I personally have Habs to blame for my addiction of plugmaking. I started making my own one night way back when Bassmaster came over and we spent the winter knocking out needles poppers and pikies, we learned a lot on our way and Habs and Mike Fixter gave us plenty of advice. Mike Fixter is another excellant builder who has become known widely due to the internet who was building all along even post moritorium and pre. Ask Winch anout his history.
There are a ton of garage builders who didn't sell their stuff but fished them and their friends did also. Most were not refined as well as John's stuff.
Another builder that needs to be mentioned is Tony Stetzko (Sr.)
He was a master at machining things and a pretty good surfcaster himself. His stuff is quite unique and innovative. Ya can't get much more custom than Tony's stuff.
John Haberek inspired me to make plugs that caught fish, and they did. I will always remember fishing with him at Watch Hill the night I caught my first bass on a plug I made myself.
We all miss him
Slipknot
gotta go fish now and my bag is full of just Habs
Threaded Mode