Happy New Year to all
I'd like to say a few things here and you can listen or not.
We have had another good year in the plug forum but I'd like to see 2005 go even better. The plug forum is a great place for commradery and a place to learn how to build plugs to catch fish with. A place to organize swaps and trades. I hope it can stay that way and some of the more experienced members can feel free to contribute and continue to do so without any bickering and potshots being taken. I am not pointing out anything in particular, just that in the past since fishing season has ended especially, there have been a few flareups and I want to remind all that this forum is not the place for personal problems. I will start deleting inflammatory comments or anything I judge to be inciteful. There seems to be some trouble on the internet where when you read something it is hard to tell at times if someone is just joking or serious. Also, timing seems to be a problem lately. If something is posted that you suggest is an attack at you or whatever, maybe PM that person and get the story straight before accusations begin to fly. I think we can all get along here. It's about sharing and learning, if you don't want to share something, then don't bring it up and don't brag about something of yours that you need to keep to yourself. Keep that kind of boasting off the forum here, this is not the place.
This is the place to show off your work if you want to hear comments on your creations. But if you plan on selling them, don't post pictures here and then sell those plugs. This is not a forum to spam your wares. I know there is alot of fishermen that want custom plugs to fish with or just to own, but what I am asking is that you all respect JohnR and the paying sponsors of the site and not promote your product here. I am not saying you can't sell a few plugs if you want to, you can do whatever you want, I am just saying not to promote them on this forum. If you put them in the classified forum maybe you could sell all you can make, who knows, but then again maybe JohnR wouldn't allow that I don't know, ask him. Go ahead and sell them on Ebay or on the beach or whatever, but don't try to stir up interest in your plugs by using this site.
I will say one more thing about selling homemade plugs, just realize that most builders that sell have years of experience and test their plugs till they get results and then make sure what they sell actually do what they are intended to do. Anothers words, you might want to test all your plugs in the water first to make sure they don't sink,float,swim upsidedown,the paint peels off or they have no action if that is not what they are supposed to do. CharlieM once said a long time ago that if we spend all this time making a plug, that they should be tested to see if they work well before putting even more time into them by painting and sealing. What good is a finished plug that won't work?
He made a very good point. I see today that PNG put a thread up that is on the same subject - notice his bodies are not painted
It bothers me a little that there used to be a good group of guys that would help out anyone with a question but if some of them happen to sell afew plugs now , they aren't as willing to help out as much anymore
I think it's great that many new guys are joining in and it is great that thier question are answered but when some of the replies are giving wrong information, that is not a good thing. One of the best ways for some to learn is to try it yourself, there are many here that do that and they share the results
to you, thanks.
Maybe if there is less bickering, some of the oldtimers would join in more often with their comments and answers.
Just be careful whatever you do. And have fun doing it.
I'll get down off the soapbox for now
Thanks and have a great new year.