Piper lures
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Popper and Topwater Fishing
Forum Description: If you're into a bit of action on top, this is the forum for you
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99477
Printed Date: 05 Jun 2026 at 5:21am
Topic: Piper lures
Posted By: LBGer
Subject: Piper lures
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 8:49pm
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Have been looking around for good piper imitations, here's a few I have found. Guston lure Needle fish imitation for striped bass  Carpenter Sand Eel FCL Labo stick bait  Be keen to see other piper imitation stickbaits...... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Replies:
Posted By: jonocoogee
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 8:55pm
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arent those fcl stickbaits supposed to be pretty damn good? ------------- TAS - Its a real disease |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 8:58pm
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Um yeah they have a good reputation, I had one before and wasn't overly impressed with its action (different model) although I didn't really get a chance to show it to a kingfish. Even though this is a sinking lure I think it could still work well just sub surface.... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:04pm
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You will want to check out Lurenzo LBGer. He has some nice PE3 lures that are great imitations of Garfish. http://www.lurenzo.com/productos/?lang=en ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:11pm
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The needle fish you posted above also comes in a jointed model, it's popular in the Striper scene also. The FCL HJ Stick is heavily weighted under the chin, it will have a wobble like a vibe. I personally haven't used any of the latest FCL lures, have you casted this one? ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:12pm
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No, haven't cast it yet.... will check out the Lurenzo... Thanks ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:19pm
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I dint include the little jack sayoris ..... http://www.plat.co.jp/shop/catalog/product_info/language/en/products_id/21267/cPath/31_645_1547_1557/osCsid/44d218f736f54f0897f331839b4b8236/fishing-lure.html Great little piper imitation but not a PE5 lure.... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: deacs
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:25pm
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The DUO press bait sairas are pretty good imitations just need a beak on them Also brought a piper popper imitation up at the Pihia markets that worked a treat, unfortunately worked to well and is no longer... think top catch whangarei had some similar to them http://duo-inc.co.jp/en/saltwater/press-bait/press-bait-175-saira/" rel="nofollow - http://duo-inc.co.jp/en/saltwater/press-bait/press-bait-175-saira/ http://www.fnzl.co.nz/collections/lures/products/press-bait-saira-clear-saury" rel="nofollow - http://www.fnzl.co.nz/collections/lures/products/press-bait-saira-clear-saury ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:43pm
That's the problem I have found making long piper imitations, their length and slim profile just gives them no action at all... The finishing is nice on the Little Jack, but geez it's pretty boring in the water. ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
LBGer wrote:Posted By: deacs
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:55pm
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The question I would ask is do live piper have that much action when they swim? compared to a jack mack, kahawai etc Not from what I've seen, so if imitating them when fishing a lure swimming it straight and on top/just under the surface might work better? Piper imitations might work better as a "skitter" popper as opposed to a workable stick bait, if kingfish were feeding on piper they would eat them worked like that i'm sure... The said lure above was lost by quickly retrieving it along the surface Those jack sayoris look pretty good ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2014 at 9:58pm
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The needle fish imitation when jerked and retrieved quickly has a great action and looks just like a piper skipping across the surface. ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2014 at 9:05pm
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Might have to hit the drawing board... Add to the thread what you would like to see in a piper imitation for NZ conditions. Length? Weight? Maybe even a subsurface bait and then a little scoop mouthed skipping popstick... I hear what deacs is saying with skipping them along the surface, it seems to work well when the bite is hard; I don't know if it's because the Kings don't get a good look at the lure or the speed just triggers them to act first, think later. The Needlefish are available in kit form from the USA if you want to paint the up yourself LBGer. ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2014 at 9:20pm
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nah... too lazy... well actually too much other stuff going on. I think the silver blue translucent colour is the winner, big black and white eye. Maybe the scoop mouth as you say, the needlefish can work actually work really fish like in the water with side to side motion depending on how they are worked with the rod so the action may have to come more from the fisherman.... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: Rotate
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2014 at 6:39am
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came across this this morning after reading this thread. http://www.marine-deals.co.nz/strike-pro-gardie
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Posted By: deacs
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2014 at 8:26am
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I would say if wanting a stickbait base it on the biggest fattest piper you have ever seen.... the one at the top of the page would be a decent example maybe 25-30cm long would need to be around 50g at least to have enough weight for casting for most rods made these days (I am guessing)
Will be interesting to see what you come up with ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Kevin.S
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2014 at 8:46am
There are a couple of those hanging on the wall in my local tackle shop, and I've been tempted several times. I have a slightly smaller strike-pro jointed lure and it has a nice swimming action in the water. But I use it with a fairly light set up, I have used it with a softbait rod. I see those piper ones only weigh 24g.
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Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2014 at 6:30pm
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The Carp sand eel is to light to be of any practical use, at 18 gramms I struggle to throw mine. Even with a PE 2-3 popping rod. The carpenter France pen with its long narrow nose would be my pick ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2014 at 9:00pm
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I got the biggest size Carpenter sand eel (38gr) and can chuck it a good 70-80 meters with PE4 on my Ocea Bluefin. ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: Zambezi
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2014 at 9:53pm
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I got a 12 or so different versions of these. 1st time out I pulled it through a school of piper, looked exactly like a grey hounding piper. Not complicated to fish, they've had heaps of interest/follows and have a ride range of actions depending on retrieve speed & tip height. Every time I've taken them out the kings just have refused to take anything we've offered. Will have another crack on my trip in april. ------------- A man’s comfort in life can be measured by the quality of the toilet paper he uses to wipe his arse. |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 12:13am
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here i was thinking you wanted lures for catching piper, i was going to kindly offer some of my chocolate wrapper sabikis. ;-) i like that fcl stick bait, a lot. |
Posted By: kingfishers
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 12:39am
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Chk this out -Flexi Gardie lure Pro Strike piper shape 24cm/22gm Green Tiger ------------- "My mind has gone fishing, ask all questions tomorrow" |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 6:00am
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Heading out around Kawau way I think.... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2014 at 9:59pm
 Messed around with this a while ago, never got it swimming the way I wanted it to... ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2014 at 8:34am
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Looks good Sam. Rod tip up fast retrieve would no doubt get it skipping and eaten :) ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2014 at 8:48am
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That's a work of art mate, I'd be almost afraid to tie it to my leader..... but I'll give it a swim if you want me to try and unleash its potential... :) ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: fishntips
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2014 at 3:46pm
| Anything with a long pointy nose out the front is going to kill the action. Predatory fish will eat lures without a pointy nose, so why bother. Might as well miss the point, or is that not the point of buying lures. |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 18 Mar 2014 at 6:32pm
I'm in the middle of setting up a new workshop and stumbled upon a box a cedar blanks I forgot I had. This got me thinking about turning up some generic copies of the needlefish in your first photo's as this is the wood the US plug makers use for needles. I'll make a limited run just to use up the wood when I get a chance... ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2014 at 8:10pm
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i know they arent hardbodys, but what about the zman ballyhooz and 16" ribbonz? |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2014 at 11:06pm
Nice concept and look but the trebles look like tooth picks on those......cant see them hanging onto a king......Personally i have never really trusted lures with joins like that. ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 20 Mar 2014 at 11:07pm
certainly looks the biz sam  ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2014 at 7:01am
It was rubbish  ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2014 at 7:33am
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better at catching fishermen perhaps.... I'd give it a cast.... ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 21 Mar 2014 at 3:48pm
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Shame that sam........why not try a waxwing style plastic thing on the front to give it stability and a wiggle......nothing to lose by messing with it.....just an idea. ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 7:55pm
Heres a few piper imitations..... ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: LBGer
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 8:12pm
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What are the 2 in the middle Titahi? which one do you think has had the best response from Kings? ------------- A king on the bricks is worth 5 in a boat. |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 8:39pm
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Lazy Dog 120 and a France pen 145. I reckon on any given day any of them could work, and some days none of them. If I had to pick I would speed wind the France pen on really calm days and the Sea snake on the Left on rougher days, more surface area means its should stick better to the water..... ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: ReelAppealLures
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 9:44pm
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You should add you can't buy them anymore Titahi I have that Damsel gathering dust too, you might as well add it to your carpentry collection. I turned a couple of needle fish the other day, once I get a few other lures out of the way I'll finish up some needles and shoot a video of their action.... Good thing is it used up all my cedar making the needle fish, I can see why the US plug makers use it, but it would never last under attack from Geets. ------------- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Reel-Appeal-Lures/300309486704362 |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 9:50pm
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i love how piper/gar fish are always making such huge splashes on the surface like these new craze popper lure thingies. ;-p i like 3rd from left titahi, looks old school and well weighted. |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 10:53pm
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you can still buy em Sam, just have to turn over lots of rocks and have a kidney on ice..... Pururi instead of Cedar.... That stuff will be left after the Armageddon! FizFisho it is an old lure, and has weights in the back.
------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2014 at 11:49pm
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we had a few very similar in the early 80s, how olds that one? i remember trying to fashion them, but never understood the lead factor. in the end i gave up and stuck to slices :-) |
Posted By: Ballsout
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 6:44am
| We're are you getting these small baits from wouldn't mind getting my hands on sum |
Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 1:20pm
 These work a teat. Look like the real deal as well, hah. Seriously when I have rigged these up right head first, snapped the beak and give them a fast retrieve they have a great tail wagging action, which kingies love. And yip they work. I'd just fish a standard stick bait and throw some of these around if you want to get them all randy, way more effective. I don't see the similarities between a popper action and how a piper swims. Aren't all those baits posted designed for GTs, which smash all types of bizarre baits. ------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 1:34pm
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i was doing the same but with big worm hook with some split shot on the bottom of the hook to act as a keel. that was my point about piper poppers, its ironic. at the end of the day they still catch fish regardless of if the fish thinks its a piper or not haha :-) got myself 5 nice piper yesterday actually, love catching the things. |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 2:50pm
No They are designed for fish in general, primarily anything that is predatory. and if you watch a Piper/Gar when spooked it will hit the after burners and skim, head up across the surface in an attempt to escape.....just like a pencil popper! I have seen fish from small reef fish to a couple of 600lb Blues eat properly rigged Piper/Gar, spectacular visual explosions. If you squeeze the flesh that runs down the back bone till it "pops" off the skeleton the bait will be more flexible and give a perfect imitation of a...... swimming piper! ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 3:14pm
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thats true titahi i hadnt thought about when they flee. the squezzing them before rigging sounds like something for me to try. |
Posted By: fish i
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 3:48pm
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Yip, seen plenty of piper fleeing from kingies, they sure didn't pop thou. But what ever you're into or does the trick. In my experience kingies get a lot more interested when the tail is wagging on a lure, or they are darting erratically, which makes sense. Hard to get much of that action out of a lure that has a big arse end. It probably would help with keeping the tail in the water as you alluded to in your first post Titahi. You do see piper with just their tail in the water kicking along. ------------- 6th place in the inaugural Te Kauwhata Regionals paddle crab division |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 3:54pm
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Pencil poppers dont typically "pop" that's typically realm of large cup faced Poppers, although I can understand the construct of your beliefs. Pencil poppers are typically retrieved faster and skipping on the surface, just like Piper. ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 4:00pm
Cotten cordell...............cheap alternative. ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 4:12pm
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i forgot to say with real piper i thread cotton through the eyes and into the worm hook eye to take a bit of the strain off the piper when casting, otherwise i find they dont last too long. anyone do similar? a half hitch does in a pinch but tends to rip the head off eventually. |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 5:00pm
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Copper wire, through eye sockets wrapped around head and leader, and threaded through lower jaw and up through roof of mouth. You can also use a bait spring to hold it all together. Salting the piper when fresh before freezing will make em a bit tougher for repeated casting as well ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: FizFisho
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2014 at 6:00pm
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good tips, cheers |
Posted By: fishandchips
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2014 at 10:41pm
| can you get smaller popper lures 20 grams and has anyone tried Rapala lures? |
Posted By: Titahi
Date Posted: 01 Apr 2014 at 11:05pm
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Halco make a range of sizes, from the haymaker down to a 18 gramm halco popper, I have used all of them, they make a racket and cast well, are very robust, only caveat would be to swap the rings and hooks. On the smallest Halco's I use some ST66 #1 hooks which are strong and last. Good value for ya money lures. ------------- "I love standing by the ocean and just knowing what its for" |
Posted By: Joker
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2014 at 2:26pm
I have made piper poppers for years now out of 12mm dowel. A 45 degree towing face with a 1/2 oz ball at the rear with the long eyelet passed through the weight and glued in with araldite for 3" in length. The eyelets I make by forming a length of wire round a 4" nail leaving 2 ends forming a v shape which is twisted around each other like strands in a rope. 1/8" inch holes in the dowel at each end - The towing eye is offset up towards the top. Dip dry in with house paint and perhaps spray a colour on the surface half, decorate with stripes from a black magic marker and your done. Go up bigger diameter dowel & sinker for bigger, longer lures PS. Don't be fazed by the glued in eyelets - I've yet to have one pull out. |
Posted By: kaimaikid
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2015 at 8:52pm
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So any updates? Any new stickies or poppers not mentioned as yet? I am also looking for that perfect piper lure
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Posted By: Corokingi
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2015 at 9:45pm
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http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/ZM8SMNNB9/title/z-man-ballyhooz-9in best thing ive found and going cheap at the moment not a popper or stikbait but work just aswell and can add a little weight via small sinkers etc. |
Posted By: southernwanderer
Date Posted: 26 Jan 2015 at 10:14pm
| Daiwa shore line shiner, a clear 170mm 28gram lure with a piper "printed" in the body, looks the biz, but where to get one? |
Posted By: speckledknob
Date Posted: 07 Feb 2015 at 11:13pm
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mates of mine have been telling me about an imitation that's kinda like a soft plastic with a single hook attached at the front of the head they reckon they can't find it anymore (not internet savvy) anyone have any idea what I'm talking about? they seem to think it was pretty awesome on the troll... |
Posted By: kaimaikid
Date Posted: 08 Feb 2015 at 5:00am
Possibly thinking of these  Williamson live ballyhoo lure you may be lucky and find a pkt or two here in NZ but get the feeling they are no longer brought in by the supplier????
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Posted By: speckledknob
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2015 at 11:15pm
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That must be the one! Thanks Kaimai... will have to try to get some in from aus or somewhere.. Did you ever have any luck with them yourself? they hardly look like they would stay right side up in the water but I guess its hard to tell from this angle.. ....actually after a bit of googling aus doesn't seem to have them either. don't think I'll bother trying to get them in from the states... williamson do have an interesting range of softbodies though... might have to give a few a try be a change from livies and hardbodies at least
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Posted By: mickylb
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2015 at 11:51pm
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these guy have them and ship to NZ https://www.campbellsprotackle.com/store/product.asp?ID=3866 I used them a couple of times and found them to be to ridged ,I wouldn't recommend them. Those big slugos have a much better action.
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Posted By: mickylb
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2015 at 12:14am
| I will ferret through my gear tomorrow, if I have any your welcome to them. |
Posted By: mickylb
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2015 at 11:50am
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Sorry I could only find one slightly used one, its yours if you want it to have a play round with, PM me your addy and I will send it to you. Cheers
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Posted By: rockz
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2015 at 9:09am
saw these at topcatch this week |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2015 at 5:07pm
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slug go's are very good.....9 inch model....ole wife......looks like piper.......you can buy solid hooks to thread through them similar to capts rig......think i put 7/0 or 8/0 through mine.......have several of them........will dig out and take a pic.......american based. Caught a really nice snapper on one at the noises too.
------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2015 at 8:13pm
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Here you go......9 inch slug go......the silver one is ole wife(from memory)......one is here with a 9/0 hook...which i found perfect(very solid hook)......should able to get them from the person who sells the slug go's. i put an eye either side on one and the other has a berkley soft bait head.....I think a 7/0 hook and about 1/2 or 3/4 ounce jig head.....one of them has some glitter i put on it. ......very floppy! Giving away all my secrets now i dont live in NZ !...Think i have just done some harm for the kingfish population.    ------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |
Posted By: mickylb
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2015 at 9:48pm
| http://shop.hogylures.com/category/1004/Hogy-Originals/1.html |
Posted By: laidbackdood
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2015 at 12:48am
very similar but i wouldnt be rigging them hooks down like that.....asking to get snagged .....especially off the stones......Good price.
------------- Once the idiots turn up..Im outta here...No time for Drama Queens. |