Hey Guys, I joined a little while ago but this is the first time posting on this site and forum. I have been reading threads here and besides the fantastic plugs you guys are building and posting, I also like very much the overall knowledge here and helpfulness of the answers to any questions asked and it looks like a nice forum to be a part of.

As for me, I am not brand new to plug building, (some of you guys may know me from another site) I've been building for a few years but am by NO means an expert on any aspect of it. I have fun with it and catch fish on my creations, trade a few here and there and thats keeps me happy and doing something fishing related on the off season. I hope to offer some helpful info when I can here or any tips I may have that may help someone sometime, but the way I build is a bit different than most guys and I don't know how much may be useful.:) I don't own a lathe or use any power tools except a hand drill. I enjoy hand carving and and using hand tools to shape my blanks. I also don't use an airbrush or rattle cans to paint. I use brushes and a spatter paint technique to get the effects/results I want. I always though that I would have all those things by now but I actually enjoy the hands-on aspect of the way I build. It is and always will be just a hobby for me. (Also a great excuse to escape to the man cave when needed. hehe)

Here are a couple pics of some of the stuff I enjoy building.
Joe

Few more pics I still had on my computer.

Hello, and welcome.
Cool stuff, hope you stick around.


Have you tried a spokeshave?

Have you tried a spokeshave?

Thats exactly what I do most of my roughing out of a blank with.:uhuh: Its a small one perfect for plug sized work while the blank is held in my vise with a pair of rubber vice pads. I can get a blank pretty close to final shape with it.

This thread may interest you, it has another way to hold your work while you spoke shave (better for larger stuff). http://www.striped-bass.com/Stripertalk/how-favorite-plug-forum-guides/28065-hand-carve-how.html

Hello and Welcome
These guys do awsome work. Your stuff looks good.

Hey Joe :wave:

Welcome to the site.

Nice paint on the scenic popper.
Might be the only way to get bluefish to eat plovers.

JMAC_kerel, VERY NICE, great looking MAC,LOVE the FIN effect did you brush them on:confused:, Im going to try a few this winter, if I can hold my hand steady:smash:QUESTION on the baitfish how are you weighting them, or should I say WHERE are you putting the weight:confused:
GOOD LUCK HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Can I have a plug?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Can I have a plug?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Me2 im a good tester!

Nice mac pattern btw and nice tail wraps

Thanks for the welcome and kind words guys.

JMAC_kerel, VERY NICE, great looking MAC,LOVE the FIN effect did you brush them on:confused:, Im going to try a few this winter, if I can hold my hand steady:smash:QUESTION on the baitfish how are you weighting them, or should I say WHERE are you putting the weight:confused:
GOOD LUCK HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Yeah, the details like the gills, pectoral fins and mac stripes are brushed on. (Not sure if the stripers really care but I enjoy doing it)

As for the weighting most of the plugs I have been making are slider/glider type plugs and I weight them to be slow sinkers or hang just under the surface. On my smaller plugs like the peanut bunkers in one of the pics, I actually weight them right near the center and as low as possible to almost act like a keel and keep the plug upright and level. I little twitch of the wrist makes them 'swim' like the real thing. They are small enough that weight placement doesn't effect castability like it would in a longer plug. For the longer plugs I move some weight back but try to still keep a nice level sink rate.

Joe- Your plugs look great. Curious what wood types you like to use?

Basswood, eastern White Pine, Alaskan yellow cedar?

Very artistic stuff there :btu: I like it

I think I met you in RI this past fall
welcome to the forum

Real nice stuff, welcome.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Joe- Your plugs look great. Curious what wood types you like to use?

Basswood, eastern White Pine, Alaskan yellow cedar?

Thanks. I actually use a variety of wood types. Mostly maple, cherry, poplar, birch and some pine. Depends on what I want the plug to do. Believe it or not, almost all is found/recycled wood or scrap wood. Old furniture etc.

Very artistic stuff there :btu: I like it

I think I met you in RI this past fall
welcome to the forum

Thank you. We did indeed meet in RI. We had lunch with Glen (GooGoo Man) and Matt. I think we were the last customers of that guy's season.