught my first fish on a white needle. I will always have an assortment in my bag from now on.

Anyone catching on the RM Smith needles? They look great, but I haven't had a chance to get out and use one yet.

I've had success with the Habs stubby needle in yellow.

i have a yellow rm floater that has caught for me...haven't thrown my white rm needle yet, and i only have one other needle. i don't throw them too often but i'm trying to get into them

Afterhours !