Beach Master Plugs

[fishermanjim]

can someone tell me what is soo great about these plugs,,, my brother-in-law can't stop talking about them,,, i haven't seen one yet,,,are they like danny's? 25$ per?

[Flaptail]

They are quite possibly the best made Striper plugs available problem is you can't get them and when you can the styles and amount on hand is relatively short of choices. Just before Tahnksgiving I tried to obtain 2 yellow medium Danny's on an expected shipment to a New Bedford Tackle shop. Hah, the expected couple hundred ended up being way less and by the middle of the first day in shop they were gone. The collecting thing has gotten way out of hand, guys buying anything for way more than they are worth in the Beachmaster line.

I used to tout thier fish catching abilities but now the collectors and some ner do wells by them all up and stash them or put them up for resale for big bucks on e-bay. I can't get them to fish with because of this and the amount of plugs being produced is no where the levels of a just 2 years ago. Orders are placed for 1500 plugs and the shop recieves 120 or so.

If you ever fished a Beachmaster you know how well they produce. Now, if not willing to pay 3 times what they would normally retail for or plan your life around an expected delivery and be Johnny on the Spot, your s#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g pond water. The whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth. The situtaion sucks and it seems that Beachmaster is producing more for the collectors and quick scores on cash rather than for serious fishing which was what they were originally known for. I no longer view them as I once did.

Now I make my own copying them and they come out very close. All I need is one and I have all I want by firing up the lathe and air brush. Best of all they ctach fish like the originals.
If I need a plug I don't make it's Gibbs, Gag's, Tattoo Bigfish or Ryan Smith's extrordinary creations.

No more Beachmaster envy for me. It's gotten way to ridiculous.

[Back Beach]

Flap is correct; I can't add anything more of value.BBBBBBBButtttt,

all of the retailers face the same dilemma with plug availability, there's no conspiracy on their part. It’s equally frustrating for them too.

[leptar]

I won't knock (BeachMaster)... that store (CMS) gave everyone a chance to get some... pre-order...

From what i heard it was their (BeachMaster) only source of income and that their fire was light again for Striper fishing.... They (BeachMaster) have more shops to stock and still make the plugs the same exact way they always did...

It sucks, but one must do what one must do... pre-ordered and 7 months later or so....

Still waiting on another 10 or so but i'm not holding my breath.
Like what was said by Flaptail, They work, not the prettiest plug in the business but they hold their own, for me consistency is what works... now if you ever fished a Troublemaker danny... muhahaha.... It's too bad he stopped, I was fortunate to get a MAC danny... nuff said there...

[luds]

Yup.....the whole beachmaster thing sucks. I got a bunch of dannies through trading and preordering but it wasn't quite worth the time and effort. It was nice when you could just go to the shop and by them. I do tend to over buy them now when I have the oppurtunity because I don't want to deal with the hassle of hunting them down later when I need more.

[Ake G]

I'd just like one Cowboy.

I'll then put it through my meticulous "reverse engineering process", lock that guy in my duplicator and crank out hundreds of them at will for personal use....

I will give BM all the design credit.

And I'll give the new creation a clever name with the name "Ake" somewhere in it.

[Vogt]

Ive spent the past month or so trying to hunt them down for a reasonable price ($30 or less), and so far Ive only gotten a hold of three. But from what I hear about these lures, it is worth the effort that is put in to finding them.

[Pete_G]

Production has been slowed in the past couple of years by back problems, people in the hospital, and more important things on the home front for the guys that build the plugs. And then it has been compounded by popularity and collecting.

[RIJIMMY]

i saw a bunch of those cowboys at the RISSA show last year

[Chris in Mass]

The action on the Danny's and Wad's are great. In New England you have to haunt CMS and SWE to get these plugs. It's is like working a bucktail, the moment you become bored with the process, that's when you dig in

[Spiderman]

They catch fish.
They are swim consistent.
They more durable than most other custom wood plugs.

There production has remained pretty consistent over the years.
They are still a 2 man part time operation.
They only make one body style at a time.
They are perfectionists and refuse to put out inferior products.
This run of 6" surface swimmers should number about 5000.
More and more shops coastwide are looking to carry them so when a shop wants 1500 they may not get them all at once if at all.
When the shops do get them the owners and help often skim, cherry pick before offering what is left to shop regulars and eventually maybe to the public. These are generally presold or sold out within hours.
Up until about 4 years ago there were several shops that had a few pieces on their shelves. Now that they have become collectible
you wont see that unless they have a fat price tag.Several shops did not even display them and kept them in a box in the back room.
They have become "THE" plug amongst new plug collectors.
All these reasons have made them harder and harder to find.
I have no solutions except if you see them, buy as many as they allow you to, because you may not see that body style for a few years. Or like flaptail, make your own.
Ive been buying and fishing them for 15 years but it kills me to throw a plug worth $50 and have a bluefish chomp on it.
Since I do make my own plugs, I try to use those more, but some situations and conditions call for a particular Beachmaster.

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by stripermatic

They catch fish.
They are swim consistent.
They more durable than most other custom wood plugs.

There production has remained pretty consistent over the years.
They are still a 2 man part time operation.
They only make one body style at a time.
They are perfectionists and refuse to put out inferior products.
This run of 6" surface swimmers should number about 5000.
More and more shops coastwide are looking to carry them so when a shop wants 1500 they may not get them all at once if at all.
When the shops do get them the owners and help often skim, cherry pick before offering what is left to shop regulars and eventually maybe to the public. These are generally presold or sold out within hours.
Up until about 4 years ago there were several shops that had a few pieces on their shelves. Now that they have become collectible
you wont see that unless they have a fat price tag.Several shops did not even display them and kept them in a box in the back room.
They have become "THE" plug amongst new plug collectors.
All these reasons have made them harder and harder to find.
I have no solutions except if you see them, buy as many as they allow you to, because you may not see that body style for a few years. Or like flaptail, make your own.
Ive been buying and fishing them for 15 years but it kills me to throw a plug worth $50 and have a bluefish chomp on it.
Since I do make my own plugs, I try to use those more, but some situations and conditions call for a particular Beachmaster.

The consistency point is a junk excuse. I know it and you know it. In fact many of the Beachmaster plugs I have bought in the last few years have many defects on them that would not have passed muster a few years ago. Paint splatters, dings, dents. I know of his personal situation and hopefully it gets resolved quickly ( I hear it may have already) As of the moment thought they arte being thrown together and out the door as needed. Yes there are a bunch turned but they sit in boxes waiting for prime paint and sealer. Only one guy does that of the two, the other is a machine turning them out and drilling etc. His work is way ahead of the other. I did a lot to promote them over the years in various columms and articles in OTW which had an impact on thier popularity here in southeast mass and never recieved one plug in thanks. I didn't care as long as they were available. The current situation is totally f()cked up. Collectors think they are going to be worth huge money someday. Actually the designs are mostly copied from Pichney, Gibbs, Pond and Creek Chub.

The most desirable thing was that they were no frills and you could count on them to fish just out of the package and they could take a beating and caught fish. What good do those attributes serve if they just hang in a room on display? They were built for fisherman at first now they are built for collecting. It's a damm shame.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

.

The situtaion sucks and it seems that Beachmaster is producing more for the collectors and quick scores on cash rather than for serious fishing which was what they were originally known for.

.

Flap I still can't comprehend how you come to that opinion that ,that is what it seems to you What reason does it seem that way? That makes no sense at all to me.

please enlighten me

I wish he would make the danny's and juniors without the eyes

[Joe]

Maybe their true value is just now emerging?
For years, I've heard people tell me their Beachmaster would outfish other plugs 3 and 4 to 1 - so now, they're worth three and four times as much - sounds perfectly reasonable.

[JoeP]

Wow - not too much of an axe to grind... Seems like your statements are a little biased to be so inflammatory.

Originally Posted by Flaptail

The consistency point is a junk excuse. I know it and you know it. In fact many of the Beachmaster plugs I have bought in the last few years have many defects on them that would not have passed muster a few years ago. Paint splatters, dings, dents. I know of his personal situation and hopefully it gets resolved quickly ( I hear it may have already) As of the moment thought they arte being thrown together and out the door as needed. Yes there are a bunch turned but they sit in boxes waiting for prime paint and sealer. Only one guy does that of the two, the other is a machine turning them out and drilling etc. His work is way ahead of the other. I did a lot to promote them over the years in various columms and articles in OTW which had an impact on thier popularity here in southeast mass and never recieved one plug in thanks. I didn't care as long as they were available. The current situation is totally f()cked up. Collectors think they are going to be worth huge money someday. Actually the designs are mostly copied from Pichney, Gibbs, Pond and Creek Chub.

The most desirable thing was that they were no frills and you could count on them to fish just out of the package and they could take a beating and caught fish. What good do those attributes serve if they just hang in a room on display? They were built for fisherman at first now they are built for collecting. It's a damm shame.

[Spiderman]

Flaptail,
I have not seen any change in quality in Beachmaster lures.
Maybe your just getting the last ones after they were picked through.
As far as his personal situation, I dont know where you are getting your information or how accurate it is , but I am sure he does not want it posted on the internet.
Who does what in the operation, your dead wrong about.
Plugs are being produced as time is available to work on them
Flaptail
[QUOTE][ I did a lot to promote them over the years in various columms and articles in OTW which had an impact on thier popularity here in southeast mass and never recieved one plug in thanks/QUOTE]
This was the sentence that bothered me the most.
It that how it works, you promote a product and then you expect the manufacturer to pay you in merchandise.
Sure many of the designs are based on other plugmakers, you left out Musso, but often adjustments and improvements are made.
Why dont you cut up a cowboy and take a closer look at that.
The situation with all the new collectors is messed up and I agree that they probably wont see the value appreciate when they are paying $60 for a cowboy. It might as well sit on a shelf because most of them dont what to do with it anyway.
They have no control over what people want or are willing to pay
I dont see why you think they are being built for collectors.
Is it the eyes or the scale finishes?
Should he not try to make improvements or experiment with colors.
Maybe he should just paint white, black, yellow and blue.
They are still built for fisherman.
Maybe you should call him instead of crying on the internet

[Bronko]

[Nebe]

If you ask me Beachmasters are the most durable plug out there. Whatever they use as an epoxy is tough as nails. that is the # 1 reason i would pay more for them.. they last a loooong time.

[RIJIMMY]

You guys should just see the light and stop using plugs, you'll catch more on eels anyway......

[eastendlu]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

You guys should just see the light and stop using plugs, you'll catch more on eels anyway......

I'll never see the light ,i fish at night

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

You guys should just see the light and stop using plugs, you'll catch more on eels anyway......

The most intelligent post yet.

[Skitterpop]

just ordered a pallet of popcorn

[UserRemoved1]

Wanna share?

I don't give out free plugs to anyone anymore either

No rumpswabbery

Originally Posted by Skitterpop

just ordered a pallet of popcorn

[Krispy]

BM makes some excellent plugs. One of the best builders around.
People are gonna pay for what they want and then some, especially w/ the circus that surrounds those lures. Its silly to me because they are just plugs, a means to catch fish, but maybe its something more for other people. If it makes them happy and they enjoy owning them, god bless.
If he didnt build any other plug than the Johnny Wad needle, Id be happy.

[BernOC]

Years ago you could walk into several LI b&t shops and the latest BM creations were pretty much available. No lines, secret calls or emails needed. Even though only 1 particular plug style was produced at a time and you could wait years before it was made again, there wasn't the hoarding of today. IMO less than a handful of custom builders come even close to the level of consistency as BM, no less the bullet proof finish. I view BM as most other plug builders, this is a labor of love... not profit (obviously from the limited supply). BM isn't getting rich from others taking his creations to e-pay.
NOW, thanks to the internet and more people fishing because of it, availability is something different. At one time the secrets of fishing the beach were held with high regard that few would share. I was lucky to have learned from my dad that learned from his dad. I knew many to give this wonderful sport of ours up out of frustration. All you need now is the internet, a cell phone and Z's book LOL

[wader-dad]

Years ago when beachmasters were $10 if there was a Striped-bass.com there would not be 5,639, members or SOL 18,954 members. Point is that Surfcasting is riding a wave of popularity that is unprecedented and is extended beyond traditional fisherman to popular culture and madison avenue. When Tommy Hilfiger has ads in the New York Times magazine section with guys and (I use that term loosely) surfcasting in three peice suits, the sport is going mainstream. How many of us have seen people getting out of cars and putting on all gear new out of packages. I saw that at Montauk with SUV's filled with Manhattan types. I saw a woman trying to figure out how to get Korkers on direct from the box.

Popularity brings attention and attention brings dollars that result in demand and price increases. Sometimes on the Buy/Sell thread at SOL there are 900 people on the thread at once.

Were there a thousand people lined up at 5 am at the Asbury Park show years ago?

I think just like Fly fishing and that popularity, Surfcasting will peak and return to just guys bustin butts to catch a cow. But you cannot deny that between guys wanting to fish some good plugs and collectors, prices do not seem to be going down anytime soon.

And as to me --Having a bunch of beachmaster plugs that I fish with and also having a bunch of unfished beachmaster and a few Musso wood plugs to look at makes me happy.

[Zeno]

Thanks for that plug Bern.....you'll get a beating next time I see you
I hate to chime in ,don't want to,really ,really don't ......but ...
both of the guys are close friends and I don't think their personal lives should be splatter on the net....in any context.All I can say is that they combined have enough personal misery this year that would probably drive most sane people to drink.
Having said that....
There are still only two guys doing this and orders went from "I'll take a hundred" to "I'll take 1500" from stores.Two guys that really don't want to do this ,at all.One is just as content shooting squirrels in the yard rather then spinning wood Honest.
For what they make ,they can go three blocks down to local LI store and sell out on each delivery....or they can sell directly only on LI and make retail......yet they stock the stores in NE ,trying to get plugs into the hands of those who will fish them.Yeah ,guys like you that are reading this.
What I get from these treads is a felling some of you feel like BM,RM Smith and late Mr.Habs should do no such thing or have any life before you get your plugs.And they should be stocked 10 deep in your local store.Not at the online retailers but 3 blocks from your house.
C'mon guys ,they are stupid !#%!^* plugs.You want Danny ,buy Gibbs if you cant find BM.Thousands of bass have been laded on Gibbs plugs over they years.What ,the fish got smart and only want "custom" plugs now?
Or as someone said ,toss eels

I for one will not add to this stupid hype on purpose.The only reason I wrote what I wrote in the book is because that is what I fish.But I refuse to say anything online regarding these plugs as some very impressionable people go "he is talking about them ,they must be great".
Silly nonsense...I am just a Croatian googan.I can fish with hand line and stale bread.

Buy Gibbs ,buy Salty ,buy Afterhours but most of all buy Super Strike.To have Don Musso genius condensed in a indestructible plug for $15.....not that should be considered a crime

[tattoobob]

I fish the plugs I can buy and don't join in on all the hype crap
Bombers and Redfins catch just as many bass as any of the
higher end plugs.

[Tagger]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

If I need a plug I don't make it's Gibbs, Gag's, Tattoo Bigfish or Ryan Smith's extrordinary creations.

Yea right ...a little bird told me you fish Numbskulls ...

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by Tagger

Yea right ...a little bird told me you fish Numbskulls ...

He is a plug slut are`nt we all?