The Fisherman Plug Building Series: The Danny Pichney Bootleg
A ‘suspect’ swimmer made by one of the legends of wooden plugs. The relationship between Danny Pichney and Donny Musso…
Plug & Lure Building
Plug Building 2025: The Surf Howdy
A unique spook design that became its own trend in the mid-2000s.
Plug Building: CT Yankee Dual Action Swimmer
Building the challenging and unique ‘Dual Action Swimmer’ made by CT Yankee Lures.
Plug Build 1: The Gibbs Jointed GTS
“A Gibbs ‘shop special’ from the 1970’s reborn 50 years later!”
How it’s made: The “Gagster” from Al Gag’s Lures
Managing editor Matt Broderick visits the Al Gag’s Lures production plant for an in-depth look at how one of his…
Tautog Tips – “How To” Tie the Belmar Rig
We’ve received a few email requests at The Fisherman about how to tie the Belmar Rig for tautog (blackfish)…
Plug Build #3: Engineering A Glidebait
A concept lure made for musky that snuck into the striper world
Plug Building 2023: Interpreting Color
You don’t have to be an airbrush master to paint a realistic-looking plug.
Plug Building 2023: The Anti-Pike
After 20 years of building, Dave revisits the first plug he ever made on the lathe.
Plug Build #3: The Floyd Roman Nike
Build this classic swimmer that looks like nothing else in surfcasting history.
Plug Building 2: Rat Swimbait
A wooden rodent with a history of hooking giant bass!
Plug Building 1: The Hab’s Needlefish
The plug that crowned John Haberek as the Needlefish King.
Plug Building 2021: The Cutlass Supreme
A modern take on a Rhode Island classic that has been producing large striped bass for years.
Plug Building 2021: A Mini Bottle Plug
After 15 years of these articles, we finally tackle the Bottle Plug!
How To: Build A Wood Darter
All you need to know to get started building one of the Striper Coast’s more popular striped bass plugs.
2020 Plug Build: The Cinto Eel
A triple jointed eel designed by the late Charlie Cinto.
