Beach Master Plugs

[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.

[Slingah]

Originally Posted by Zeno

C'mon guys ,they are stupid !#%!^* plugs.

exactly
that is the quote of '07

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by 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.

That's right. Even in Mass, I accumulated a good collection from the same shop over a period of two years from 2003-2005. The real over the top stuff is pretty recent.
The bottom line=superb plugs, but I wouild never pay above retail.