so tell me

[Krispy]

My testing grounds

[TheRattBoy]

I test my stuff...but last year I had more fun destroying Jigsy's stuff johnny

[Nebe]

When I set about making a plug I look at others plugs and take from them things I like.. for instance, I liked bassmasters round nose on his needles, so i gave me needles round noses. I love habs needles and like they way they ride at 45 degrees so I tried to duplicate that by throwing alot of lead in the tail. AS far as painting, there are certian colors that we all know are killer so i go with what works. The result is a needle that is unique to me, but in the same way its a combination of many peoples designs morpphed into one plug.
With the exceptoin of a few poppers, i have never gone out and copied an exact replica of someones plug, i dont beleive in that.

When I test my plugs I go down to the narrow river in narragansett and swim my darters and swimmers in a few of the rips that are close to shore and not too far of a walk. I bring a pair of plyers, split rings, hooks in 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0 and sometimes a notepad. This winter was the year of learning how to make darters and I had a few that didnt work and alot that were jems. the ones that didnt work didnt get trashed, but are hanging in my shop with notes attached to them explaining why they didnt work- too big of a nose loop, too heavy of a wood, too light a wood... from those I learn what not to do...
Swimmers are pretty hard to screw up, and testing those is just tweaking the loop and lip to get them to wiggle right. sometimes i need to change up a hoook size to give it more belly weight.
next on my list of plugs to learn to make are pikies.. then jointed swimmers. Its fun and in the end, the fish will tell you what they want.
Ive leraned almost everything about building plugs from this board and for that I am thankful

[UserRemoved1]

I remember you testing this plug Dave.....

[nightfighter]

I can't say I've tested my own creations, but I do go to a bridge over a saltwater marsh outflow on a falling tide to learn and see how I can work different plugs. Mostly the big wood, the type Manzi seems to favor, and some I got from Scott. Reason is I NEVER see guys up my way throw a darter, a pikie, a danny, or swimmers...never. So I have to test them when I can get them. (Donations accepted)
Pencils and needles rule up here, then topwater poppers, bombers, yozuri and the other off the shelf stuff. Tested the new squidzee last year, threw it a ton, catches too. Still can't figure why I never see those plugs in use up here. Can it be that different, or we just have blinders on???????

[Nebe]

you have blinders on... dannies and pikies in mid may where you know there are bass feeding on herring. strong currents call for darters.

[bassmaster]

good posts keepem coming....
salty U sick in the nogin
Tagger move your belly hook back 1/4 Inch and then maybe up treble in back or single 1 size. youmayfind that is all You need to do and the plug will retain action.
im lucky that i can fish rather well and grew up phishin.
no swellage just a fact bout me.
ebenand others glad U bums growing with woodage.
Master Says.
thatif Youhave a nice hunk of wood and it feels right and light make a swimmer out of it.
if You have some ayc thats dence them make a darter or needles. or a nice popper.
also picking the right color on the sand can equate to more fish landed. as in a white plug get You fish yet a swap to a yellow and white gets You on every cast.
last spring I pulled of the rack a chart and pink bomber and painted it pearl white. and put 2 vmc trebs on it.
this was #1 plug at a spot in late may loaded with cow bass and shoolies. put on a bone bomber got fish put on a pearl white got fish. then I thought of hueing this plug out asit would add shades of white to it. and bam it would catch when nothing else would. so the point is wood tin plastic Use the mind and try out stuff.
P.S. there was 2 guys from ny there they was nice as they seenme and stayed in there safty zone ( room) I called them over they both had white and that wonder bomber on.
untill theyseen what I made, theycouldnt buy a fish.and I told them if they could find the bomber i have,I dont think thay makem any more. 1 year on nauset that bomber stock was the balls..
Master>|)))'>

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I remember you testing this plug Dave.....

And then youse 2 field tested it together....