AC Plugs versus MS Slammers - Preferences anyone??

[Lefty76]

 

 

Have any of you used the AC Plugs and the MS Slammer and do you prefer one over the other?

 

If so, why?

 

I have never used an MS Slammer, but I see recent reviews of them on youtube and I do not see any reviews of the AC Plugs.

The lure is made by Mike Shaw and it has been around for over 20 years as well.

 

Also, these lures given their size are not as heavy as some newer swimbaits are.

 

Note:  I am only fishing for largemouth bass.

 

 

 

 

[Big Swimbait]

I had a 3700 with 6 of the original AC plugs stolen out of my boat while getting gas several years ago (my fault for leaving them out!). I haven't thrown one since. When I did, they were awesome baits during Lake Fork's glory days. But I probably catch as many fish on a Slammer now. Funny, the big one gets bit more than the smaller ones and the black one at night can get your arm broke!

[WRB]

Allen Cole sld the AC Plug to Arbogast co back in the late 90's and the mass produced AC Plug didn't work well and faded out popularity. Allen tried to re introduce the AC plug with another design that didn't sell and I haven't seen his lures in a few years in local tackle shops. 

Mike Shaws MS Slammer has a good following and is currently in production and available at TW. The lure of choice following the AC plug are Jerry Rago swimbaits, Ken Huddleston Delux 8" and 68 soft trout lures, followed by Spro BBZ-1 jointed trout swimbaits. Century 22 Triple Trout double joint wooden trout lures and dozens of others. Most weigh between 3 to 6 oz in thec7" to 9" models.

You can find whatever you want for a price on eBay and online retailers like TW.

Tom

  

[Lefty76]

I see that you can buy AC Plugs directly from ACPluglure.

[HogsNHawgs]

21 hours ago, 1201vilbig said:

I had a 3700 with 6 of the original AC plugs stolen out of my boat while getting gas several years ago (my fault for leaving them out!). I haven't thrown one since. When I did, they were awesome baits during Lake Fork's glory days. But I probably catch as many fish on a Slammer now. Funny, the big one gets bit more than the smaller ones and the black one at night can get your arm broke!

 

I came from Cali, where all we did was throw big baits looking for giants.  When I first moved to Texas I couldn't fathom why, in a state LOADED with Toads, very very very few people were fishing big wakes, glides and swimbaits.  

 

Favorite wake:  MS Slammer or Rat

Favorite sub-surface:  Triple Trout Slow Sink

Favorite bottom bait:  Alpha Trout or Huddleston fished SLOW on the bottom.  Butch Brown rigged.

 

** Little Creeper Trash Fish is another outstanding bait that fishes well on the bottom and on the sink.

 

 

[camman]

I've only used the AC Plugs when they were massed produced and didnt think they were all that.  MS Slammers are leaps and bounds better then the mass produced AC Plugs.  I never had the opportunity to fish the original ones from Alan Cole but he pulled some toads out of Castaic on them.

[Lefty76]

I have read online that the mass produced AC Plugs made by Fred Arbogast and other manufacturers did not move as good as those built by Allen Cole and that is why he is back building them himself.  You can buy them directly from their website.  

They seem to be very popular except for large mouth bass.  A lot has changed since the mid 90's with swimbaits.

Their lure kit packages are affordable compared to other hard swimbaits.

 

 

Apparently Mike Shaw has always built his own lures and therefore having complete control over QA/QC.

 

 

 

 

 

If you were gonna use a swimbait at a depth of 10 -12 ft what swimbait would you use?

 

 

[WRB]

Cole can't make or sell the original design, he sold it Arbogast co.

Just go on the TW site and look at "swimbaits", lots of good lures to choose from.

Tom

[Lefty76]

http://www.acplugs.com/

 

Check out the website.

[WRB]

20 minutes ago, Lefty76 said:

http://www.acplugs.com/

 

Check out the website.

Notice the pictures are old and the bass have the original AC plug, not the skinny he is trying to promote.

Allen is a troller for stripers and brown trout, bass were always a after thought.

Tom

[blckshirt98]

MS Slammer is proven, current, and immensely popular with the swimbait crowd.

 

On a sidenote it's always a nice surprise to open up a thread and see Tom add in some historical snippets about the industry that not many others may know, it's a privilege to have you on these forums.

[Lefty76]

Jon,

 

 

Thanks for stating the original intention of the AC Plug.

[WRB]

The original AC plug was designed by Allen's son for a school project, it worked!

I have known the Cole brothers since high school, their farther was a preacher and the brothers were usually in type of trouble. Allen moved to Bishop California during the late 60's construction boom at Mammoth Lakes where he got into brown trout fishing and joined the Brown Baggers. Haven't seen Allen in years and avoid him as much as possible, we aren't friends!

Tom

 

 

[WRB]

4 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

MS Slammer is proven, current, and immensely popular with the swimbait crowd.

 

On a sidenote it's always a nice surprise to open up a thread and see Tom add in some historical snippets about the industry that not many others may know, it's a privilege to have you on these forums.

Thank you for kind words.

Tom

[Lefty76]

Tom,

 

I really appreciate your knowledge on these topics.

 

I finally received back my reels and have a 2nd 5500C3 on the way.

[Lefty76]

Tom,

 

 

Any idea on how to make a 5500C3 cast further?

 

It does have a non-disengaging level wind.

 

 

Thanks

[burrows]

15 hours ago, blckshirt98 said:

MS Slammer is proven, current, and immensely popular with the swimbait crowd.

 

On a sidenote it's always a nice surprise to open up a thread and see Tom add in some historical snippets about the industry that not many others may know, it's a privilege to have you on these forums.

I agree but he can be a crouch sometimes ?

[WRB]

17 hours ago, Lefty76 said:

Tom,

 

 

Any idea on how to make a 5500C3 cast further?

 

It does have a non-disengaging level wind.

 

 

Thanks

Definately not a precision casting reel. 

1. Take out the brakes.

2. Replace the level wind pawl, it's more then likely worn and clean the worm gear, shaft gear and lightly scrap with CPS BreakFree oil.

3. Clean the spool shaft ends and check the shims for any dimples, if dimpled replace them. Clean the shaft bearings in aceton, blow dry and light oil with BreakFree oil.

Not much else you can do unless you have the reel super tuned professionally and I don't think the C3 is worth it.

The line you use can make a difference, smaller diameter per pound test has less memory and come off the going through giudes easier.

I use Sunline Defier Armilo Nylon 25 lb line for all my swimbaits, rats, glides over 2 oz. longer 7'10"-8' swimbait rods help a lot!

Tom

PS, Don Iovino is a expert tunning Abu Ambassadeur reels but expensive!

[Mr. Aquarium]

im a huge fan of the Ms slammer. i have many and they all get bit. never used an AC plug tho, so i cant say which is better.  the slammer is one of my favorite lures

 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Throw the slammer, it gets bit everywhere.

 

Never was a fan of the AC plug but I've never handled an original. Back in the day, they did some damage out West.

[Lefty76]

Everyone,

 

 

I appreciate the info.

 

The Slammer is the way to go then.