In Vermont it's "You might make a carpenter but you'll nevah be one."

I consider myself an excellant student .. Anybody that calls themselves master your going to hear wispering and laughter as they carry there big head by... I do consider some peolple in here and over there masters though...time proven ? ... we'll see ...

i hear ya. i feel the same.

my opinion is, when you can hold someone's plug and look and say "wow", thats the craftsmanship speaking for itself. and the plug performs as well as it looks. there are a couple of builders impaticular here that i feel are masters (aside from the obvious) i guess a "master" is seen by each individual, not as a general term.

VB...there's not many old codder's left these day's, but the one's I know are master of quite a few things..u gotta stop hangin around those that came over the bridge 30 years ago.:hihi:

my definition of a master is someone like stan gibbs/ danny p,,,many different plug styles to their credit that still work today and that many of us copy in one form or another..

A person that may only have one or two styles[maybe a new shape or not] to their credit, I define as a specialist only because they haven't yet done an entire line of different shape's.

master..one who can do it all well.

specialist...one who does only a few well.

times sure have changed.

I don't think that a plug has to LOOK like it belongs under glass for someone to be a "master plug builder", a new term i'm growing tired of, like "sharpie":rolleyes: , I know guys that make , what I call" work plugs"...finish might not look all that sweet but size, shape and action are right on the money.These plugs work all the time, even on slow nights...because the person has put alot of thought and testing into them.Bottom line, if a guy makes a good plug , then he makes a good plug.Call him what you'd like ...If any of this matters:huh: :) johnny

CS, you are a master! And you drive me and alot of others crazy:)
How's the new underpants?
VB

To me, first and foremost, a master plug builder would also have to be a "master" fisherman. A person who has learned to read the water, understands current and structrure, knows the patterns of the fish they are pursuing, knows the bait and the characteristics of the bait that are in the water. You know the guy. We all know at least one person like this. They catch when we're all scratching our heads. They can make a negative fish go crazy and explode on a plug.

This person can carve or turn a plug that has internal energy that translates into how it moves and behaves in the water. They can hold a piece of wood in their hand and know what kind of plug is inside.

MEE:confused: no freakin way.....I haven't even temted a darta yet.. :smash: I'm goin back to jigs.

ahh! they were great at first ...then my reg. pants started ta slide off.:huh:

i consider stan gibbs, danny p., donny m., masters- rest of us are grasshoppers.

CS,,,, better get some giant safty-pins :)

Darter,,,ya ok...lol

Oooooo geeee I promised slip I'd come over here cause its the happy place and I promised I wouldn't start nothing. :D

Ok Master builder, What is a master builder?
There isn't one.
You can call some guys artist, some guys engineering genius, some guys business wizards, nuts and bolts guys, some guys anal perfectionist and other such catagories. But for a master builder? Nope , Each of us pocess talents in different aspects of the plug building game. Some care to center on the fine lines, some on the swimability, some on market value, some on stress relief some on matching the bait. Yet there is something we all need to work on. Even Mike Fixter, Habs and beachmaster with thier years still look and search for better ways so yes they are still learning and bettering themselves and thier plugs.
As for having to be perfect to be able to sell your plugs that I disagree. That is more supply and demand than if you lure is a rembrant, Lets look at a company plug. Lex lures can anyone say they are top of the line paints and material?
Of course not, yet even the owner of Lex can't make enough plugs to supply the demand.
The other thing I keep reading is length of building and testing. So does the amount of time you have been building and testing matter to when and if youcan start selling. That really is up to you and really more important to those looking for another plug to try. If you want to buy plugs that are so perfect to hang or even fish by all means do so. If you want to buy them from certain builders that is your right to try and buy some of his pluggage, If you want to try and test plugs that you have never tried and compare how they swim you should be alright in offering to pay for someones plug.
Yet I keep reading that you guys think its an outrage for a newer builder to actually sell one of his plugs. My thought if someone wants one and is willing to pay for it. Then there is no justification to not sell your plugs. We all no well most of us have spent more than we should have while chasing this hobby and if you can support it by selling to someone you wants to try what you got then go ahead.
If there is a problem with what the plug does or paint failure be prepared to make it right. Either by refunding that persons money or fixing the problem.
If you do buy a newer builders plugs then be prepared for problems but before you go and bitch on the internet contact that builder most will gladly take care of the problem because it shows them in proof what they need to improve. I know your gonna say well that should be done before you try and sell. But when The demand is as high as it is sometimes putting it on the market will get you faster results than giving away all your plugs. Let the consumer deside and if he deside you made something inferior let him let you know. Pleasing them is more important than pleasing any other builder or critque.
So I guess that's it and Slip I tried to not be so passionate and will not argue my point. Everyone thinks differently and all have their right to thier thoughts.

Some good answers, and provokes some good thought on what the criteria for each level are.

Like any trade, apprentice, journeyman, master... LOTS of apprentices, some journeymen, and FEW masters. Eben's answer is a good one.

Not just the internet, some of the fishing mags are using it too, Slip, and some individuals, but I think Tagger's answer, shows how that is dealt with :)

Well, enuf reflection, back to selling Happy Juice, for me.

I think threads like this take alot of the fun out of building plugs.....you guys take yourselves way too seriously.:rolleyes:

PS- Welcome Winchmaster...nice to see you aboard!:D

I am Master of my domain.Several times a week.Now there's a visual for ya.:D :laughs:

"...you guys take yourselves way too seriously.:rolleyes: "

AMEN!! To that!!:) johnny

I agree 100% Larry give me a beater that the fish like and I'm happy. Make a piece of art that won't get thrown and all you are showing is your Metro side. :D

Yeah Winchie, its nice to make em' nice but even more fun to beat em' up!:happy:

Beating them up....:rolleyes: now there is something we are all masters at!:laughs:

Winch, that's what I was saying....It DOESN'T have to look like art...I feel invisible on this site...:scatter:

Well if you made plugs you would not be. I never saw a JTRB plug.:( Do the have a master clasification for basement builders?;)

SK makes beautiful music to a piece of wood an I've seen his pics of them trashed.just because a plug looks good don't mean u can't throw it into a pile o bluefish.I have a small collection of plugs from the guys on the sites many I chose not to throw. much to thier shagrin i got 1000's of plugs i get a momento from a fellow builder i would rather save em.show em to others that have not seen one in person. then lose one in a blu blitz.It's what I want to do.It's more vauable to me than most fish. The plugs in my fishing arsenal are all well greased machines.an the startin lineup always consist's of well proven winners.Some store bought some made by me an some customs i do toss.I will not try to bestow what i like on others.I may make a suggestion,the choice should always be ur own. i believe if a guy is doin something an it makes him happy then he's allright in my book.if he wants to call himself a Master Builder who am I to say he's not I'm just some poke punchin keys on a puter on Al Gore's Inernet.Do what U like.

johnny does indeed make plugs.i have a few of his poppers.and the bass on a local river hate them so much,that they want to see them dead.works for me:)


guzz

Yep, the local smallies beat the snot out of some RattBoy poppers I have. Course if he would finish doing his nails already :rolleyes: may be he would have time to make some more :D Hey Ratty, aren't you glad not to be so invisible :smash: :laughs:

Jigman

You two are the best...:) johnny

Suckup. :rolleyes:

Pfft.

I am a master plug builder... of a sort.

I make the world's ugliest plugs.

That makes me a master, right?

:doh:
:topic:

Johnny does indeed make plugs. I've seen them but don't own one:( Sorry couldn't resist:D

Face it Rat, were just old school, We can't keep up with these metrosexual builders. ;)
I'm just gonna make them to catch fish, not to hang in a boutique.