Me.
Time to work on plugs has been at a real premium as I got a project going on since last summer and still working on it so I just haven't had the spare time to dedicate to the plug. I have found time here and there and these are what I have completed.

I pretty much only make what I fish nowadays. Gone are the days of making everything under the sun. I make what I and friends like to use. So canal and boat are my priorities.

These are my heavy canal poppers. Very small, maybe 5 inch and 2 1/4 oz. A normal size one I make is in upper left corner for size comparison. They cast as good as any I have thrown and pop good too. A very good producer for me last several years. The siwash no exposed tail wgt. ones are much lighter and for boat. They will pop and swim nicely.

These are my bread and butter in the canal. I have them just how I like them last few years so no need to screw with them. Got my largest canal fish in a few years last year on a white one. Seems lots of builders are going small now but I went several years ago and have not looked back. The addition of the exposed rear wgt. a couple of years ago has been a great addition too. The distance obtained is awesome even for a hack caster like me. You can see one of my normal size ones in last pic to see size comparison. They weight about 2 oz's. 3/0 tail hook 2/0 belly. Small but sturdy. White is my color of choice.

Some Conrads and some BM Schoolies and 2 Pichney Dannies. I did 3 Dannies this year but Art got the other one unless George didn't give it to him.:) Figured they are called schoolies so I did an old school Capt. Bill schoolie paint job that I really like.

Small Pichney dannies which is one of my fav plugs to fish from the boat or shore and a couple Peanut conrads.

Top water.
My go to plug all year from boat, but especially spring, is the Howdy, in my fav colors. Luv that plug. Thanks Bernzy:uhuh:. I put glass rattles in these this year. My spooks which also have glass rattles and 2 gibbs small pencils. My canal super size howdies. 9 inches. Glass rattles too. You can see a reg. size howdy for comparison. Got high hopes for these big guys in canal this year when macks come in. Need to fish them with rod tip low though so you will need to be on a rock above the water which shouldn't be a problem in canal.

Wow, those are nice...........really nice. Great work.

Last but not least are some Darters. A traditional one but some I have been fiddling with for a few years. You will notice that I concaved the slope. I find them to dart but will go deeper than a regular darter and dart kind of up and down too. Still got things to iron out but I think they have merit and will keep at it trying to make them better. I also did a large one too but couldn't find time to finish them this year. There is always next year.

Thats it. My year is done plug wise. For not having much time I did get a bunch done even if it is almost time to start fishing.

wow someone is actually looking in this forum.:) Thanks. It has been pretty dead in here since plugfest, which I didn't bring anything too really so better late than never.

Paul, those darters are crazy!!!!. Love those little pichneys. Awesome work!!
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For a guy with no time to build plugs you sure gat a lot done. Those look awesome Paul...hope they catch for you. Good luck.

Great job Paul. I hope you stick a few nice fish with them.

excellent!

Nice job Prof., great looking fish catchers.
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really like the design of the pencils and darters. that cloud conrad is sweet too

One step beyond.

Blue cloud danny and flo-green sloped conrad scream big bass.

insane work like alway:uhuh:

Pure PLUG PORN Paul

Well looky that..nice stuff there P......... it's almost time to:fishin:

Very nice Paul, quality work. I'll bet those small Pichney's have a great action. I sure would like to know how you did those scoop's, I'm working on something very similar right now.

Douglas

sweet stuff Paul. Those darters are very cool... look like you musta machined the diving surface at work. Where do you source your glass rattles? Love the pearl Howdies...

wow that is quite the stash there, I don't think you sleep

I like those scoop darters, it has a look from an old plug Flaptail had years ago but was not a darter.
Excellent plugs Paul, keep them away from bluefish and plughos

Lots to comment on, as I love topwater stuff! But I really like seeing something "new" as in the the darters' scooped plane! Nice stuff!

Wow... Sweeet...... I REALLY like those darters.... Cool stuff...
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Looking real nice Paul.

Fortunately, the fish are still safe. Paul still needs a rod to cast those plugs. Then there is that bit about the new cottage and all the work that needs to be done. Considering all this, and the price of gas, Paul made a smart move not wasting money on hooks.








And, yes, I gave those plugs to Art. He was thrilled, I was bummed.

:btu:

Great stuff as always!

Your wife told me she was taking the valve stems out of both trailers and sewing gps trackers in your socks til the project is done...may as well start passing the plugs out.

Love the concept of the darters! I am always in awe of your plugs. :uhuh:

That old school striper schoolie is amazing, great stuff!

Thats it. My year is done plug wise. For not having much time I did get a bunch done even if it is almost time to start fishing.

You sure did!! Everything looks great, but them darter's :love:

Nice stuff as always, Paul

thanks guys.
Chris the glass rattles I get from ebay. Biggest you can find. Mill out a slot, or drill holes next to each other in bottom of plug and finish to make slot with exacto blade and epoxy them in. Can of corn and work real well.
Douglas the concave is done by hand and eye, no machine. I have put concave bottoms on my canal pencils so I have done it before and I have been looking at the front end of a South Bend Bass Oreno on my bench for a few years and thought I need to make that shape in a plug so why not a darter, also thought of a Nike too but have not tried that yet. I use a tube, pipe, and wrap sand paper around it and rub it till I get stock removal I want. I use my eye to get to where I want to be. Rougher paper to start and finer to end. I cut the slope same as ordinary darter but leave more material on so I can get a complete concave radius. Kind of started as a hoot but now I am determined to get them to work consistently and so far I still have interest. You do need pretty deep water for them as they will bump bottom in shallow stuff. I can take a pic this weekend to show what the set up looks like if U got interest. Hope that helps.

BTW most of these plugs were turned last few years so all I needed to do is paint and finish this year which accounts for the amount done in fairly short time invested.

Those darters are sick Paul. I've gotta see how they work. Sweet.

Wow, Paul! Nice job on everything. I especially love the howdy's. I've had some nice fish on Bernzy's the last couple years. And the small pencils are great looking, too. No need to say anything about the darters, as i think everyone else has already expressed my thoughts. You've outdone yourself even if you didn't have a lot of time to put in on them.

Nice stuff, just keep Ernie away from your stash

Nice job Prof.

Thanks for the props, it is appreciated.

Bernzy

Thank you. John. Good to see you are still around. Hope U are well
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Nice job Prof.

Thanks for the props, it is appreciated.

Bernzy

Bernzy, I LOVE the camera!!!

Paul, beautiful stuff!!

awsome stuff Paul thanks for sharing.... love them darters

rene