BM makes excellent plugs, always has, and I've caught more quality fish over the last twenty years on his plugs than any other brand (never had access to Musso/Pichney wood), BUT anyone who claims BM are plugs are "consistent" please tell me which of the following is a BM medium danny.

Maybe this will help.

or this?

ummm ... one old bm (blind) ... one new bm (eyes),,,, nice gizzzmo .

A tenth of an inch difference in a 6" plug has MAJOR effects on the plug's action. Both catch fish, but in my hands the green shape is a much better plug than the pogie shape. I have found similar discrepancies in cowboys, darters and large dannys. I think Bobby did more to keep wooden plugs alive than anyone other than Gibbs, and BM plugs have always had a lot going for them, but consistency is NOT one of them.

I apologize for my unintentional low blow to Bigfish. This was not meant to discredit his product. I am sorry.

No harm done Chis! Hey! How bout' dem Pats?:kewl:

Michael! I`m wearing your underwear!

:eek5:

About 5 or 6 years ago I traded a jointed Habs, from before John was selling (circa 91, 92) for a very large jointed Beachmaster. It has never been fished or even out o my basement.
What's it worth today?

This week, or last week? Saw some a month ago for about $80.

If it's this one
It's at over $150 now.
That's what I call an expensive BM:fishslap:

It depends on if the GOTTA HAVE IT crowd bid. Could be worth 40 to 50 bux may go for over a "C" note...

Anyone who spends crazy money on these for "Custom masterpieces" needs there head examined.
They might be proven fish catchers but in my eyes the quality is outright Junk.:yak5:
This plug was swapped to me and apon arrival I demanded My plug Back.
When I since sold this darter on ebay I recieved the only negative feedback I have. The buyer thought it was a joke as whell.
I had to refund the buyers money and I'm Still left with negative feedback.

Crooked beak. crooked eyes, tailwrap loose as my first attempts. and the finish, newbie swap material at best.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAP...tems=25&page=3
:yak5:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y25...DSC05476-1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y25...DSC05478-1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y25...k/DSC05475.jpg

rather than knocking bm, if you don't like them don't buy them.

I fish them they work and I have a lot of confidence in them. I see alot of stuff on this thread that is just flat out bs. Plugs change over time dimensions are altered for various reasons. The bottom line is that beachmaster is one of the premier custom plug makers out there.

It i sfunny because you see threads like this where people bash him and then you see threads where people say that other plug makers are better than BM and the same people who thrash him in this thread defend him in the others. Very Interesting!!!

Anyone want to give me a few BMs cause I dont have one :)

Does BM make any pencils (canal specials) that are not considered collectible as I would not mind getting my hands on one to use in the canal.

One thing I really take away from this thread is how small the penetration of Beachmaster plugs into the market must be. It almost seems as they are viewed as collectibles more then the tools used to catch a fish they are. Surely enough people own them to know that's anything but the truth?

A dent, ding, or tiny paint run means NOTHING. Why aren't plugs with small imperfections culled out? Because it's got nothing to do with catching fish. That's why Beachmasters exist. They weren't built as trade bait, collectables, or for any other goal. Maybe it's the rock fisherman in me but those little imperfections just mean absolutely nothing. Do they have any importantance after a month of fishing where rocks, bluefish, and other hazards are the rule?

Were Pichney's perfect? I've got a bunch I fish and they're not. One's I haven't fished almost always have dents, dings and paint runs.

It's too bad I don't have my camera here or I'd take a pic of my now 5 year old 1.5 ounce Hab's white needle. Cloudy eyes aged by time and salt, half the paint gone from rocks, bass, blues and hooks being turned back against itself, the tail loop almost bashed flat from high speed encounters with rocks, and rust stains from decaying hooks and living a life in an unwashed plug bag. And still catching fish as it was made to do.

A real striper plug. Like a Beachmaster. I had a herring Beachmaster Danny like that too, but an ill fated night and some bad Power Pro caused us to part ways. Another one is slowly reaching that veteran status though.

The shop prices havent changed much from 6-7 years ago when I first started picking them up. Dannys were $17 and the A-40's were $20 back then

:claps::claps::claps:

I agree with Pete.....intended to hit the water once they swim its time to give them a beating! I like to make the plugs look as good as I can....take alot of pride in the work.....but at the end of the day they are intended to be tortured, scratched, banged up and tooth marked! I don't know which I like better.....brand new out of the package or after a seasons worth of torment! Once the plug begins to aquire the scars of the season they begin to act like a kind of scrap book of your season!! If you collect plugs....as I do....thats great! I collect a few here and there as a way to keep in touch with the history and heritage of surf fishing.....I don't collect them as a point of value or with a collectible mentality! To each his own......but they are made to be fished!:btu:

PS-was lucky enough to buy 2 BM Cowboys at RISSA this past spring from SWE....$23.00 each! Worth it!

Beat them up!!

You may not like it, but I know what I'm talking about. There has always been a lot of variation in BM's plugs. Exactly what you would expect from a premier "garage" builder working with wood, and just like the man he copied, D Pichney. Most swim great, some not so great. When they cost 10-12 bucks, if you got a dud it was no big deal, part of the price of fishing wooden plugs. But if you are new to throwing big wood, and are caught in in the hype surrounding BM plugs enough to consider spending 30, 40, or 50 bucks for something to fish, the possibility of buying a dud is something to consider. Here's some more proof.....which darter would swim the best?

Or these?

maybe the special consistent ones went to people of the inner circle :hidin:.

Nice work George :cheers:.

Or these? Point is these things are wood built by a talented guy (basically) in his garage. There is a lot of variation, which is part of the challenge of using wooden plugs. All things being equal, I'd rather fish a BM than anything else, but when you buy one and tie it on, you never know what you're going to end up with (and I'm not talking about paint blemishes). Not an issue if you plan to hang it and show it off.....or use eels.

OK I think the point was made

I can't take it anymore
I hate to see the nit picking of one of the best plug company's in our time :hs:
discuss it all you want but everyone is gonna have their opinion, good and bad

good homework George .. On the Danny,, thats new stock and old stock.. Do you think they may have changed in that time .. I notice his plugs are fat in the can ..to cast well I suspect ..like the atom jr. .. I say the heavy darter will be better .. Mine roll out at 2.8 ...,,,... 2.9 - 3.5 they hold current fine .. Thats how much a stick of hard maple varies .. in plugbuilding we have constructive critisism on eachothers work . Not to slam .. doesn't carry well out of there i've noticed .. My history of fishing bm's is limited.. I know you put alot of time with them Numby and always praise the needles.. ya spit the truth ..

As others have pointed out, BM were first rate fishing tools. For people who can still get them a retail cost, they are worth every penny, but for those who are trying to rationalize paying twice cost for the chance to fish one....well just know what you are getting into.

There has been some over da line crap in this thread but also some good information and points of view.

Don`t throw the baby out with the bath water :wave:.

That's right. Even in Mass, I accumulated a good collection from the same shop over a period of two years from 2003-2005. The real over the top stuff is pretty recent.
The bottom line=superb plugs, but I wouild never pay above retail.

I hear you man but i know the variations are not accidental and are taking place purposufully, to ensure that they swim properly. Most people believe using the same dimensions without regard to wood will get you the same results and that is not always 100% true.

Agreed on your point and that is why i won't pay $50 for a plug.

I think that BM receives a lot of bad publicity for the wrong reasons and this thread may be adding to it. So i wanted to put in my 2 cents. i definetly can tell you know your stuff. Happy new year and good fishin in 2008

Billy

Very true Billy. Different generations have slight variations to make up for various changes to the plugs over time. For example eyes forced changes in the darter and the density of the wood required a change in the shape of the Dannys.

It's not to say you'll never see a "unique" plug but what you see from generation to generation is a choice in design.