Best place to buy plugs ?

[danno1]

I know the "season" is winding down, but maybe santa can bring me some for spring.
Just bought my first "professional" plug at a big tackle store in Norwalk, CT, instead of walmart specials.
It`s a Afterhours custom plug, 2 3/4 oz. I paid 27.99 for it
Where else can I get some, either close by me, or can order, that`s not causing me to take out a loan for each one ?
BTW, how`s this plug I bought, compared to the "name brands" I`ve heard of, ( Danny, Tatoo, Habs, etc)?

[lurch]

look at the sponsors of this site!

[STREETFIGHT]

afterhours =

[Saltheart]

Lots of people right here making and selling plugs as good as anyones. Search around and see what the sponsors have.
27.99 ..... incredible!

[afterhours]

MOST of my dealers retail most of my plugs for approx $22 ea.

[Charlie G]

And worth every penny Don.

[fishpoopoo]

It wasn't until fairly recently (a few years ago) that Ricky @ that big store you went to started stocking custom wood plugs (because folks like me went in and bent his ear). First it was Habs, then Tattoo, and then a few others like After Hours.

He charges a premium, but that's gold coast pricing for you. Remember - that store primarily caters to boat guys who drag wire and throw slabs of meat (like the barbarians they are).

Be thankful he stocks plugs and surf gear, even if you have to pay a little more for it. Your next best option is to head up Pat Abate's shop a litte more than an hour away in Old Saybrook. Going south, your next available spot for custom wood is in Queens and Long Island.

[Kosherklam]

Don
Holy crap a retail store sells your stuff for $28 am i doing something wrong? Thats rediculous
Your plugs are made to be fished they hold up incredibly and there sould be no reason no matter what the income of their store is $18-$22 over here
Charge that store more lol

[danno1]

From the post and PMs , I think I opened up a can of sandworms!
From the PM I got from Don, who makes them, there are ALOT of other stores that sell them less expensive! That store where I bought it is in "prime location" territory.
Like FISHPOOPOO said, there`s not much around by me (locally) that sell custom.

[Brother Brian]

I don't give a monkeys red behind if the AH plug was $30. Without that plug my recent trip would have had FAR fewer memories. It is never a mistake to buy the highest quality there is.....

[The Dad Fisherman]

Pick them up online from the sponsors websites here.

S-B Sponsor Page

You can also Stock up at the shows in the off-season if you are at them.

The following Plug Builders (in Alphabetical Order) are sponsors here and they ALL make good stuff.

Afterhours
Bernzy
BigFish
Habs
RM Smith
#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&
Surf Asylum
Tattoo

[BassDawg]

Don's finishes are legendary!!

And the action on his sr spooks are lethal. That's a damn shame yer gettin' hoodwinked by some selfish bastage down your way. That being said, his finishes are well worth the price of admission ~even if ya gotts ta grease the palm of the bouncer !

The Dad is right, get them online or at the shows, much more reasonable and WELL worth the wait.

[Andy D]

Try Stratford Bait &Tackle in Stratford CT. its close to 95 and he has a pretty good selection . Also someone else suggested Rivers End in Old Saybrook its a great store and Pat is always willing to help out.

[ilovetwofish]

I have all the respect in the world for you custom plug builders your work is fantastic, I onley wish I could afford a $20 or higher plug.I'll probablly piss some of you off by saying this sorry if I do, but who the hell would spend that much on plugs just to lose them or have them get all banged up from the rocks and bluefish. I guess if I won the powerball I would spend the money. I'll stick with atom poppers and plastic and $6.OO plugs they all catch fish.I suppose if I was fishing next to a guy using one of those $25 plugs and was catching much bigger fish then I was I would breakdown and spend the money.Tell me wich is the best plug out there and i'll buy one at one of the fishing shows i'll try it all next year and see if they really produces better then what I use.

[onecastmike2003]

sounds like your just a weekend kinda guy... some of us are hunting the bigest Bass we can find... Not just casting a 6 $ plug ...
the pic is why we dont fish Atom plugs...

[Gunpowder]

7 dollar plugs can do the trick though too... i caught my largest 47.75 pound fish on a bomber. so dont think it cant happen. dont get me wrong, the customs are amazing but sometimes the cheaper lures def dont get the acknowledgment they sometimes deserve.

[johnny ducketts]

I believe that it is a matter of personal preference, but the custom guys use higher quality components,( usually the best there is ) and after seeing the hours they have put in to come up with a design, tweak, test, re-test, and finally finished product. You can kinda get the feeling that the cost is justified. The local guys also have a feel for the type of bait that is in our area as well. I think they have a better idea than some factories overseas do.

[flyben24]

My largest surf fish this year also came on a bomber..... sure the custom plugs have many cows to their names..... but the people that say redfins and bombers are for dinks, are simply clueless... if fished right, they can be the deadliest plugs for big fish.

[rockyroady]

Originally Posted by Gunpowder

7 dollar plugs can do the trick though too... i caught my largest 47.75 pound fish on a bomber. so dont think it cant happen. dont get me wrong, the customs are amazing but sometimes the cheaper lures def dont get the acknowledgment they sometimes deserve.

Very well said.

[animal]

Originally Posted by onecastmike2003

sounds like your just a weekend kinda guy... some of us are hunting the bigest Bass we can find... Not just casting a 6 $ plug ...
the pic is why we dont fish Atom plugs...

Hey Mike,for your own well-being,thiiiiiiink,before you post.The fish in your photo is no bigger than 20 lbs.The world record(allegedly)was 78.8,and caught on a Rebel.I'm POSITIVE your plugs are stronger than Rebels.

[tattoobob]

Originally Posted by onecastmike2003

sounds like your just a weekend kinda guy... some of us are hunting the bigest Bass we can find... Not just casting a 6 $ plug ...
the pic is why we dont fish Atom plugs...

Maybe you should just stick to Blowing yourself on SOL, we don't give a fukc about it here

[Gunpowder]

danno1, dont worry we got ure back covered. i guess u cant hunt big bass though if ure just a weekend guy...... cause people dont have jobs or anything that might interfere. i dont kno where onecastmike is comin from

[ilovetwofish]

So because im not rich but make a pretty good living and wont spend $25 on a plug makes me a weekend warrior is that what you are saying? very far from it my freind.I gurantee I fish more then most of the people on this sight probably including you.I am still fishing 5 out of 7 days a week sometimes twice a day and still catching fish what about you.

Originally Posted by onecastmike2003

sounds like your just a weekend kinda guy... some of us are hunting the bigest Bass we can find... Not just casting a 6 $ plug ...
the pic is why we dont fish Atom plugs...

[ilovetwofish]

I agree I wish I could afford the custom plugs im just saying that you can catch with just about anything if you no spots and the fish are there.If you can afford them now adays godbless you.

Originally Posted by johnny ducketts

I believe that it is a matter of personal preference, but the custom guys use higher quality components,( usually the best there is ) and after seeing the hours they have put in to come up with a design, tweak, test, re-test, and finally finished product. You can kinda get the feeling that the cost is justified. The local guys also have a feel for the type of bait that is in our area as well. I think they have a better idea than some factories overseas do.

[Clogston29]

customs have their place, but so do "cheap" plastic swimmers (45 lbs on a redfin - my best)

as far as where to by:

capecodtackle.com
saltwateredge.com

can't got wrong with either, and they're both site sponsors

[ilovetwofish]

Who are you refering to with that statement?

Originally Posted by tattoobob

Maybe you should just stick to Blowing yourself on SOL, we don't give a fukc about it here

[ilovetwofish]

By the way i,ll add to this I go to every fishing show and have bought custom plugs in the past and still will in the future when I can save some cash.

[Gunpowder]

Originally Posted by ilovetwofish

Who are you refering to with that statement?

im pretty sure onecastmike

[Slingah]

here we go again...

[striper134]

I agree on the above post. I would say the Saltwater Edge. They have a great selection and offer great advice on other items that might fit your budget and style as well as area fished. As for that Mike guy mentioned above you should be more concerned about not getting a 3/0 treble in the hand and get a tool to handle the fish you land and leave the new guy alone.