The Gibbs lure family is legendary among surf rats and jetty jockeys and includes proven performers like the Darter, Needlefish, Pencil Popper, Polaris Popper, Tuna Candy, Goo-Goo Eyes, the original Danny, Danny Deep Diver, Danny Surface Swimmer and others. This Rhode Island based manufacturer has recently birthed one more offspring that should prove equally deadly on coastal gamefish, the new Wave Walker.
THE GIBBS LURES STORY
Stan Gibbs, the creator of Gibbs Lures, began this company back in 1946 when he first whittled unique wooden plugs that had the ability to attract fish. He began what is now the tradition of manufacturing quality wooden fishing lures with an outstanding record of consistently catching trophy coastal gamefish. More than a half century ago, Stan Gibbs took his love of fishing and turned it into a career.
His hand-crafted fishing plugs that worked so well for him became the foundation products of this new enterprise. The Polaris Popper, Casting Swimmer, Pencil Popper, Needlefish and Darter are still common names along the beach. Many others have been added along the way as new designs were developed. Each plug had its own distinct characteristics, but one common denominator throughout was the ability to be cast considerable distances into the wind. Stan knew how important it was to be able to reach breaking fish that were out of the casting distance of other lures.
The manufacturing operation is now located in Cumberland, Rhode Island and owned by Dennis Ryan and Dan Smalley, who continue to manufacture quality fishing lures “the old fashioned way” – 100% by hand in the USA. The company has grown steadily since the late 40s and materials and methods of manufacture have also continually improved. Yet to this day, each plug is hand-carried through 50 or more distinct manufacturing steps before shipping out to dealers’ stores. Gibbs lures are still sold via local coastal tackle shops; maintaining this direct tie has been a vital element in their historical method of operation and Gibbs does not use national distributors to sell their products, nor are they found in discount stores or mass marketing chains. Gibbs carries on the tradition of hand-crafting plugs from wood and other natural components, despite competitive pressure from high-volume plastic manufacturers. This is just one difference that sets them apart. Gibbs has been and will continue to be a small, responsive family-owned business dedicated to producing top quality lures with careful attention to details – historical hallmarks of the Gibbs lures name.
MEET THE WAVE WALKER
To find out more about the Wave Walker’s mission and how it’s made, I called Gibbs’ marketing manager Matt Smalley to get the details. According to Matt, the Wave Walker is a “spook” styled floating lure designed to get up on top of the crest of the wave to achieve its “walk the dog” action. By twitching the rod tip after the lure has been cast to a likely spot, the Wave Walker seductively dances from side to side, creating the irresistible urge for fish to strike what it believes is a helpless and wounded baitfish. The tail-weighted design greatly increases distance and also helps get the lure up and on top of the wave immediately after casting, whether in the rough surf or in the quiet backwater. The Wave Walker is offered in five distinct hand-painted color patterns (Black Scale, Pink Scale, Red Head, Half Beak, Hickory Shad), all specific to the forage of northeast and mid-Atlantic coastal waters. The Wave Walker measures 4-1/2 inches long, weighs 1-1/2 ounces, features solid birch construction and employs Mustad 2x plated hooks for long term durability.
All Gibbs Lures are painted by hand with an airbrush. This is the hardest part of the process and only one person in the company has the skill set to make it happen. Birch wood is used in the Wave Walker, which allows for a firmer set with the screw eye. Birch is also less porous and heavier than other woods, and retains the quality of the paint jobs much better than other types. The quality of the birch and the length in which the screw eye penetrates the plug gives it maximum strength, which results in minimal defects and lost fish after multiple uses in the harsh saltwater environment. Plugs are usually painted from start to finish as a group and each “peg board” of lures takes a total of six days to be soaked, primed, painted and dried during this laborious seven-step process before the plug is ready for assembling. This doesn’t include the actual turning of the birch plug on the hand lathe nor the time it requires for assembly. Although it takes a lot of effort, this method has historically produced the best quality lures. I used Wave Walkers near my home on Long Island Sound bass and blues and they really work as advertised!
The Gibbs Wave Walker has an MSRP of $17.50 and is available at your local tackle shop.
