Plug prices going through the roof

[Backbeach Jake]

I buy what I can afford. Tica rods are light years beyond my Uglystik collection. They served me well, but are heavy. 704zs are my heavy reel of choice. They work hard and when I break 'em I, repeat even I can fix 'em. 35 dollar plugs? Glad I bought a lathe. Wish I had the bucks to spend, God knows that I would, but I don't.

[nightfighter]

I'm with TLap and CS here. But then again I found more 20-30 dollar plugs in the surf last year than I bought, by a wide margin
I can't help but admire the artistry......but I needed the Aquaskinz top more than ten or fifteen plugs.

[Nebe]

I'm sooo glad i have a lathe

if i didnt i would be paying 25 bucks for a needlefish...One night last summer i lost 6 needles in 2 hours- damn rocks

[Young Salt]

Originally Posted by nightfighter

then again I found more 20-30 dollar plugs in the surf last year than I bought, by a wide margin

Originally Posted by Eben

One night last summer i lost 6 needles in 2 hours- damn rocks

the ocean giveith - and the ocean takeith

i find plendy of washups, but it's usually junk - i need to fish downtide of you guys more

[Aqua-man]

i'm not a man of many words, as you can see from the number of posts, but i would like to put in my 2 cents if i could. Being a hobby plug builder and being self employed a few times i have to give these plug builders some respect. I build 2 or three plugs and they are close enough to being the same for me but to produce 1000 at a time, all the same!!! Overhead; shop, stock-wood,sealer, paint, hardware, machines, repair, maintenance, electric, heat, advertising, packaging, dealer mark-up,taxes, insurance, kids college, retirment and if you get to the point where you need to hire help...workers comp...etc...........
Can you justify $35? some will always say yes and some no. will i go out and spend $35 on a plug, yes, if i think that plug will give me $ 35 of entertainment. will i ever own 10 of them, no. To each their own as long as you are happy.
Thank you

[spence]

I'm seldom a man of few words

But I second what Aqua-man just said

-spence

[TheSpecialist]

The main thing is that the STORE not the Builder sets the retail price. If people are willing to pay 30 in one store then the guy wil price them accordingly. I did a quick check around, and notied that different shops had different prices for the same plugs. Some plugs had a $2.30, some $1.30 shop around...

Also I have only seen one plug that was priced around $30. Most are $14-$25

[lurch]

Just wait fellas...the plugs from Taiwan and China will be (and maybe allready are) flooding the market which will lower the prices on the top brand makers. I bought some needles that look like superstrike plugs for 3$ a piece. These lures may not be the best or last as long but for 3$ I am willing to give them a try. I do not like the fact that the asian lures can undermine the local lure artisans with cheap labor but does the average fisherman really want to pay top dollar for a lure? I dont think so.

I believe that there are more "average" fisherman than experts so the majority of folks will choose to buy the cheeper lure....hell some folks spend 100$ on a combo while we (I) spend that in lures during a 1 of many shopping sprees.

They way I look at it is if the "cheap" lures swim just as well as the top brands then I cannot see spending top dollar on lures that a bluefish will destroy in seconds. In reality, how long does a "top brand" plug last..1 season...10 trips...or even 1 cast???

[choggieman]

Walhie, I asked not to make this personal, lets not. My point was that these guys are not rich and making tons of cash on there wares. If you don't want to spend the cash, buy a lesser grade product. Last I knew, gibbs were still around $20, and lex were even less. Maybe those overseas plugs are just what you need.You are getting riled up over my opinion, which I am entitled to. I also do not want a pissing match, but you seem to want to throw pop shots and I will not stoop to that level. Don't want to spend the money, don't buy the plugs.

[BrianS]

my most important plug is still only $3 for a bag of 6 at Walmart

*love* da storm shad.

[Peter Lajoie]

Originally Posted by bjs

my most important plug is still only $3 for a bag of 6 at Walmart

*love* da storm shad.

Wish they would beef up the hooks though on the smaller models, I know someone who took 5 fish over 35 pounds this year on that lure, I have caught nice fish on the smaller ones and Ive had fish snap those things like twigs too..