Just finishing up an order for Adam F. The top plug is the old reliable Slope Head Swimmer. Great plug and caught fish every single time used this season! Fooling around with the position of the weights really made this plug come alive.
The two lower plugs are from a new turner I'm trying out. They are very similar in style to the monster plug I've been using but on a smaller scale. Quality seems to be very good, weight is consistent, and overall look really great after the 10 step finishing process. Still trying to come up with ways to make these available on a larger scale than I'm able to do now.
If I were to pick 3 colors to have in my tackle box these would be the ones. If I fished strictly nights I would probably add a purple/black to the pile.
What do you all think ?
Very Nice! What kind of wood?
Nice work Lou. ;D
Mostly cedar.
Those are some good looking plugs. Gotta love the wood ones.
Looks fantastic! I can't wait to try them out.
They look sweet, Lou!
Do you tie your own bucktail hooks? You do it like the pros... mine is a bit bunched up from doing too many wraps around the hair. I always feel like the hair is gonna come out if I don't wrap it more.
Looking forward to hearing the results from Adam putting them to the test.
Thanks,
Dom
Really nice stuff Lou.
Until you start building pieces you don't really understand the time involved.
Your efforts show thru in the finished product.
Thanks all!
Dom, I do make all my own bucktails. Most season's I tie 3 to 4 hundred and are sold locally. Some of the boys on the forum here use them. As far a the wraps go, make sure you pull somewhat tight enough on the thread for the first few turns just enough to make the hair stand up just a little. Make several more light wraps and add thinned head cement so it sinks in. Then add more and tighter wraps until you get the shape you want. Its important to use the thinned head cement!
As for the plugs, I think Adam will be happy with them. I've been building and fishing them for years and this year even though not my best year I still caught over a couple hundred bass on them. One 50, a bunch of 30's and 40's. On many occasions I'm able to out fish the guys using pogies. I cant remember the last time I fished live bait.
I also tie some huge bunker bucktails. They're around 10 to 12" long. I'll take one of my monster plugs and remove the back hook, then a length of 60lb fluro is added and the bunker fly on the end. On a shorter leader the plug will impart more action to the fly and obviously on a longer leader less action so its very easy to tailor the action to match the conditions. I also soak the bucktail in bunker oil overnight and this setup is killer. I've even caught double headers on it! I'll post more pics when I get a chance.
..................Lou
Lou What do you call the hair on the bucktails and where do you buy it? Dominick
Dominick
I buy mine at Jon Barlow.com They are in Texas, just ask for a catalog it comes fast.
Mike
Dominick, it's called bucktail hair. Saltwater edge.com has a good quality and nice color selection. That's pretty much all I use now.
I use the kevlar thread for the saltwater and find it works well.
Lou, ties them like a pro... far better than I, but I get by.
Dom
Dominick, I do use a lot of bucktail hair and probably even more synthetic and that's probably what your asking about? The synthetic's do not absorb water, and are very easy to mix colors and tie with. Its available online from Flytyers Dungeon and its called Congo Hair.
Its quite reasonable and I like the fact that it can be easily trimmed and shaped.
I tie a lot of large and broad bucktails to simulate bunker patterns and found this stuff to be the best! Some season's I'll use over a hundred packages.
................Lou
PS... Forgot to mention I also use Super Jumbo Braid available on ebay. Its for hair extensions. Super cheap, large quantity, lots of colors, and great for tying bulky flies.
Thanks for all your responses. Dominick
Great looking stuff
Need a test caster :) ?
Great on rock fish out here.
I received my stiper Lou plug in the mail this past Friday, it's a beauty, I cant say enough good things about it...this a custom made plug that really has a lot of fine workmanship put into it.
Joe
Joe, thanks for the compliments! Sounds like Ruth was ready to go out and test it right, then, and there!!! Use it in good health and catch a bunch of the big ladies.
A lot of time goes into them and I try to make each and every one as it were for myself. They have been my go too artificials and have worked extremely well over the years.
In another post I had mentioned I will have about a dozen and a half or so in various styles and colors. These are going to be available as my extra's for next season and I hope to list them here shortly. Thanks to everyone who showed interest.
...........................Lou
I got my shipment from Lou today. This Guy does good work! ;D
The ones without the tape on the hooks I bought from him a while back. He used them as models. They are Huge! :o
These are really something to see. I need to get a new camera. The pictures don't do them Justice.
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm11/ddyer2/IMG_3156_zpsfcyzqq7n.jpg) (http://s292.photobucket.com/user/ddyer2/media/IMG_3156_zpsfcyzqq7n.jpg.html)
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm11/ddyer2/IMG_3157_zps5f7cofuc.jpg) (http://s292.photobucket.com/user/ddyer2/media/IMG_3157_zps5f7cofuc.jpg.html)
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm11/ddyer2/IMG_3158_zpsywv1hj1y.jpg) (http://s292.photobucket.com/user/ddyer2/media/IMG_3158_zpsywv1hj1y.jpg.html)
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm11/ddyer2/IMG_3159_zpsglccw5us.jpg) (http://s292.photobucket.com/user/ddyer2/media/IMG_3159_zpsglccw5us.jpg.html)
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm11/ddyer2/IMG_3160_zpsqrernslp.jpg) (http://s292.photobucket.com/user/ddyer2/media/IMG_3160_zpsqrernslp.jpg.html)
(http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm11/ddyer2/IMG_3161_zpsfjoatwrm.jpg) (http://s292.photobucket.com/user/ddyer2/media/IMG_3161_zpsfjoatwrm.jpg.html)
Check is in the Mail, Mr. Maglione. Thank You!
Lou, these plugs are awesome and plugging for stripers is one of my top favorite ways to fish. How might i get my hands on a couple?
Thor
Daron, Thank you for the kind words and posting pics. They are very difficult to photograph due to the glossy finish. This time of year I really start to worry about shipping as things have a tendency to get thrown around. Enjoy them in good health and you and the family have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thor, I do have some available but I've been having trouble and cannot send any attachments whether here or to personnel emails. I've been working on it for a week with no results. Maybe I'll put a post here and someone can help! If you check all of my posts on plugs, striper and or fishing reports, you can get an idea what they look like. If you would be kind enough to send me a PM, that would be great so I wont forget you.
........................................Lou
Lou,
I let my boy have one of those plugs and he made custom shadow box for it.
I think he likes it. ;)
Quote from: Shark Hunter on December 15, 2016, 01:12:52 AM
Lou,
I let my boy have one of those plugs and he made custom shadow box for it.
I think he likes it. ;)
Nice!! Give you son a at a boy.
Joe
Great Job! You schooled him well Mr. D!!!! Certainly got me beat here as they're just hanging all around the basement!
.................Lou
Quote from: STRIPER LOU on December 15, 2016, 02:56:16 AM
Great Job! You schooled him well Mr. D!!!! Certainly got me beat here as they're just hanging all around the basement!
.................Lou
And I can attest to that :o ;D
Joe
Great work as always brother Lou.....hey do you think those would work on our Left Coast river stripers? Bill
Absolutely Bill! Some of the guys out your way have purchased some of the smaller versions. On the larger ones they've even caught some tuna!
Unfortunately I'm not building at this time as I have a huge work backlog. Thanks for the interest and have a great holiday
Quote from: TARFU on December 17, 2016, 03:34:40 AM
Great work as always brother Lou.....hey do you think those would work on our Left Coast river stripers? Bill
If you absolutist want one I could part with one at Lou's price.
Joe
Joe thank you for the offer....I was more curious about the cross over.....Good to know east coast works on the west coast....you never know with the lefties over here ;D ;D ;D Bill
Joe, if its the red/white I'd be glad to take that off your hands as I wont be building them anymore.
Thanks, .. Lou
Quote from: STRIPER LOU on December 17, 2016, 07:08:22 PM
Joe, if its the red/white I'd be glad to take that off your hands as I wont be building them anymore.
Thanks, .. Lou
Lou; Plug sent tracking #9405803699300368768147
Joe