success with Bottle Plugs ?
 

just wondering how many of you make out with these plugs. I have a bunch of the older, gibbs bottles most are the medium size and some are the 1oz size (do they still make those ?) I usually put a siwash with bucktail on the tail end and upgrade the belly hook with a VMC. On the large 3oz, I remove the middle altogether and upgrade the front hook only.

I did fairly well in the rips of Martha's vineyard last year with the 2oz, hardly reeling at all-just let the plug "thump" in the current.

Any luck with these plugs ?

Frank like any other plug they have there place. Rips, heavy swells,outflows and cross currents are where I use them, this winter I have been stocking up on bottle darters I cant wait to try them at a couple spots this season. I will bring one to the next meeting I go to.

Pete:

bottledarter- is that a SS plug ?

Nope the ones I have are made by some guy out on Long Island, got them through a freind.

I have great success with bottle plugs, I like the Gibbs three oz but like the Super Strike even more for it's durability. Add split rings and VMC's and you are good to go.

Also do very well with Tattoo darters.

As mentioned it's about location and conditions.

Pete I'd be interested in seeing a picture of this bottle/darter.

INS- it basically a bottle plug with a slope on the head.

I'm guessing it goes's from the full round body to a narrow neck back to a full sloped head with a zigzag lip. Sounds interesting, give us a post on it's action and how it produces in the future.

INS- search for bottle plugs in the search engine then look at Jay1's post he as a picture of them

I have a bunch of the older Gibbs in small -1oz and Medium-2oz.

I've had mixed results with them. Maybe I should just use them more.

Pete -I'm sure that I've seen those slope-head plugs around.
I'll have to steal a couple when your not looking.

Frank

You dont see to many folks using bottle plugs regularly these days, but I was very successful this past season using SS bottles in all the same conditions I would use a darter. And not necessarily rough surf or running rips.
I have alot of the older Gibbs, but found solid black Superstrikes were the only choice.

Chris:

Are you fishing the SS "out of the package" or putting siwash/bucktail on the tail end ?

out of the package

Also, Ive always felt that movement of a bottle plug, similar to plastic finish style swimmers, is what draws strikes. It doesnt wiggle like a metal lip or dart like darters. Bottles generally do a rolling, thumping motion of which the SS is more defined than any other brand Ive tried

thanks Chris:

I think I'll try to pick a few SS bottles up

Thanks for sharing your success with the ss bottle plugs. I have a few and they will surely make it into my bag this season.

Bottle plugs accounted for many nice fish for myself and the two guys I fish reguarly with. I did pretty well on a gibbs green mac, I faded by leaving it in the window over the winter. Fcap, you'll love the bottle darters :kewl: Pete, are you getting the northbar tackle ones or a dif. maker?

NorthBar

This is a great thread. I have a handful of gibbs 3ozs that my Dad handed down. I have only tossed them a few times.
They seem to dive when in a current, do they go too deep? Also, do you work them slow, like a danny so they make a V, or is it strictly darter type outflows/rips?

any pics?

The SS ones are great. They work real well if you bring up tension on the plug and kinda let it get tossed around in the wash...always under tension. Theyll hit the thing when u least expect it.
They are actually one of my confidence plugs whens the surfs up, and they do catch just gotta have the right technique.

whatever you do, do not put a swivil&flaptail on a bottle plug.

nope



never.

Nebe:

I was wondering where your creative response to this post was.
Thanks and I won't do it.:hidin:

Do you tie direct, which knot, if so would you also tie direct on a darter since their similiar ?

Why direct tie ?

you dont need to tie direct. Your better off using a snap to allow more movement. Its the vibrations eminating from the bottle that are its biggest attraction. Use the visual extras on plugs like needles or swimmers

I have found using a loop knot on darters, lead heads, needlefish, storms or bottle plugs give them better action and less hardware to shy fish away!

However, just remember to re-tie after 10 or so fish as the loop wears.

Krispy hit it right on with the ss bottles; they have a tight wiggle like a plastic swimmer but much more defined. I like to let them sit without reeling or retrieve very slow as the water pulls on it as the waves retreat back into the ocean. I've also done well in the same situations where you would use a darter like a rip; dead stick it tight to the lure and let the rip do the work. Never done much at all with the Gibbs though

I finally developed some confidence in bottle plugs this year. Even now I still typically only send them into battle when everything else can't handle the conditions, outside of a heavy bucktail. I've always had one in my surf bag and I bump it up to 2 or more when conditons demand. I should probably use them in more normal conditions from time to time, but I love my Dannys.

The SS bottle (and others) thrives in extreme current, strong headwinds, and even water with debris in it; all things that a lot of offerings have trouble in. That powerful wobble keeps going even with a bit of mung on board. I think fish can sense that heavy thump the body puts off even in loud, turbulent, conditions and that's mostly why I feel confident using them when it's nasty out.

I've only ever fished them with my usual Rosco Coastlock snap. If I was to tie direct I would tie a No Slip Mono Loop, but since I usually only use them in nasty conditions I've never really worrried about the visibility of my terminal tackle.

I am a big fan of the small breakaway clip. the big ones are a bit cumbersome, but the small ones are perfect for plugs. IF i had to tie direct, i would put a 4 H splitring on the loop of the plug and tie an improved clinch.

i love to let a bottle just sit in a rip with that flaptail humming.. the plug is thumping, the tail is humming...you can feel all of it if your using braid.
One night last fall at an undisclosed outflow i had a fish on every single drift before i stoped freespooling....... sick :humpty:

bottle darter

Grasshopper; come hither. When you hear this man speak in such terms, you do the exact opposite!



(Especially when he's on the political kick!:laughs: )