northbar bottle darters
 

curious to hear who prefers them loaded vs. unloaded. does loading make a big difference with increasing the darting action of the plug?

Wood only :) And Yes..... don't do it or you will screw up a good plug.
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Canal loaded to 3 ounces to fish in current . Beach fishing,, unloaded .. and in either situation I have one with me .

Loading decreases the swimming and makes them act more like a darter and the wood versions, but they get down more.
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loaded NBars
 

hmmm, I like them down at the ditch but last year had one that slowly took on water and I felt it really killed the action. Certainly improved the casting but I guess I should have stayed with it.

I like them loaded it slows down the action and makes them fish more like a darter. Don't really fish them unloaded anymore.
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Loaded all the way with me. Cast, action, catch.


Unless I fish a slow moving area in the early spring.
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The things are deadly. Plain and simple. Just deadly loaded or unloaded. Get two in Mack white and yellow load one leave the other unloaded. They are seriously a great plug
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Same here.
 

Fish them only loaded, use for oceanfront rough water to stay down, and the canal. Great plug.

How much are you guy's loading them?

I load them with baby oil to weigh 3 ounces. They cast better and IMO fish much better once loaded. From what I recall after speaking with Rob the original design was to be 3 ounces but there was fear that they would not sell as well at that weight as the "light tackle" fishermen would be turned off by them. It's far easier to add weight to the plug than it is to remove it so they came out as you see them today.

^^^^*. What Toby said. I fished with Rob quite a bit years ago and quickly realized why they made those plugs. There was some that were factory loaded and they used mineral oil. But I am not a mineral oil guy in plugs because of how I load them. 10 cc of water will be perfect.
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Anyone ever load w BBs to 3oz?
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SS BDs are filled with shot and it adds the element of the rattle. Not sure if that makes a difference to fish but I've seen the SS out fish NB 4-1 standing on the same rock. I still prefer that nice wiggle of the NB though...

I use them both loaded and unloaded. The way I fish it all depends on the water depth I'm casting into. If its under 5-6 feet I use unloaded. If its deeper than 6 feet or has more wave action or sweep I use them loaded. Very versatile.

DZ

I have only fished them un-loaded. They "dig down" pretty well without added weight.

I was fishing the mouth of a river in Maine on a dropping tide with an on shore wind...yes..."washing machine" scenario. The only plug that would hold was an un-loaded NBBD. ;-).

That said, I am now thinking of experimenting with loading these plugs.

I haven't tried a loaded yet but i also have Woods too but i do fish the ditch they plastic catches just fine stock for me.
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