Plugs that Suck - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Just n time · 10-14-2010, 05:32 AM

What are the worst plugs you have and would never buy again??? I plan to restock this off season and was curious as to what my fishing bros would stay away from..

UserRemoved1 · 10-14-2010, 05:45 AM

MINE

Hey at least I said it before someone else did LOL

The Dad Fisherman · 10-14-2010, 06:05 AM

Only plugs that suck are the ones that come in Sideways.....other than that, its up to the angler to make them magical

victank · 10-14-2010, 06:26 AM

No bad plugs just bad colors and bad technicians behind the action...LOL:

fishsmith · 10-14-2010, 06:31 AM

mass produced plugs made by 'Storm', I got one as a gift and when I tested a knot on it the eye pulled out.

Rmarsh · 10-14-2010, 06:32 AM

Rmarsh · 10-14-2010, 06:43 AM

I have been disapointed with lures that have hooks that will marry or get hung up on each other on the cast. A certain custom wood plug I bought does this and it sucks.
Had the belly hook swivel snap off of a another companies needlefish on two consecutive nights. Two different needlefish same company.
I don't want to mention names here.

bloocrab · 10-14-2010, 06:48 AM

Lotta plug builders and plug builder's friends on here.......this could turn into a nasty thread.

.....

The worst plug out there is.......... the eel.

THERE!!! I SAID IT!!...

UserRemoved1 · 10-14-2010, 06:54 AM

If there's a problem people want to hear it. How else can you make a better widget.

Doesn't have to be nasty.

saltydog · 10-14-2010, 07:24 AM

Heres one. it swam great. nice color. BUT after 1.day in the water SPLIT

GOOD LUCK GOOD PLUGGIN

ecduzitgood · 10-14-2010, 07:25 AM

I won't buy gags because the paint fails too soon, I like his plugs but they don't appear to be sealed so water penetrates them and the wood swells and the paint flakes off after the first trip.

tysdad115 · 10-14-2010, 07:26 AM

My plugs say it's me that sucks! How can they do their job if I don't put them any where near fish? They want to unionize and vote me out...Wait is it normal to argue with plugs? I think I may have some other issues...

bart · 10-14-2010, 07:53 AM

mambo minnows. they go by a different name now as Gags was bought out (i think), but the old ones and the new seem to have an issue where the back trebel rips through the plugs after one or two fish. I have about 6 of the old ones and one brand new one that have been rendered unfishable after minimal use. they do catch though...

RIJIMMY · 10-14-2010, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bart

mambo minnows. they go by a different name now as Gags was bought out (i think), but the old ones and the new seem to have an issue where the back trebel rips through the plugs after one or two fish. I have about 6 of the old ones and one brand new one that have been rendered unfishable after minimal use. they do catch though...

black mambos are my favorite plugs, glad I have bags full from a few years ago!

Typhoon · 10-14-2010, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bart

mambo minnows. they go by a different name now as Gags was bought out (i think), but the old ones and the new seem to have an issue where the back trebel rips through the plugs after one or two fish. I have about 6 of the old ones and one brand new one that have been rendered unfishable after minimal use. they do catch though...

Those mambos are a tuna killer.

lurch · 10-14-2010, 08:01 AM

All non broken plugs will catch fish but some last longer than others.

The problem I have is the price of the plugs.

Plug prices have increased to a point where most people cannot afford them.

Back Beach · 10-14-2010, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lurch

Plug prices have increased to a point where most people cannot afford them.

I tried to circumvent this phenomenon by building my own, but drove my cost per lure up exponentially...still not sure what happened...anyone need a $500 danny?

Fishoholic · 10-14-2010, 10:00 AM

not really a fan of tsunmai wood. I was given some to try and swimmers were crap. PP's caught and held up fairly well. Stay away from the swimmers. I like their plastics though.

redlite · 10-14-2010, 10:08 AM

Over the years, I have run out and bought many of the "MUST have" lures, and didn't catch diddly on them.- Wouldn't use/ buy:
Sad to say, but pretty much any style plug by Gibbs. They just don't hold up and most cast like crap. Paint wears off all the time just from the trebles rubbing.
And Back Beach lures- even though price is right, they cast pretty good, look ok, but don't catch diddly.
A lot of Yozuris.- hooks suck

Like:
M&D's canal pencils
Habs needles
Sebile stick shads (even though they cost way too much and you gotta change split rings out from the get go.)
Eels.

But I very, very rarely even carry plugs, never mind use........

JackK · 10-14-2010, 10:08 AM

Beachmasters.

Just kidding... Like TDF said, it's not necessarily the plug, but how the angler is using it. Each plug can be fished differently, and it's up to you to determine the most effective retrieve... and that can change with tide, time of day, spot, etc etc.

Some custom wood just doesn't swim right though- inherent flaw with wood, some just don't work. I have a few BM dannys that are garbage, roll out in use, and sit on my wall. But I have a couple that produce a nice wiggle however slow I swim them... Those are constantly in the bag.

My opinion for the most overrated? Sebile magic swimmers. I know some people have crushed on them, I just haven't had a single fish on one, and not for lack of trying. I really need to pick up a few stick shads though.

Just n time · 10-14-2010, 10:14 AM

So much good info, with the price of plugs these days I really appreciate the help. I just don't want to buy something and have it break or foul hook or malfunction after a few trips. IMHO the old Rapala's really are over rated. They are really too expensive and cast like rubbish. Oh, Salty bugger your plugs are AWESOME!!The only thing I would say about some of the plug makers and their products is I would like to see some kind of a deal once in a while such as buy 3 needles get the fourth one free or a Christmas special or season starter special or something like that.It would encourage me to buy more product if I had a reason to.Keep the info coming and many thanks....

Vogt · 10-14-2010, 11:46 AM

I hate all of the newer Gibbs. If you can find their vintage stuff its great, but most of their current production runs suck IMHO. Very inconsistant.

Also, any Gags wood is garbage IMO. The paint falls off very very quickly and the wood splits right away.

You can purchase plugs from major builders like: BM, Habs, Tattoo, Salty, Bigfish
and be assured that the product will work properly. If you do happen to get a dud (which does happen) these guys will make it right for you. A couple years ago I had a Tattoo darter that didnt work right. I sent Mike an email and had a new darter within days. Top notch builders=top notch plugs and customer service.

WoodyCT · 10-14-2010, 02:30 PM

I'm loving plastic these days.

Super Strike anything

Bombers

Redfins

Atom 40s and Jrs

Doc spooks

Northbar BDs

Daiwa minners

Tsunami Talking Popper

Rapala Xwalk and Subwalk

Yozuri Hydro Pencil

Do love me some old Gibbs pencils, Salty Dahtas, Dr. C darters, Hab's needles and BM dannies however.

Mike P · 10-14-2010, 03:04 PM

New had much use for the old Yankee Lures plugs. They had the worst swivels of any lure I ever tried---even worse than Gibbs. They had a nice needlefish, but I got sick of having fish break the belly swivel, and it was just too much of a PITA to re-wire them with good swivels. Especially when I have a bunch of Superstrike needles.

fishbones · 10-14-2010, 03:38 PM

Boone needlefish. I don't believe they're made anymore, but if you see them anywhere, don't bother.

Zeal · 10-14-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishbones

Boone needlefish. I don't believe they're made anymore, but if you see them anywhere, don't bother.

They are still around, mostly I have seen them in Sports Authority and other stores like that. Thank God they threw that POS on clearance for like 5 bucks when I was first starting out to surfcast.

No, I cannot be nice about it, those things are useless.

luds · 10-14-2010, 04:48 PM

I never used one but those interchangable plastic plugs where you could take the head off and switch it from a popper to a swimmer never seemed like a good plug to me. Cool idea but I would say they suck.

redlite · 10-14-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luds

I never used one but those interchangable plastic plugs where you could take the head off and switch it from a popper to a swimmer never seemed like a good plug to me. Cool idea but I would say they suck.

You mean you fish with Lego's????

SurfCaster413 · 10-14-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecduzitgood

I won't buy gags because the paint fails too soon, I like his plugs but they don't appear to be sealed so water penetrates them and the wood swells and the paint flakes off after the first trip.

GAGS SUCK i do like the mambo's

luds · 10-14-2010, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redlite

You mean you fish with Lego's????

Pretty much Mike