Studs and Duds...lets see em and hear the stories

[Back Beach]

The white danny was one of the first plugs I ever built last winter. Its a cross between a #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^& body and beachmaster hook/weight placement. Caught a bunch of fish up to 35# on Numby's boat with it, plus a bunch off smaller stuff from the beach this fall...

Yellow one is actually the result of a screw up with my duplicator. The plug I was attempting to make came out longer and out of proportion because I mounted the master wrong, so I slimmed it way down and made the most of my mistake. It is now a 7" skinny danny and worked great.

[numbskull]

Here is a good shot of that yellow one some bankrobber must own.

[Back Beach]

Some more duds ...Man, some of these looked sooooo good when they were done, but swim like absolute %$%$%$%$ regardless of lip bending, hook size, line tie...they're gonna become toxic firewood this winter when I get my open burning permit...

[Back Beach]

Caught some nice fish on this musso style plug. Best one was 33#. The plug held up ok, but eventually cracked from water intrusion and then the paint bubbled up on it...
Its going into my hall of fame, though, due to having caught my first big fish with one of my own plugs on it.

[numbskull]

Here are some sexy duds. Probably not fair to call them duds, they swim fine, but I really didn't find much use for them.

The lipless swimmers cast well, but I had more faith in a regular danny's action and found myself losing faith pretty fast. They do look promising for the canal, however.

The medium musso surface swimmer is a nice enough plug, but I like pichney's style better. These don't stay in the surface film as well and maybe I'll try some a little lighter.

The musso eely is a plug I was very proud of (I feel like I brought it back to life) but truth be told I found little use for it. It doesn't cast very well and runs quite deep. I did hear from a Outer Cape legend that he did well on one I gave him......but maybe he was just being nice?

[numbskull]

These are three plugs feel like my right arm to me. All have taken at least several fish better than 35lbs for me. The middle is Eddy's needle, the darter a Musso copy, and the purple swimmer one of my skinny donnys. These are as dependable as plugs get.

[Back Beach]

These pichney eely style plugs worked very well everywhere I fished them. Didn't get anything better than high teens, but there's always next week and ultimately, next year.

Last one is an extra loaded musso style plug I did well in the canal on. My goal for next year is to make one that will get way down into the rips where I usually need rubber to penetrate...wish me luck...

[WoodyCT]

Originally Posted by numbskull

These are three plugs feel like my right arm to me. All have taken at least several fish better than 35lbs for me. The middle is Eddy's needle, the darter a Musso copy, and the purple swimmer one of my skinny donnys. These are as dependable as plugs get.

Tell us about it if you would G.

Unusual shape.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[wrikerjr]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Some more duds ...Man, some of these looked sooooo good when they were done, but swim like absolute %$%$%$%$ regardless of lip bending, hook size, line tie...they're gonna become toxic firewood this winter when I get my open burning permit...

Why are those 40s duds??? They look like they would do well

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

BB,there is no such thing as a dud in the plug building world,a pretty paint job and the buy sell forums take care of that problema dannie that i make seemed to be a dud for the a couple of seasons.then 3 years ago it became one of my top producers,the same plug the same areas.maybe i just learned how to fish it,but who knows

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by l.i.fish.in.vt

a dannie that i make seemed to be a dud for the a couple of seasons.then 3 years ago it became one of my top producers,the same plug the same areas.maybe i just learned how to fish it,but who knows

Same here John. If you asked me a year ago what I thought of dannies, I would have told you they're worthless.

This is not the case any longer since I got a tutorial from Numbskull and developed a good feel for when and how to throw them. A lot of it simply has to do with confidence.

My "useless" plug right now is unquestionably a darter, believe it or not. I've never caught a fish on one. I know they work, but have never taken the time to fish them or develop any confidence in them as of yet.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by wrikerjr

Why are those 40s duds??? They look like they would do well

They have very little action...almost like needle fish Like Salty said, I think there's a lip placement/slot/belly weight issue that has been resolved. A couple recent 40's I made swim much better.