Gibbs Three Hook Darters
 

Perhaps the most effective darter ever made was the Gibbs three treble model built with screw-eyes. Many of the other darters were designed off of this Gibbs model. It was always a favorite of mine until Gibbs went to two trebles - just not the same plug. The plastic Musso comes closest to the original action of that classic Gibbs design. Has anyone knocked off the original three hook design complete with heavy duty screw eyes? I know you guys have the talent to replicate this deadly darter.

DZ

I have that on my list
but not near the top yet
and I don't know where to get those screw eyes

I hope you come to plugfest Dennis

Can I ask a side question. I have several of those. Should I be concerned about the longevity of the screw eyes? I was planning to fish them but I'm concerned about the possiblity of the screw eye coming out of the plug.

Luds,
I never had any screw eyes fail/pull out on the old style gibbs darters. If the darters are in good shape you may want to back them out and reinsert after covering the threads with two ton epoxy for insurance. If the darters are old you may not be able to back the screw eyes out. Be careful as they (screw-eyes) can break if they're seized up. When replacing trebles I always added spilt rings to the eyes. Why Gibbs ever decided to change the darter design to two trebles was one of the most puzzeling decisions I've ever witnessed.

DZ

Thanks. Not exactly sure how old they are but I think I'm going to take my chances with them as they are. I don't want to run the risk of damaging them and possibly making them completely unusable.

DZ, stop don't try to back them out. Just about everyone that I tried to recondition and redo the screw eyes the damn thing twisted off.The only ones that I've had fail is the 2 hook ones that are the newer types. The older ones are pretty bullet proof till the rust gets real bad.Not an easy plug to copy due to the wood issue. Way too many variancess in wood to be 100% on copying.Thats one reason you hear all the complaints about quality from even the best Darter makers unless they're made of plastic. Ron

D. if you send me one, as I don't have one, I will give it a shot this winter.

If Dennis don,t have any beaters I have a few Paul.

Ron,
Thanks, I know that about removing the screw eye's - learned the hard way years ago. Only success I ever had removing them was when they were in mint condition.

Paul,
I'll rummage through my junk drawer and look for one to send you. If I can't find one I'll contact TO and ask him to send one to you.

Tight lines,
DZ

Paul, I have one new in the package if that helps

cool. when i get started again i will look you guys up.

Paul, I've got a cellar full of them and Eddy has made good copies in the past. They vary quite a bit, having changed several times over time. Supposedly they were built to run shallow. I don't fish them much, I find I like the 3 oz wood musso clone (I've never had any luck with their plastic darter) and 3.5 oz BM better. Flap was always after me to build the smaller one. He did quite well on that size last fall. I can say that darters in slow shallow water have become a go to plug for me.

chef chris makes a nice darter ive been using this season made with screw eyes,plug made outof a PVC material? bout 3.5oz blurple.
just started the site this year. just tonight caught a few small keepers and a few blues on the thing. CHRIS get a copy of that gibbs damn it.....:biglaugh:

Nice photo George. Just love that color green.

DZ

Several guys made copies of the original Gibbs darter after I and others offer ours.

Glad your crushing on that plug still Johnny!!!

DZ let me know when i can grab the original, it will not be harmed!!

Some Pics
 

Stuck home with a sick kid, so figured I'd add to this great thread on a great plug.

Note the differences between the yellow and white in terms of shape and hook placement.

I'D LOVE TO HEAR SOME INPUT ON HOW THE DIFFERENT SHAPES AND DIFFERENT HOOK PLACEMENTS FISH COMPARED TO ONE ANOTHER.

W.

For Numby
 

The standard and the smaller size he mentioned. This is an oldy from Stan or John that has never seen water.

times like these are when i really,really miss Flaptail :(

cool pics

I just started fishing with these this year. I have to say that they are quite productive even in slower water. Nice collection Jon.

Flap did a job with those smaller Gibbs darter at his favorite outflow last year.

Not too many people will have fished that yellow version. That was the original design but was only built for several years before he changed it, moving the hooks back and the weight forward to avoid front hook catching on the diving plane. There is a lot of variation in the width of the nose and angle of the chin over the years as well.

Numby Darters Slay
 

George- If you get the urge to clone the little ones I have a willing DNA donor for you.:uhuh: