Bart Waldo and I have just done a lure swap, new for new, given that he is involved in making skirted lures for offshore species.
In return I have sent him one of our new 8 oz Flying Fish Lures given that he targets marlin, sailfish, Dorado and a like. Same flex body as our bladed Semtex Lures for Wahoo, except no blade and with flying - pearl - fin strips. Also has a set back 16/0 circle hook. A real boot skootin lure designed to fire up anything with a beak.
Then it occured to me that we could “all do this” if your interested.
You don’t have to be a lure maker to be involved, just have a favourite (new) lure that you get fairly often, and decide to swap it with me or another angler here on the board.
Tell us why it’s your favourite, the species it gets used on, weight, colours and best angling technique to use it with.
Then I, or other anglers can match that (as close as possible) with a new return lure.
I do need to clarify one point that Steve made in his post. I do not make lures but I do market them and manage the web site for Top Billin Products “Star Lures”. I get in trouble with Capt Jerry Miller the man who makes these lures and wrote the book, “Hell…Marlin Can’t Read” if I do not clarify this point.
As our part of the swap I sent MJB a Big Star lure and a copy of the book this morning. I second the rest of MJB’s post. We believe that our lures are some of the finest available but we love to see what others are doing.
So how about it all you big water anglers?
See ours at http://www.starlures.com.
Whatcha got to trade?
Sounds like a fine idea, Steve…let me see what I have around that might be of interest…if the idea takes off it might be good opportunity for folks to try out lures not available in their area.
Jerry Vovcsko
Moderator: Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Forums
Thanks for clarifyinig that Bart. Would not want to have the picture wrong here and then have Capt.Jerry dropping a grander marlin on us from a great height.
So, who has got a hot lure they think will work well somewhere else? Let’s get this swap happening regardless of where you are, or how you fish.
Big lures, small lures, jigs, soft tails, land based, freshwater, offshore, it makes no difference to me or others I am sure.
Let’s talk it up and hear about the hot lure you want to swap.
One final thing, if your a young angler and your tempted to duck into Dad’s tackle box and borrow the favourite lure to trade, then don’t do it for two reasons. (a) Sooner or later he’ll know it’s gone and (b) when he finds out that it got traded here he’ll turn up and someone will have to hand it back.
Not the way to go IMO.
So, the rules are (1) you must own the lure outright and (2) it must be brand new. That’s it.
No worries Jerry and agree, I think it’s a great opportunity for all global anglers to tell us about their favourites and why, plus take up the challenge of trying another lure from elswhere.
What did you find when digging around. Any hottie’s in that tackle box of yours? I bet there is at least a handful!
I would also encourage and like to see women anglers join in on our lure swap as well. I know there are many female anglers out their and I want them to feel welcome, be able to join in, and tell us about their favourite lures as well.
So let’s here from you ok and don’t forget to tell your female angling friends to join in as well.
thats a great idea steve
aust has a great collection of lure makers all specializing in their own specific area
and It would be good to swap a few of these for what some of the US craftsmen produce. personally I think Some of the lures made for our natives would be dynamite for American bass.
Me I’d be more than happy to swap a few aussie lures for a mythical small(50-70mm) bibbed minnow( crank baits I think you guys call them) that can troll at 6-8 knots with a nice tight shimmy and is capable of a bit of depth.
how about it guys anyone interested in trying a murray cod or barra lure or hows about
having a try of what we use to catch and release bluefish by the bucket load. cos Ive always been interested in having alook at some of your more exotic concoctions.
Steve,
Dunno about folks elsewhere but I’m in fish-all-night, come-home-and-crash for a few hours and back out again. It’s the time around the Cape when stripers and blues feed heavily getting ready for the Fall migration. Once things slow down I’ll stir things around in my tackle boxes and see what might be interesting to offer as a swap item.
Jerry Vovcsko
Moderator: Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island Forums
Despite the horrific events of the last few days in the US, and realising that many anglers minds - including ours here in Oz - may be elswhere, I thought I would kick of the lure swap with one of our custom made - swing tail - jigs. This jig also has a natural (white) fibre collar that lasts a lot longer than bucktail..
Cast, slide, jig or troll with head weights up from 1.5 up to 4 oz’s, they can also be scented to heat up the bite.
Value with a pearl tube tail & SS rear hook? $7.99 USD.
MJB
Rescued your package from the PO box yesterday. I’m impressed! What material is the body made from? Think you said to rig this with cable. Suggested length? Do you also use a longer mono leader in front of the cable? Need to rig this and get ready for Mexico trip Oct 5-8. Thanx again!
The body material is HD cross weave tubing only made here in Oz and while not bullet proof, with the expoxy coating it stays flexible enough for the hook to swing and yet not sustaint excess damage on hook ups..
We use the same HD high flash material on our Semtex Lures for Wahoo, Cuda and Mackerel as well.
Leader choices are personal IMO. 2 ft wire leader onto mono is one option and the other is mono direct to the tow eye loop.
Wahoo tend to hit these lures dead centre or slightly back - as is their usual style - and always from side on - so there is plenty of protection in front.
The only other factor to account for is any of their mates travelling along with them. If running for Sails, Marlin, Tuna I would go all pink mono only x 15 ft (min). Use brass crimps only on either end of the leader.
Other species, including Mahi and Sails generally hit the back 3rd.
The 8 oz Flying Fish Lure you have will do better up the back of your lure spread where it can roll easily, and skoot off, of any swell you have running behind.
Don’t forget to scent it - as suggested - about 1/2 hour before putting it into the water ok.
yeah Im still keen to share some aussie lures with guys form OS but I have a few of steves great lures and he can get everything I have. so hows about it no one interested in a good ozzie lure might be just the ticket for those foul mouthed bassGrin