[puppet]

I bought a darter of a leading manufacturer from a shop...but it rolls upside down then right side up and doesn't swim at all.

I know that these darters are tricky.

1. am I out of luck?
2. Is there something I can tweak to get it to swim?
3. What is the proper resolution
a. Return it to the shop that sold it to me?
b. Return it to the manufacturer?

 

[blasko]

I would take it back. But first, what kind of line/leader/termial tackle ya using?

 

[snapperman]

if its gibbbs i am not suprised, try reeling slower and use lighter terminal tackle.

 

[puppet]

blasko wrote:
I would take it back. But first, what kind of line/leader/termial tackle ya using?

I tried a direct tie to the plug and slid the connection to different
locations. I also tried using a breakaway clip. No dice...

I think that it is definitely the plug.
I have a duplicate model and it swims fine.

snapperman wrote:
if its gibbbs i am not suprised, try reeling slower and use lighter terminal tackle.

Not a gibbs....
I tried up current...down current...and no current...fast retrieve and slow.

It acted the same in every case. Just a faster or slower spin.

I guess I will have to take it back, which is a bummer because I
bought it in a shop I dropped into that is 150 miles away. I may
have to eat this one. It has a beautiful finish though...perhaps it
will make a good christmas ornament.

 

[stakones]

Yeah if you have two of the same plugs and one swims fine then it isn't your tackle or technique.

 

[frankiesurf]

Find someone near you who stocks them. Explain the situation and a reputable place should hook you up. If that doesn't work then contact the maker. If they don't hook you up then don't buy from them anymore.

 

[toyotaoffroad91]

well what kind of plug is it? if its plastic then ytout doing something wrong..if its wood you may have a dud...which is common with many wooden darters...
some things you could do....add even bigger VMC hooks or as a spro split ring and tie direct to the ring...in a rip your retrieve should be stupidy slow

This post edited by toyotaoffroad91 07:38 PM 09/16/2008

 

[puppet]

toyotaoffroad91 wrote:
well what kind of plug is it? if its plastic then ytout doing something wrong..if its wood you may have a dud...which is common with many wooden darters...
some things you could do....add even bigger VMC hooks or as a spro split ring and tie direct to the ring...in a rip your retrieve should be stupidy slow

It is wood.

I tried up current...down current, and slack. In the rip...I even tried no retrieve.

I suspect the wire is off-center or the wood is out of balance. The lure seemed to spend more time upside down than right side up.

Its probably a dud as you say. A nice Doorstop Darter.

 

[toyotaoffroad91]

try 5/0 or 6/0's

 

[puppet]

toyotaoffroad91 wrote:
try 5/0 or 6/0's

Those are some big hooks.
Is the idea that the added weight may stablize the plug?

I will give it a shot.

 

[likeitreallyis]

If it's wood, you may want to experiment with it by adding lead weights in different spots of the plug, even load it up with alot of lead to give you a darter that is heavier than most and in the right rip it may work to your advantage. Look up balancing plugs in the plug forum.. this may be an opportunitity to tune one yourself and get it even heavier than normally available.. in some inlets this may give you an advantage.

 

[johnmlodynia]

toyotaoffroad91 wrote:
if its plastic then your doing something wrong
Not true...I had a Super Strike (plastic) darter that did not work. I contacted them and it was replaced. I'm not the only one whose got a bad Super Strike, the weight inside must be perfect or else... Wood darters are notorious for being the hardest plug to make, not even Musso could make them perfect even most of the time.

 

[blasko]

They are tough to make out of wood, thats why only a handle full of commercial builders make em aside from Gibbs

RI Poppers, Tattoos, and LIfishinvt I think? probably forgot someone.

Gibbs aren't sealed, and the 2oz are not through wired.

 

[634468]

I would think the extra weight of larger hooks, and split rings, would stabilize the plug and keep it right side up. Also if the line tie is not centered, you might be able to bend it to center. Then try a slower retrieve. No two wooden plugs are exactly alike, even if they look so, but sometimes little different action can be deadly.

 

[puppet]

ROCFISH wrote:
I would think the extra weight of larger hooks, and
split rings, would stabilize the plug and keep it right side up. Also
if the line tie is not centered, you might be able to bend it to
center. Then try a slower retrieve. No two wooden plugs are exactly
alike, even if they look so, but sometimes little different action can
be deadly.

I will give it another shot. I floated the two that I have in the
sink. The bogus one is not as boyant, but seems to float upright
without bias to one side or the other. The tie ring looks center,but I
will try to bend it a little to see if I can correct the roll. From
what I recall it consistently rolled in one direction.

Thanks all for the advise.

 

[toyotaoffroad91]

who cares how it floats as long as it swims...

 

[stakones]

Just picked up some bottle darters I can't wait to check out.

 

[BigShow]

If you can't reurn it

Drop that sucker in a bucket and attempt to tune it. Make sure your swivel eyes are true, try some larger hooks, Try and open leader or snap swivel connection instead of a direct knot,

Last add some weight drill a hole add some lead or a finishing nail and epoxy sealant.......as last resort should and feed it to the blue fish till you lose it and then good rid of it.....so little time to fish better to fish with workable gear than waste time on a bum plug.

 

[toyotaoffroad91]

take a hard cast and close the bail..give it to the see

 

[644386]

probably a tattoo send it back to him and he'll replace as will most reputable builders