Jointed Needles

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by DZ

George,
Boy does that plug bring back memories! When the needlefish were hot in the 80s I remember seeing those rapalas at the Eastern Outdoor show when it was in Boxborough. We were very keen on "slim" plugs and they looked like they'd fit the bill. We talked to the Rapala rep about them and asked if they would ever be made with smaller lips - he said no. We did get a few and ground down the lip but they still swam to deep for us. I never thought of the loading idea. I'm glad someone figured out what to do with that plug.

You can probably see that most good jointed plugs come with a lip. I've tried to put lips on various needles with no luck - the ass end of a traditional needle is to heavy to swing. The back end has to be light to swing but them you lose the casting capability. I've always been looking for a needle that could swim just a little bit more - I even put Slipknot to work on one but it didn't pan out.

DZ

Why could`nt you use a maple front end and a floater pine tail end?

[bloocrab]

The biggest drawback when using a jointed plug is the loss of distance. 9 out of 10 fishermen ALWAYS want distance and think distance is always the key. With this fact, most fishermen don't invest enough time in a jointed plug to make a proper distinction. I am a big fan of jointed plugs. When applicable, I love tossing one out there. However, aside from castability, there is also the question of durability. Will a jointed plug endure the head shaking and plug rubbing that big Bass can produce? When you lose confidence in a plug, you fish it less. Jointed plugs create doubt - which creates lack of useage - which leads to fewer reports - and the dominos keep falling. For the record, I am also a big fan of "Distance". For the greatest fact that distance increases the amount of water covered, it often takes precedence in what you're casting. Jointed plugs have their place. Every plug does, you just have to know when and HOW to use that plug.

Send me your unwanted jointed plugs please -

[westhavendave]

Al's making them again, we'll see how the work out.

[piemma]

Originally Posted by HESH2

not needles but jointed black bombers rock.

About 4 years ago. 9/21 WH pocket. 6" Black jointed bomber. 8 to 10' waves. 36# bass 15 # blue. About 6 other bass in the 15 to 20# range. I still have about 1/2 dozen that I bought right after that. The
6" is tough to find lately.

[Ake G]

Yes for joints on swimmers..don't feel they add anything on a needle.

Jointed plugs do make for a fun "build"

[NIGHT STRIKES]

Originally Posted by piemma

The
6" is tough to find lately.

So True, I came across this four pak last year and jumped on them.

[bassmaster]

i like my needles in 1 pc

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by bassmaster

i like my a$$less leather chaps in 1 pc

[bassmaster]

anything for Uoke:

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by numbskull

I've posted this before, but I think there is a lesson worth repeating. 15- 20 years ago, beach fishing the big hole on Tuckernuck, I got shut out using eels while two Nantucket guys on each side of me caught half a dozen 30-40 lb fish each using the smaller Rapala Slivers on which they had sanded off the ridge on the lip and loaded the rear (from the hook back) with split shots. Damnn things just dove into the shelf of the beach and bumped up the slope with the tail wiggling in the outwash. If they hadn't been there I'd have fished eels all night confident there where no fish to be found. I'll try to post a picture of their idea this pm.
PS Eventually I switched to SS needles and did no better, live and learn.

Numb,

This is a great post and why I love this site. I use this lure a lot from the boat but I like the mods and the surf story. I was wondering what difference you saw in action when grinding off the lip edge?

[numbskull]

Originally Posted by Mr. Sandman

Numb,

This is a great post and why I love this site. I use this lure a lot from the boat but I like the mods and the surf story. I was wondering what difference you saw in action when grinding off the lip edge?

Deadens the action quite a bit, but makes the plug more fishable from shore. You can feel it bump the bottom and vibrate a little in the backwash.........I've only fished them at night but they must look pretty natural to bass grubbing on sandeels.

BTW, cool calender you've got this year. Just ordered several and the DVD. Ariel photos of the places you fish are incredibly useful.

[ProfessorM]

Never tried sanding off the lip but I do load black and silver rebels and the place I fish is loaded with sand eels an it is my favorite plug to use in the spring in the tin boat. Never been lucky enough to throw it at 40 lbers but the smaller fish luv them. I will try sanding a lip off this spring.

[Mr. Sandman]

Originally Posted by numbskull

Deadens the action quite a bit, but makes the plug more fishable from shore. You can feel it bump the bottom and vibrate a little in the backwash.........I've only fished them at night but they must look pretty natural to bass grubbing on sandeels.

BTW, cool calender you've got this year. Just ordered several and the DVD. Ariel photos of the places you fish are incredibly useful.

Glad you like the photos thanks for the feedback. They will get better in future seasons. I plan to have them out eariler in 08 and will have a fly over video on next years. Also, this year I have some nice goodies on the Disk, ie some hi-res bottom mappint of Quicks hole.

Getting back to the topic, I switched to this plug because it is MUCH better built then that POS fasttrac that others rave about. From the boat the sliver tolls better at higher speed and bones and albies love it. Also it can stand up to real abuse which the others can not.

That said, I have never fished it from the shore. After seeing your post I will give it a go this year though and it looks like a good winter project to mod a few of them.

Again thanks.
Jim