I think everybody here just out to take a step back and take a deep breath. Except for the very early pioneers in this like Gibbs, Murat, Pond etc., etc., etc., it's all just copies of others designs and variations and in some cases improvements. Isn't the old addage that "imitation is the highest form of flattery" applicable here. I have been a proponent of wooden fishing lures since I was a kid. I never stopped, even in the plastic craze of the 70's I always held onto the tradition of having a few wooden plugs in my bag. I wrote about using them at the very beginning of OTW'S emergence in the Saltwater fishing scene, I wrote articles a series of plugs I called the CMS plugs, which were actually Beachmasters, for fishing along the Islands almost ten years ago when almost nobody even knew what a Beachmaster plug was up here on the Cape and Islands. I encouraged shops to buy and stock wooden plugs other than just Gibbs and I firmly believe I had a hand in the start of this wooden plug renaisance through my writing. I love wooden fishing plugs and I love what I see here on this site and others, I have been making a few a year since the late seventies and it just pleases me no end to see you guys display your work here. There are some truly talented guys here and lots more on thier way. Christ, I think if you asked the Jet Co. thier sales in the northeast on mini-lathes has probably shown a noticeable growth since this new wave started. This bull%$%$%$%$ of who copied who and patent infringements and taxes has no place here. If you want to make plugs to sell go for it and no one should stick thier nose into anyone else's business. If you fail to adhere to the law then you run the risk of getting caught and personally I don't care who does what, when and how it that vain. Bm, I luv ya buddy but you have a serious issue you need to get over and you need to get over it soon. How many times have we had this discussion? Copy away if you want, but like in the case of Bernzy, have the courtesy to drop him a line and ask him how he feels before you do it. I think he puts some mojo in his Howdy's that you can't get on anyone else's though. So let's end this debate here and no and get back to just enjoying this work for what is was meant to be. Making something with your own hands, using the creative side of your brain to come up with a new pattern and finally taking the thing that you created and snapping it on and casting it out and have a fish take it, the feeling you get when that happens is really wonderful and affirms all your thinking and work. It's supposed to be fun.
