so tell me

[bassmaster]

how else do others test there plugs,ya donthave to build to reply.
keepem coming, this is good thred
I will fish bass river wheniwantto see a plug swim, its good as ithas fast water at the mouth on the flood.
andwhen on the sand i will test wood, I really love a swell and working wood in it. when I wasmaking pikes all I did was fish them all year to find the best time of day and year for them to work. Me thinks the danny out fishes pikes though cept in spring when herring and shad are around. and that blue and silver is a top color along with olive and gold.
found that at sun up yellow is killer along with all white....

[Tagger]

I'm still working a big zagger,,,take 52 probably.. The fish liked the plug, got decent fish on it last year but I want to improve the casting so I added another shot right behind the belly hook . I hope the plug can handle it and I don't kill the action on it ..Thats the hardest part for me,, What good is good action on a plug if you can't reach them ,,added weight seems to deadin a plug .. its a catch 22..That sweet spot your talking about for me is castability with fishabilty . not as easy as it sounds..

[Backbeach Jake]

I've just started to test. One in the last batch,a metal lip lefty looking thing, would only come straight in. ? Bent the eye up, nada,down, still nix. Bent the lip down and it turned into a snake. I have sooo much to learn.

[Krispy]

My testing grounds

[TheRattBoy]

I test my stuff...but last year I had more fun destroying Jigsy's stuff johnny

[Nebe]

When I set about making a plug I look at others plugs and take from them things I like.. for instance, I liked bassmasters round nose on his needles, so i gave me needles round noses. I love habs needles and like they way they ride at 45 degrees so I tried to duplicate that by throwing alot of lead in the tail. AS far as painting, there are certian colors that we all know are killer so i go with what works. The result is a needle that is unique to me, but in the same way its a combination of many peoples designs morpphed into one plug.
With the exceptoin of a few poppers, i have never gone out and copied an exact replica of someones plug, i dont beleive in that.

When I test my plugs I go down to the narrow river in narragansett and swim my darters and swimmers in a few of the rips that are close to shore and not too far of a walk. I bring a pair of plyers, split rings, hooks in 2/0, 3/0, and 4/0 and sometimes a notepad. This winter was the year of learning how to make darters and I had a few that didnt work and alot that were jems. the ones that didnt work didnt get trashed, but are hanging in my shop with notes attached to them explaining why they didnt work- too big of a nose loop, too heavy of a wood, too light a wood... from those I learn what not to do...
Swimmers are pretty hard to screw up, and testing those is just tweaking the loop and lip to get them to wiggle right. sometimes i need to change up a hoook size to give it more belly weight.
next on my list of plugs to learn to make are pikies.. then jointed swimmers. Its fun and in the end, the fish will tell you what they want.
Ive leraned almost everything about building plugs from this board and for that I am thankful

[UserRemoved1]

I remember you testing this plug Dave.....

[nightfighter]

I can't say I've tested my own creations, but I do go to a bridge over a saltwater marsh outflow on a falling tide to learn and see how I can work different plugs. Mostly the big wood, the type Manzi seems to favor, and some I got from Scott. Reason is I NEVER see guys up my way throw a darter, a pikie, a danny, or swimmers...never. So I have to test them when I can get them. (Donations accepted)
Pencils and needles rule up here, then topwater poppers, bombers, yozuri and the other off the shelf stuff. Tested the new squidzee last year, threw it a ton, catches too. Still can't figure why I never see those plugs in use up here. Can it be that different, or we just have blinders on???????

[Karl F]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I remember you testing this plug Dave.....

And then youse 2 field tested it together....