No not because they were free, but because they listened and wanted to know what I thought and these plugs reflect that. The color was always productive and the finish and paint has improved. Last year they came out with that Herring color ( kinda of black/silver/pearl) and between needlefish and medium Dannys ( especially at Fishers Island with the danny last fall) in that pattern we knew they had a winner. I was sent a couple of this "new" color two years ago to test and they consistently caught fish. I am glad to have somehow helped Dan and Dennis with thier eagerness to get products out that experienced bass fishermen would want. One thing you all have to remember is the foremost reason they bought Gibbs is because they did not want to see it end. They knew that they were not the most experienced plug makers but no one else was in the running and if they did not buy Gibbs the line would be gone. I admire them for doing that. They didn't need to but they did because they had the where with all. They knew the companies history and did not want to see that go. The learning curve was a big obstacle and there were many bumps in the road but I think they did a great job of trying thier best to overcome them and the nay sayers who, not understanding what it takes to make the product or what goes into it, who jumped all over them because at first they had troubles putting all the pieces together. Not many full time striper plug makers left.
