Hand turned 6" "cedar plug" using exotic purpleheart, paduak and bloodwood hardwoods. This is NOT your grandfather's cedar plug. It is smooth, protected in a semi-gloss finish and ready to fish. The plug's weight is more than those with a stock head and the lighter cedar wood.
A new addition is a larger 7" plug with a 6 ounce jig head. SEE BELOW
The cedar plug CAN be rigged with 80 pound Izor blue monofilament crimped and manually tested to 20# of drag strength. That is appropriate for 80# fishing gear or less. The cost of a hook and rigging is $3.00 - my cost.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/New%20Wood%20Plugs_zpsyd9jwwwf.jpg)
Here is a one order that will become two daisy chains in purpleheart (3-4" + 1-6") and six 6" cedar plugs. Note the colors (top to bottom) bloodwood, padauk, and purpleheart.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/8A68203B-07CD-4B75-8888-E08211204263_zpskf64he15.jpg)
Here is what the raw wood looks like. Unfortunately, the bloodwood available is not the deep red color and may never be for sale again, but what is shown looks great.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/6E294F5A-56ED-4CD3-BE51-2254A45B27E3_zpsbir95aoz.jpg)
Comments from those who purchased my cedar plugs:
"Mark, received plugs. Almost too nice to fish( I'll force myself though). Thanks...Greg"
"Absolutely beautiful...David"
"Nice plugs...Jeff"
"Fantastic Mark! They look great. You do really nice work...Dan"
"Mark the plugs came today. Thank you. They are beautifully crafted. The heads and wood match up perfectly...Dominick"
"Got my cedar plugs today. They are WAAAY too nice to fish with...Eric"
"I just received my order, thank you. They are absolutely awesome...Bruce"
"Mark , I received my order, there AWESOME... Tony"
"Thanks Mark, got mine in the mail today. I understand what other people are saying when they get them about whether to use them or frame them! They are a work of art...Nick"
"Just received my order. I think I might put them in my shadow box with all my other memorabilia that hangs in my office. These plugs are just too beautiful to fish with. My wife even thought they were cool and she has absolutely no clue as to what they are used for! Anyway, thanks Mark!!...Roger"
"Got them in the mail
today.....beautiful!...Ron"
"Hey Mark, got my order in yesterday and they are truly a work of art...Marco"
"Just got home and the plugs where in the mail box. They are awesome. If I was a tuna I would not be able to resist them. I will let you know how I did when I get back from my trip...Nathaniel"
"Thank you !!!! They are sooooo nice, love them. Happy New Year...NORM"
"Mark, You totally rock. Fast, quick, and big time quality. I hope the fish like them as much as I do. The only problem is now i have to wait for the fish to start biting...Tim S."
"Not that an artisan of Mark's caliber needs any more encomiums, but I just wanted to say that I recently bought one of his paduak wood cedar plugs and believe me when I tell you that it is something gorgeous to behold... to heck with the fish, I wanted to bite it! Grin. Seriously, if you're going to be trolling this summer you should get one of these... truly the finest of its kind any of us are ever likely to see. Thanks, Mark!
"Quick testimonial: When it was my turn to troll on a recent 8-day, I put out one of Mark's paduak wood plugs and it was slammed in less than sixty seconds by a fat YFT.
These things are flat-out amazing... get some! Cheesy. Smiley ~A~"
"Yes they are great, thank you very much for the speedy shipping. I can't wait to use them...Dean"
"Mark my wife arrived home yesterday (here in new Zealand) with the Plugs, they are works of art, thank you.
Its mid-winter here so will try then out in the spring and let you know how I do...Peter"
Contact me at mlmayo2@verizon.net or marklmayo@gmail.com
(Second letter is a lower case L)
$15 per plug in 4", 5" per 6" lengths. Shipping is $4 per plug and if you want them rigged that runs $3 per plug. Each plug is $21 rigged and shipped. Quantity shipping deals available.
I couldn't make up my mind, so I bought one of each! ;D
Thanks Mark!!
Mine arrived yesterday and I am stoked about giving them a shot over the summer. Hope to post some BFT pictures at some point with one of these in its mouth!
Still waiting on mine (no hurry, I will wait my turn) and anxious to get and show them off. I too might not fish one and instead build it into a table with fishing related items embedded in the finish.
Quote from: egarratt14 on June 08, 2015, 11:06:48 PM
I too might not fish one and instead build it into a table with fishing related items embedded in the finish.
Now that is a photo that we would all like to see. Dominick
Mark,
Awesome buddy.
Dominick, Might take me a while as I have a few projects in front of the table, but I will get to it.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/3BBB8401-C948-4145-A10E-AB77767232CC_zpskzg0xhtd.jpg)
Just caught yellowtail like this at Santa Barbara Island on a private boat along with bonito. We released most of the 40 tails caught and all of the small bonito, but they ate the plugs very well. The plugs outfished the rapala and feather completely.
More next month...
How to make a hand made cedar plug
Buy some wood
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/EA45F310-4247-4D0B-B905-391AE73A84B7_zpsueetl7ab.jpg)
Cut the wood to size
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/F4BDD0E9-630F-4300-AC45-98AE276421C7_zpsunksy1az.jpg)
Drill the wood for the line, hook and lead head
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/2A53BAD3-A284-451B-902E-345490803D62_zpsw4xuijpi.jpg)
Make a lot of very pretty wood shavings as you turn the wood round and cut tenons for the brass ferrules
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/D23831EA-8F12-4589-8678-7546EDA8AED8_zpslzhv4ujq.jpg)
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/C6287EE8-C207-4B73-B169-824F9E15BE0F_zps7bddxk1q.jpg)
Turn the lead heads from egg sinkers or preformed heads. Test fit everything to be sure it will fit.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/F5A033CA-5060-4606-B264-B1EDD523E59B_zpspa2qetxm.jpg)
Epoxy glue the heads, ferrules and rounded hardwood blanks
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/A505049E-4465-42D9-A4A0-D41EC9838A84_zpszbls6he8.jpg)
Turn the blanks into cedar plugs and sand them smooth
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/AF5C238C-C9EE-458F-8477-0433E199784C_zpsb17td0ng.jpg)
Apply finish
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DE673DAE-3A1B-4D13-A3FD-079C972DCA57_zpsdznfgtir.jpg)
Rig them
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/E3FB9A63-7C99-4C0E-AF92-537B1669EF06_zpsov66hx64.jpg)
Troll them behind a boat and get bit
The 7" plugs are $25 per plug, $5 rigging and $6 shipping
From the buyer of these 8 plugs
Thank you !!!! They are sooooo nice, love them. Happy New Year - NORM
Some new wood plugs for Steve Fukuda. I do not know the wood species and the treatment, so don't ask for any just yet. They are pretty.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/ECC18DBA-AF4C-435D-BF3E-AAC2D81473C7_zpsvccyaxjw.jpg)
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/94BCBA18-AB81-4843-9D6C-31EA2C561E34_zpsq3b8n3jz.jpg)
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/CA2FBA03-8C57-43E6-9470-07A43E0522F9_zpsu6p5sgkg.jpg)
If I ever get some of the wood, I'll add it to what I sell.
To see a dozen or so different exotic wood cedar plugs in ETSY. Search "cedar plug hardwood fishing" and they will appear.
Quote from: mmayo on April 02, 2016, 09:36:07 PM
To see a dozen or so different exotic wood cedar plugs in ETSY. Search "cedar plug hardwood fishing" and they will appear.
For us abbreviated impaired, what does ETSY mean.
By the way the knife gets many comments.
Joe
Joe, Etsy is an on-line shopping site.
Sid
Quote from: sdlehr on April 03, 2016, 02:55:06 AM
Joe, Etsy is an on-line shopping site.
Sid
Well that explains it Sid, that's why I don't know that site. Because I'm anti cyber social! ;D
Joe
Not that an artisan of Mark's caliber needs any more encomiums, but I just wanted to say that I recently bought one of his paduak wood cedar plugs and believe me when I tell you that it is something gorgeous to behold... to heck with the fish, I wanted to bite it! ;D
Seriously, if you're going to be trolling this summer you should get one of these... truly the finest of its kind any of us are ever likely to see.
Thanks, Mark! :)
~A~
They are beautiful. But does the density of the wood have much of an effect on lure action - ie. if the wood section of the plug was a heavier/denser material than the original red cedar would the lure action be noticeably different? I'm thinking about how these plugs would fish in the field - the aesthetics of them are, without question, outstanding.
They swim nicely and track a bit better than stock " light " cedar plugs. To test them out we trolled four lines behind a 28' skipjack. We got so many hookups that we skipped the outriggers after a few stops. We trolled two rapalas and two cedar plugs. The rapalas stayed in their lane and so did the cedar plugs and that was behind a fairly narrow boat compared to most sportboats. The plugs got bit, but not the rapalas. My plugs are pretty, better built, last longer and get bit.
By the way, I make real cedar plugs using Eastern red cedar too.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3184_zpsiaiyybzg.jpg)
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3188_zpsijgideim.jpg)
American black walnut
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/5E541DA4-93DC-4E93-BF13-93006D1B7B66_zpsapu7djlv.jpg)
Bubinga
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/7646DC1D-339D-4E18-83BC-7634454176EA_zpsgkrydsrk.jpg)
Hard rock maple
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3191_zpsbkp7qvmx.jpg)
Wenge
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3190_zpsezpd3ewi.jpg)
Leopardwood
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3185_zpsoaizdyqt.jpg)
Bocote
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3184_zpsiaiyybzg.jpg)
Eastern red cedar
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3180_zpslr5xvz6q.jpg)
Ziricote
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3181_zpsnhuo1ysi.jpg)
Birds-eye maple
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/DSC_3176_zpsynwxr8xw.jpg)
Osage orange
Quick testimonial: When it was my turn to troll on a recent 8-day, I put out one of Mark's paduak wood plugs and it was slammed in less than sixty seconds by a fat YFT.
These things are flat-out amazing... get some! :D
~A~
Yea baby!
They swim with less side to side craziness, tangle other anglers less, swim a bit deeper and get bit. They catch fish, are far sturdier than the hot glue stock ones and just happen to look amazing.
(http://i975.photobucket.com/albums/ae238/mlmayo/Cedar%20Plugs/055A77B2-C3A4-4D8A-A505-D8B1D1643D01_zpsizbponi7.jpg)
Received my set of Cedar Plugs yesterday....
Just Awesome!!!
Cant wait to swim them.
Thank you!!
Can I order some more please?
all 6" rigged
2x Bloodwood
2x Paduak
2x Bubinga
2x Dealers Choice ;D (crazy wild wood)
thanks again!!!
Frank.....
Shipped these today.
(https://i.imgur.com/I5dIqLS.jpg)
Beautiful work! How much for two like the ones you just shipped on the 13th? I want to try them, thank you, Darin
Quote from: Darin Crofton on August 28, 2018, 11:23:09 PM
Beautiful work! How much for two like the ones you just shipped on the 13th? I want to try them, thank you, Darin
Building them tomorrow 8/29. Shipping 8/30
I just finished these three 8" plugs. The woods are purpleheart, cocobolo and paduak.
(https://i.imgur.com/ou9VQLD.jpg)
Quote from: Reel 224 on April 03, 2016, 11:20:06 AM
Quote from: sdlehr on April 03, 2016, 02:55:06 AM
Joe, Etsy is an on-line shopping site.
Sid
Well that explains it Sid, that's why I don't know that site. Because I'm anti cyber social! ;D
Joe
Its also where I buy handgun brass... Jeff
Beautifully done Mark, I own about a dozen of these from you and I really like them.
Best,
Sal
Got mine in the mail! Beautiful work Mark. Thanks!
I just returned from an 8 day on the Star. We finally trolled and my plugs did as expected - caught fish. Yellowfin and bluefin bit the plugs well. The boat asked for and received plugs and a deckhand asked for plugs for his private skiff. A, new to me, deckhand named Jake watched them from the bait tank and commented about their action, nice!
(https://i.imgur.com/VfqTVct.jpg)
The plugs look like new after days of trolling and show no wear except the occasional earned tooth mark.
Not easy to get stuff to swim right this is really fantastic,,,,, ;) great job on that big tuna man,,,,, :o
Quote from: mmayo on July 14, 2020, 03:58:50 AM
I just returned from an 8 day on the Star. We finally trolled and my plugs did as expected - caught fish. Yellowfin and bluefin bit the plugs well. The boat asked for and received plugs
Earned credibility from real witnesses.
If all stuff produced for sport fishing had to meet this criteria there'd be far less stuff.
New plugs rigged for trolling.
(https://i.imgur.com/4gi6SjM.jpg)
Excellent craftsmanship, Mark! 👍
Sal
Quote from: Alto Mare on July 30, 2020, 02:01:44 AM
Excellent craftsmanship, Mark! 👍
Sal
I got alot of respect for this man,,,,, ;) he built it and it looks fantastic and works great,,,,, ;D
From a recent customer.
" Hi Mark, Yesterday I had the pleasure of opening my mail and WOW I was amazed how wonderful your Cedars Plugs appear in person....photos do not do justice to the wworkmanship and quality that goes into your product....a BIG THANK YOU ....a true fan of yours, Ron"
Very nice looking plugs. If they catch fish as good as they look then you should have a boat load of fish.
Hi, Mark!
Say, assuming there's still time, where might I buy your cedar plugs before the Barking Spiders trip? (I already have one, but wouldn't mind some backups...)
Thanks! :)
~A~
Your wish was granted in zebrawood.
Quote from: mmayo on July 28, 2021, 11:52:00 PM
Your wish was granted in zebrawood.
Indeed it was, and many thanks! Maybe next year we can give it a try at Guadalupe... :D
~
A~
The hardwood swims deeper. The have similar wiggling to lighter stock red cedar models.
Stock
Red cedar
Hot glue construction
Head and body fashioned separately and hot glued together
Very thin brass end hot glued in place
No finish
Mine
Red cedar or exotic hardwood
Epoxy construction
Head and body turned in a lathe separately, epoxy glued and clamped together and then turned as a unit
Thick wider brass ferrules at the back epoxy glued and clamped in place. There is substantially more wood for strength at the back.
Entire cedar plug is sanded and finished with cyanoacrylic resin and buffed.
They are far more than pretty, but the are indeed very pretty. I've made and sold over 600 to date.