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.

i got a johnny polaris that takes fish in boston harbor allll the time. :D

do you have any more dokken besides back for the attack and tooth and nail? ive been listening to those 2 alot.

I got a JTRB Van Halen Pencil popper... :D

Whats a boutique and why would you hang plug there :huh: Plugs are best hung off the end of your line and thrown at fish :D Pretty plugs, ugly plugs, don't matter, Beat the snot out of all of them :humpty:

Jigman

Dude, send the guy some real metal, not that glamsexualposeurfag stuff :yak5:

Jigman

thanks for the words guys, but lets not derail this thread;)
Christian, i've been on a Rage Againist the Machine / Neil Young kick lately...scary stuff...:D
Mac, someday buddy :)
Bill, you hanging that on the stereo speaker:D
Winch & Jigs, this year we'll do the Cape together :cool: :cool:
Okay , back to whatever this started out as......

I will be there Rat. Will throw works of art to bluefish and catch big stripers on the fish catching stuff.

Nib I like what you just wrote, great words and truthful.

Jiggy your the MetroKentukian :D I know they don't have Boutiques in coal country. Them be the Fancy duds store to you.

me to.....
i got plugs i made in the early 90's

I got plugs you made in the early nineties too. And Plugs Stan Gibbs made in the forties, and Charlie Murat in the 40's and Bob Pond in the 40's and, and, and, and, and...............:laughs:

Masters...
 

I thought you guys were all master-baters!!!