Casting Plug from a Broomstick. So what do I mean when I say, "casting plug? Today, many people would use the term crankbait, but I'm thinking old-school, here. And back in great-grandpa's day, any lure that could be cast with the bait-cast reels of the time were called casting plugs. And the "plug" part of the name? It surely came from the fact that all of them were wood, and resembled nothing more than, well, a plug of wood. What I've done here is take that idea and apply it to a discussion I had with South Carolina river guide and friend of many years, Michael Frank. And, well, here we are.
foto #1
The Plug
foto #2
The Plug and the Washing Line
By itself, this could be seen as just a plug for casting, as in foto #1.. It has a flat face, so it will chug and pop on the surface... and in that way, it may attract fish who in in that kind of mood.
But there is a second action here, because it has a TWO in ONE purpose.
Yes, it can act as a surface chugging top-water plug,
However, it has a second use: it is the point anchor for a “washing line” of 2 or 3 bucktail teaser flies.
It's rigged this way:
1. Line from the rod....
2. To swivel....
3. From swivel to string of teaser flies...
4. To casting plug.
You can see this layout in foto #2.
What is it?
In short, this thing is nothing more than a piece of broomstick.
Im not kidding....broomstick.
I added some large screw eyes, and a paint job,
Finally, I topped it off with a stinger hook at the rear.
I added some large screw eyes, and a paint job,
Finally, I topped it off with a stinger hook at the rear.
The plug floats at the surface, and is situated at the end of the line. There it is popped and jerked...but it also acts as a sea anchor for the lead length of of teaser flies in front of it.
The teaser flies are to be strung about a foot apart, “washing line” fashion, thus the name. They are made from bucktail, flash, and a small head. I’m modeling mine after the teasers used in white bass fishing, using a fairly heavy hook.
In use, the teaser flies hang down under the line, with the whole contraption kept at, or near, the surface by the floating plug.
So in presentation, its a noisy surface commotion of a chugging and bubbling plug, while just in front are several several dancing little teaser streamers. The whole thing should look like a larger critter attacking and eating a bunch of smaller ones.
Jim Hester also said he has seen something similar...
"I bought some old wood lures years ago that are made that way, with screw eyes instead of being through-wired. I recall seeing some old plugs when I was a kid made that way, too. Late, some got mentioned in a magazine article about a fellow who fished the Chesapeake bay area for Striped Bass near my home in MD. The only thing about those lures..., they may absorb water and swell some, if not properly sealed. Eventually, the screw eyes might pull out, or worse, the wood can split. I've never used these lures..., kept them more for nostalgia than any other reason."
In use, the teaser flies hang down under the line, with the whole contraption kept at, or near, the surface by the floating plug.
So in presentation, its a noisy surface commotion of a chugging and bubbling plug, while just in front are several several dancing little teaser streamers. The whole thing should look like a larger critter attacking and eating a bunch of smaller ones.
Hopefully.
Nearby fish hear this activity, and see the teasers. Since fish are always on the lookout for an easy meal, they grab a teaser and it's fish on!
Or, perhaps, bigger fish just might grab the plug, itself (which is why I put a hook back there).
This idea is not new. Multi-fly "washing line casts" have been around for a couple hundred years in the fly fishing game. And some of you may remember Bill Normans similar, "Front Runner," from the 1980's. This particular idea - the plug and washing line - goes goes back as far as the early 1900's, that I know of. Think back to the Depression when people whittled plugs from broomsticks, clothespins, or the first poppers - beer corks with feathers stuck in 'em.
This idea is not new. Multi-fly "washing line casts" have been around for a couple hundred years in the fly fishing game. And some of you may remember Bill Normans similar, "Front Runner," from the 1980's. This particular idea - the plug and washing line - goes goes back as far as the early 1900's, that I know of. Think back to the Depression when people whittled plugs from broomsticks, clothespins, or the first poppers - beer corks with feathers stuck in 'em.
This harkens back to such things.
So I decided to make one after Mike and I were talking. Its primary use would be when fish are surface feeding, like you see in spring.
So I decided to make one after Mike and I were talking. Its primary use would be when fish are surface feeding, like you see in spring.
foto #3
Jim Hester Plug
Jim Hester Plug
Jim Hester also said he has seen something similar...
"I bought some old wood lures years ago that are made that way, with screw eyes instead of being through-wired. I recall seeing some old plugs when I was a kid made that way, too. Late, some got mentioned in a magazine article about a fellow who fished the Chesapeake bay area for Striped Bass near my home in MD. The only thing about those lures..., they may absorb water and swell some, if not properly sealed. Eventually, the screw eyes might pull out, or worse, the wood can split. I've never used these lures..., kept them more for nostalgia than any other reason."
I have sealed mine with three coats of polyurethane, so it oughta hold up long enough to try it out, at least.
And I don’t expect to use it much… As Buck Perry might say, “it’s a 5% lure: one you might use 5% of the time.”
Really, I just wanted to make the thing.
But who knows? Maybe it'll be a big hit, after all.
Really, I just wanted to make the thing.
But who knows? Maybe it'll be a big hit, after all.
You never can tell.
So what's coming next? Surface plugs from clothes pins, of course. So stay tuned!
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