Awesome Day
 

When my wife called at 1 p.m. and asked if I didn't mind her going shopping, (seriously she never does), I replied, oh no sweetie, take your time and have a nice afternoon, because "I am going too". Met a few more people I didn't know personally until today.

I actually hoe'd my first plug today. Won a beeeyooteeful pink AH needle. Stunning really.

See y'all at TFCTFN.:kewl:

Big thanks to all the worked this and came to PF09. My voice is shot so I'm glad I get to type this instead...

Seriously great time, and once again - you all are blanking nuts, great skills, and truly go the extra mile for your partners in crime.

There are s few of you that did not collect winnings so we'll need to work something else up.

Simply fantastic :humpty:

And great work with the stuff for the kids. Couple of us were talking and I think we need to get some kits to kids and have a Kids division (painting only :hihi: )

:eyes:

Thank you !

I was so "WipEd" I just took a 3 hour nap and I still feel like I was hit by a truck!:sleeps:

thanks for a great experience. awesome to meet a lot of you in person.
got to see tons of great stuff from everybody.

had a great time thanks everyone! big thanks to mike and slip. great time hanging out thanks dave, larry, steve, chris, and ed. nice to see you don!

You guys put on a great, awesome event. I have been wanting to attend for a few years and really wish I had made the trip earlier. Great to see some folks I haven't in a awhile and meet some new ones. Wish I had more time to spend as I didn't do alot of what I wanted to with so much going on. It was a sensory overload with the plugs. So much incredible stuff being built nowadays. The classic plugs are one thing I do not get to see a bunch of and really enjoyed that part. Got a mess of great stuff in swaps and wish I had more stuff to do a bit more trading. Got to meet two people who have inspired me to build plugs Capesams and Mac. It was a pleasure meeting you both and enjoyed the time we had to talk immensely. Again, had a great time today and will be making this a yearly trip.

Yeah, but you still kept it. Now I will have to keep one eye peeled over my shoulder when we go fishing.

Seriously, George you outdid yourself. I tried to be strong but when you flashed that giant jointed pikie in front of me my knees buckled.

And special thanks to Chum, you are too kind.

Numby and Chum my plugmaking heros!

And Mike Thomas and family, you guys are the stones!!!!!!

And everyone else who stopped by to chat plug history and VB, I am scarfing down a 1/2 sour as I type this. ( and thanks for the pin)

Man I feel like theres so many people I didn't meet!

Great time though, my first plugfest.

I was hoping to trade for some of wahlie's gordo or musso plugs, didn't see him though

Just getting settled from the trip home.
 

New here, but got to see a bunch of friends again. Had a ball seeing some of the best doing and showing their stuff. Big thanks for the guys that hooked me up with some swaps and some plugs for my son. Really enjoyed the day and can't wait to do it again. See you Rhody boys in a couple of months.:wavey:

thanks to all who worked hard to make this event happen me and my son had a great time and was able to meet lots of other builders great talking and trading with most of you! Digger,Chumbucket,Eastendlou,The Greek,Mac,Vineyardblues,GooGooman,Woodyct,fisherma nNH,sjfish,and many others.

Tight Lines !!! bob

IT'S 3:AM an Im up looking at all the plugs I got in trade.:hihi:
I wish to thank you ALL for a GREAT SHOW, picked up some BIG WOOD, got some GREAT PLUGS, had a WOUNDERFUL time. A BIG THANKS to JOHN.MIKE an everyone who put this together, your a great bunch of guys,
GOOD LUCK GOOD PLUGGIN :wave:
see you next year:humpty:

Awesome time.I got to see some good folks I only converse with here on this tire hub.It makes a big difference.Guys like Slip,Flap,Mac,Tagger,Dave CanalMan Anderson,The second coming of rip van winkle PM,Loooo,Chris PNG,Raven,Bob S.,BF Larry the mono using Lug..Vic and friends,Striper Crazy.angler229 I like the choices in plugs you have made.Eat a Sangwich..Don Afterhours guy.The guy who gave me back one of my plugs thanks.I gave it to Rip Van Winkle.Dr.Fish,Thanks for bringing up the wood....I hate naming names I always forget someone.Some had some nice things to say to me..That was nice thanks.
There was quite a few folks I did not know.We have to do name tags next time.
Special thanks to Numby..Who it seems his buddy Sauerkraut is a NJ guy.Pay attention to him you'll learn things..:uhuh:
Geo you where too much.Your work displays the beauty of simplicity.Very clean and funtional.Lots of guys go overboard and thats fine.You make plugs like they should be made IMO.
You made em to hand out and made quite a few folks happy today.Awesome job..
Thanks.
A specail thanks to John Redmond and Mike Thomas and Family who made this a special day well worth the drive for us Jersey guys.....
Oh ya Special thanks to Chum for driving and digger for keeping him awake. I hope I didn't snore on the way home..

Dennis Zambrota good to finally meet you yesterday..
I learned one of his secrets yesterday.He has a fish calling trombone..
:eek:

Tony,
Nice meeting you also. You are probably one of a handful of guys on our coast who could correctly identify what it was. Later on slipknot took a break from turning and we were able to put the trombone to work downstairs. He (and a few others gathered around) grasped the idea pretty quickly and may put it to use this coming season.

Afterwards as I was washing eel slime of my hands I had the pleasure of meeting SauerKraut. We had a very nice conversation about needlefish, eels and striped bass. He is a great guy to talk with. I could easily see myself casting with him and Numbskull (and Flap).

Speaking of Numbskull, how could I possibly refuse a darter when it comes in Block Island Green? Great work George. First chance during the squid run it will get wet. George, we can make a Block trip work if you really want to - I'll guide. Just bring Sauerkraut along in case the bass are eel crazy.

Flap - What a wonderful piece of artwork you gifted me - my highlight of the day. My wife has a degree in Art History and she absolutely loved it. You have great talent Steve!

Tagger - Your imitation of the needle that took my largest bass is special right down to the color. Looking forward to our visit in November.

To the rest of the gang who put on Plugfest - great job. It was jam packed at times - almost as crowded as SW Bar on a November Saturday evening when the cows are "IN". Had a great time.

Thanks

DZ

With what you ate I'm sure snoring was the LEAST of their worries.

Greek..very nice meeting you as well....some of your works of art sitting on the table are eye popping:drool:now there's one less:)thank you:)you came along way to be there..I'm glad you did.

#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&..Thanks for all the goodies and the badge:) made the trip over the bridge worth the ride.

It was good to see Grapenuts..:D
It's been a long time..

just had to say thank you for a good time . It was good to see every buddy and there new plugs . I hope to see every body at Tfctfn. :bsod:

I played trombone 8 yrs. as a kid (father made me) and I havn't got a clue what your talking about . This is one I'll be laying in bed thinking about .. Somebody help me pleeeez .. Great seeing you DZ ,, thanks for the loaner,,,only hope mine comes close . Figures non trombone playing NIB knows .. I have regrets not meeting everyone .. p o 'd I didn't meet Digger .. as goofy as it sounds nametags not a bad idea .. PlugFest .... best way to shake off the winter ..

Didn't get a chance to take many pictures but here is what I have.

George holding court while BackBeach Jake , Prof M and others look on.

Stifftip and Sauerkraut kabitzing on this years canal fishing forecast. Of course loaded Cotton Cordells were discussed in length.

Bobby "BS4Shore" Samuelson, holding Stan Gibbs first. (His hands were trembling)

My two favorite plug makers are Numby and this guy. A great plug maker fro New Jersey and just a great guy. A legend holds a legend.

Matt "Chumbucket" Tomczyk.

Matt please swim the plug and then make a your version of it. I think that design and you are the perfect match.

The Holy Grail of plugs, mine shook, too. I still get light-headed in it's presence...

That was really nice of Flaptail to let everyone fondle the Gibbs plug.

Looks like Bobby is thinkin..
Runn,Ruunnnn..
:uhuh:

I was a little gassy on the way home..
But this smorning was when the real bombs went off..
:chased:
Pull my finger..:rotf2:

What an awesome day!
Thanks to everyone who put this thing together. I know you guys worked you asses off for us. It was very cool.
Thanks Chum for driving. You guys may not know it, but Chum is a "professional driver" and he just loves cruisin'. I love riding along listening to NIB snore:spin: Seriously, hangin with NIB and Chumbucket is like having the Golden Ticket to meet the best striper fishermen on the coast. Thanks for all the introductions.
Congratulations to the winners of the plug building contest. All that stuff was off the hook! I see that I'm really going to have to sharpen up my skills if I hope to win one of those certificates next year.
I wasn't in the room 5 minutes when I met Numbskull and he gave me an excellent Musso style darter:btu:. Thanks Numby (or do you prefer Mr Skull?:cool:) I know just the rip for that plug.
The displays were just incredible. The plugs on the tables and in the boxes represented the best of history and the best of what's to come for our obsession.
I missed most of the food, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to hang outside in the cold shooting the bull with Capesams :spin: I did get in on some of that shepards pie casserole made by John R's wife. That stuff was yummy :drool:

All in all, I had a great time. Saw a bunch of old friends and made a bunch of new ones. Who could ask for more?

Maybe if I hang with NIB long enough, he'll invite me up to fish with a few of you guys when the bass come:bl:

Digger

great times
 

Thanks to everyone for setting this up. John R. and Mike CC and everyone else that made this happen. It was a great time. Saw some old friends and made new ones. all around was a great time. didn't get to stick around too long as i was fighting off a cold. John R. sorry for the name mix up :) i don't think i've ever met that guy before...

-Chris