[Flaptail]

I used to buy Beachmasters ( though at the time, Charlie P. at CMS wouldn't let on they were Beachmasters) for 11.00 bucks apiece.

They were packaged in a CMS labeled bag. I caught so mnay fish on them I begged Charlie to order more. I wrote about them several times in early issues of OTW calling them "CMS Atoms and CMS Dannys) Charlie finally ordered more and when they came in it was a big box of mixed plugs no hooks and no bags just all thrown in.

I had my pick and there were always a few odd ones thrown in in odd colors or needles or darters. Bobby finally contacted me to tell me what they really were and told me since I started writing about them that his sales orders from Massachusetts took off but he only makes so many a year and when they are done that's it till next year. But he is honest about that and tells everyone of the shops that order before they seal the deal so there are no surprises when the order is recieved. You get what you order and the amount agreed on but after that, well......

Now the interblab and the quality plus his ties to Danny Pichney ( they are essentially what Danny would be building if still alive) has made his plug a collectible which is a shame because first and foremost they are meant to fish with and as far as wooden Dannys and Atoms go his are the best you can get. They are durable, they all swim perfectly and they outcatch any others of similar design.

I buy them to fish. This collectible thing is really out of hand and the price you pay is actually way inflated by the shops that have them, and why not? It's as American as Apple Pie, the higher the demand the higher the price and the market bears it. The collector resale trade like e-bay is what is driving the cost and creating the "need" to have psyche.

Blame the internet for it when you can't get any. some shops are taking pre-orders already on Danny's which are due out by early summer.

But if a mid seventies light pink Gibbs bottle plug can bring over fifty bucks and the bidding ain't done yet, who knows where a scale patterned Beachmaster will go.

I must have 10 or 12 of those pink bottles, hmmm..........