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| I am so excited about the New Dawgs from Musky Innovations, after having a chance to play with these new toys they are awesome.
All new bull dawgs are now being produced with a new stronger material. They have been tested this for a whole season and the results have been awesome. This is a US polymer and will help deter tails coming off or lead coming out. All baits are also coming with US heavy duty split rings and custom made extra sharp hooks. New harness system is now available inside the dawg with more rubber around the lead and more helix wires to hold everything in place. These are simply the best baits they have EVER made, I still have some of the first made back in th 90's and these are much stronger and durable. Some of the colors of dawgs are hitting the market now with all these changes they should have 100% coverage no later than late spring according to Brad. I also understand their will be a whole color line, keeping the best colors and get rid of the bad sellers and add some new fresh awesome colors.
PRO DAWGS – NEW I just got a few of these and they are awesome. We will have some of these at the shows. MI has been testing on these and the response has been over whelming. These dawgs have an exclusive trade marked jointed harness that keeps the strength but adds flexibility to the bait – more like the old 7-strand dawgs – but stronger. Also a new exclusive pad printed patterns and colors with a 3-d clear coat finish. These dawgs are HOT and they have a different more erratic action than the straight wire dawgs. |
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| Tony is right on the money here with the Pro Dawgs.
I also have a few of these dawgs and they are AWESOME! The rubber is great and the patterns are killer. They have a "painted" pattern on them that doesn't come off. The hooks are great and definately the right size and the new upgraded split rings are great as well. The new harness in these dawgs is pretty cool as well. No more bent in half dawgs, they pop straight back every time after a dawg ball or a smashed bait from a fish.
Musky Innovations is doing a great job and definately looking forward to getting more of the Pro Dawgs and the new Jimmy Tube baits.
MIKE HULBERT
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Location: Illinois | Thanks Tony that's very good to hear. Nothing beats a good bulldog, and it is high time they toughened 'em up. Competition always makes for a better product for the consumer. I'm excited to see what the new lineup from M.I. brings.
See you at the Chicago show.
Mike Witowski |
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| Calibri (Body) |
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| Too little too late, they have lost my business for good. Makes me wonder if they didn’t have competition from better made baits whether they would have continued to pump their out low quality baits. |
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| how about some pictures? |
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Posts: 299
| Do they come with a price increase also? It's a good lure that catches fish and I own several. It's unfortunate they've used garbage split rings since the bait hit the market. Paying $12-$32 for a bait that you have to immediately replace the rings on is rather annoying. Your main connection to the fish is the line, leader and the split rings. Split rings being the least expensive link by far.
I could care less about the rubber issues. If a destroyed lure is all it took to catch a muskie, I'd be more than willing to buy a lure for every fish. |
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Location: Des Moines IA | Musky Rob - 11/17/2008 12:20 PM
Too little too late, they have lost my business for good. Makes me wonder if they didn’t have competition from better made baits whether they would have continued to pump their out low quality baits.
Agreed! My money goes elsewhere for this exact fact. |
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Posts: 8865
| Musky Rob - 11/17/2008 1:20 PM
Too little too late, they have lost my business for good. Makes me wonder if they didn’t have competition from better made baits whether they would have continued to pump their out low quality baits.
Yep. |
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Posts: 1760
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Musky Rob - 11/17/2008 1:20 PM
Too little too late, they have lost my business for good. Makes me wonder if they didn’t have competition from better made baits whether they would have continued to pump their out low quality baits.
Same goes for me. I "wasted" enough money on inferior products. I have found one that I believe is better and will continue using my brand of choice. Customer loyalty goes a long way these days..... |
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| Musky Rob - 11/17/2008 1:20 PM
Too little too late, they have lost my business for good. Makes me wonder if they didn’t have competition from better made baits whether they would have continued to pump their out low quality baits.
amen |
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Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | I think that they are goning to realize that once you lose a customer due to a poorly made product, it is very very hard to get those customers back! My money alsogoes elsewhere!
Peter |
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Posts: 86
Location: University of Hartford | I will try the new pro dawgs, but for the old style they have lost me for good. Until one of the better manufactures who cares about quality makes a wire dawg, then MI will have lost me for good. Its a consumers market for baits in my opinion. |
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Posts: 2686
Location: Hayward, WI | Well, I think I'm going to go against the grain a little compared to what most of the others have said. If these new Dawgs live up to the few reports I have heard about them, I will buy some and be happy to catch fish on them. I will most definately continue to buy Super D's and Shack Attack products, but maybe now the Dawg can be a new addition to the tackle box.
What happened to MI isn't that uncommon in business, especially big business. MI started out fairly small, found out they had a bait that REALLY took off, and to keep up with demand and maximize profits moved production to where it could be done the fastest and cheapest. Don't think this hasn't happened with any other products?
We are lucky to have guys like James and Andy that strive to make high quality baits at affordable prices. It's guys like them that make companies like MI realize how much they had been hurting themselves by putting profits first and customers second. Hopefully they have turned around and will put quality on the front burner. If MI has realized this, I'll buy from them.
If I try their new dawgs out, and the quality isn't where it should be, it's nice to know there are still good alternatives out there - which I will continue to use regardless of the quality of the new dawgs.
Is there a way to tell the difference between the old Dawgs and the new improved ones just looking at them on the store shelf? I assume the PRO Dawg will be pretty self explanitory, but what about the regular ones?
curleytail |
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Posts: 32959
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | So if Musky Innovations builds a better mousetrap, you will not use it because you didn't like what they USED to make?
Lots of very large muskies on Dawgs over the last few years. Some folks who catch some huge fish like 'em just fine, and I bet they'll like the new models alot better. This what the free market is all about, and improving the quality of the product is always a good thing.
As far as the competition, two of whom have worked with MuskieFIRST in a promotional capacity, they build fine lures at a great price BECAUSE of the way they market, build, and sell them. All do something unique based on the original design, and it's worked for them to a degree. Ask them if they have to haul the money in a wheelbarrow to the bank, and I bet neither will say that's so.
What will be interesting is when the new baits hit the market and reports of big muskies, good action, and good durability come in, whether any of the naysayers will have a new Dawg in the boat THEN...  The Dawg users bought the competition, and I bet that door swings both ways.
There are lots of choices, and it's always a good idea to make yours without throwing too many stones in the process.
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Location: Twin Cities | I want a bait that catches fish and holds up. If the new dawgs do that, then great. They're available more places than the others, that's worth so much, especially if one gets torn up and you need a replacement.
I'm still pissed about the big fish I lost last year on a Mag Dawg when both split rings straightened out, but the lure's i've gotten recently have been very well made in terms of the plastic and doubled up on split rings. |
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| I got my hands on one of them and needless to say I will be getting some more of these as soon as they hit the market. |
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Posts: 62
| Yeeesssss!! New dawgs for 09', There isn't one trip on the water when I haven't thrown a dawg. I will definetly be picking up a few of these. |
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| i've avoided Bulldawgs the last couple years (with the exception of pounders) because of quality issues with them pulling apart even just from the strain of casting.
after hearing about the changes to the rubber, i tried one of the new ones this fall and i've been pleased. it's noticeably tougher than the last couple years' versions, but still soft enough to have good action. the painted patterns are a nice feature and has not rubbed off either. two fish have ate the one dawg and still perfectly good.
i'll buy a couple this winter alongside my Suzies and Super-D's...
i applaud Muskie Innovations for responding to the market. i applaud Shack Attack and Tacklebooty for making their own great products and forcing the issue. it's GOOD to have choices.
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Posts: 1237
Location: South Portsmouth, KY | Sweet. Its about time. I have got tired of the words "dont let that tail sink" lol |
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Posts: 54
| I can honestly say that I have caught fish on EVERY lure in my tackle box except the 5 or six Bulldawgs that I have.....Not looking to get anymore. |
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Posts: 135
Location: Irvine, KY | Personally, I cant wait! |
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Posts: 32959
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The issue isn't whether the Dawgs catch fish. they most certainly do. |
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | OK, So the U.S. auto market sucked in the 70's but we now build some of the Best cars in the world , does that mean you won't buy american cars because we failed to change for the better during the 70's ???
MI realized they had a problem and now have fixed it... and your holding a grudge because of...... why ?
Capitalism at it's best... I will buy the New and Improved Dawgs and catch some really nice fish.... And I will buy some of their rivals lures........... Just to put more fish in the boat..........Forgive and Forget guys.
Jerome |
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Posts: 1760
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | Price will be a big factor for a lot of anglers. At the local tackle shop bulldawgs retail at 19.99 each. I can get other swimbaits of the same or better quality for 11 bucks. Not factoring in shipping charges, that is a very significant price difference. The company I favor has excellent customer service and has even taken the time to call me personally. While this is not very common for "large" manufacturers to do, I appreciate the personal touch along with the quality bait and a lower price to boot. I have even been in on some of the custom colors. I will not switch brands because I am loyal to my favorite brands. Look at the automotive industry for example. If you buy a truck that does not perform to your expectations and you seek another brand how many of you would really turn around and buy a product that you were once unhappy with? I'm not bashing one brand over another and I'm not saying that a lot of people won't buy the new dawgs, but I think a lot of people will stick with a company who has produced a "better" product, than one who decided to improve theirs when competition arose. |
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Posts: 32959
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Almost every lure company out there has changed/improved their lures at one point or another, and in the case of many 'newer' companies, they had the advantage of learning from the experience of the companies that built 'similar' baits before them, including the mistakes and improvements.
And yes, I'd buy an improved product if I was unhappy with the product before the improvement, if the builder addressed the issues, why not? I don't think a lure company is like a football team, but that's me. I'd also buy a few from the competition, if I like the bait style and colors, and perhaps price too. Sometimes I buy a lure because I like the guy who builds it.
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | While MI/Trophy Technology and my company have had our little "snits" between each other I have chatted with Brad via email in the past months. He seems like a good guy that is trying to guide his product back to its glory. I think when the Curly Sue, Exo, SuperDs, and now the Medusa hit the scene it really opened his eyes. Good thing for all consumers IMO! The weak products will fade away and the good ones will stand the test of time. I think Bulldawgs are close to (or over) 10 years old now. I think they are by far the brand to beat and a well proven bait. From what I have heard the new Dawgs sound like some real winners and Brad made as many quality changes as he could for his customers. Good for him and again good for the consumer! He will keep the rest of us on our toes with his new innovations. Not to string the violin but Brad, Andy and I all have young kids and I know my main motivation is my children and I am sure theirs is too. Know that when you are buying from most Musky lure companies (not just ours) you are buying from a family business. I think most of you will be very happy regardless of what poly-swimbaits you buy for 2009 and I also think each brand has its special action and attributes for “tools” in your fishing arsenal. Have a good week!
James
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Location: Des Moines IA | sworrall - 11/17/2008 3:18 PM
So if Musky Innovations builds a better mousetrap, you will not use it because you didn't like what they USED to make? This what the free market is all about, and improving the quality of the product is always a good thing. There are lots of choices, and it's always a good idea to make yours without throwing too many stones in the process.
This is some really good, very wise advise. I guess I've still got some piss and vinegar in my veins. In the end, MI improvements might just encourage the other manufacturers to build an even better product. I've got 8 old mag dawgs that haven't caught a single fish yet left to get shredded, and 5 brand new Shack Attacks, I don't see myself buying any new rubber anytime soon.
Edited by MuskieMike 11/18/2008 7:55 AM
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| Sworrll
You make some valid points, but my main gripe is that for over 5 years MI have been putting out sub-standard quality baits. I have been using dawgs for years, I still have a bunch of old 7 strands and even the pig tailed ones. I am not trying to turn this in to a bash musky innovations thread as I know this forum does not work that way. But my main reason for not using them anymore is that how comes it takes one guy around a year or so to make a better product? It still makes me wonder if the competition had not raised the bar would we still be faced with bad dawgs? I will look at them at the shows but there is only so far brand loyalty will go.
Rob
Editor's Note:
This IP has been used by only one registered member, and is easily tracked.
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Posts: 427
Location: Wausau | After buying, selling, trading and then buying more - I have found a few colors to work best and I'll be looking for slight changes and/or patterns with in those colors. I will compare to others, but price will affect how many I buy, not if. I hope the price is lower b/c it's frustrating to buy a 30$ Pounder only to have it ripped in 3 parts after a fish. Is that the price we/I'm willing to pay per fish? Not if I can go else where. I just need to keep impulse buying to a minimum, but like we say "musky fishing is a disease." |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Just an FYI but I always wanted a 2lb Bulldawg and just picked one up a few weeks ago delivered for $23 on eBay and it is brand new. Lots of good deals there if you search "musky lure" or "muskie lure".
James
PS-No, I do not plan on making a 2lb SuperD...ever  |
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Location: Des Moines IA | I bought a 2 lber on Ebay for a good price also. Threw it enough to make me sore for days. Then luckily, it went to the bottom of Presque Isle Lake after a backlash. Never again. |
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Posts: 8865
| sworrall - 11/17/2008 4:18 PM
So if Musky Innovations builds a better mousetrap, you will not use it because you didn't like what they USED to make?
How many generations of "better" mousetraps have to fail before you stop spending money on their products, Steve?
-First it was the seven strand models, which eventually failed when the seven strand corroded and fatigued.
-So they made the bait with a solid wire harness, which bent when you casted it and caused the bait not to run right. Spent as much time tuning them as I did casting them.
-Then there were the flat tailed inection molded model, which just didn't have the action the older models did.
-After that was the softer plastic that came apart casting.
-Then it was harnesses breaking.
-Then it was cheap split rings.
As someone who has spent a considerable amount of money on "new and improved" MI products that weren't really improved, I have to question whether the new one that will be on the shelves will really be ready for the market.
Remember the first generation chatterbait? Remember the realfish? Remember 5 generations of bulldawgs that all had some sort of quality issues?
I'm not out to throw stones at anyone. For their sake I really hope they hit one out of the park here. I would LOVE to see a bulldawg that does what we've all been wishing them to do, which is not break so easily. But in my experience over the last 5 years, they are 0 - 8. IF they put a product out there that really IS an improvement, I might buy it. But I've thrown way too much money at their stuff already and been continually dissapointed by the quality.
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Posts: 90
| I don't know about anyone else here, but I have been hit pretty hard by the economy forcing me to think about price and quality of the lures (anything for that matter) that I buy. The $300 orders from Rollie and Helens have been few and far between for me lately, so I need to make the most of those investments. I bought a dawg a few weeks ago, hung it in my Lakewood and when I went to pull it out the other day the tail snagged on a hook from another lure and ripped off with little pressure, I didn't even feel the weight of the other lure when it came off. Ok...shame on me for not being more careful, but that's $20 on a lure that I never even got wet. If the new dawgs are that much better, then great I will probably buy some, but my budget does not allow me to be a guinea pig right now, so it has to be proven to me over a little time before I make that investment again. |
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| jeff p, get yourself a cheap soldering iron at the hardware store and you can melt that tail back on. good as new.
I hope the new dawgs are built better. I agree with others, for years they put cheap split rings and hooks on them. This wasn't anything they didn't know about, but it took years, not weeks or months to change, years. Pounders would fall apart after 3 hours of use without ever getting hit by a fish. do their baits work? of course, love them, when they don't fall apart, and hate them when they do.
Competition finally forced their hand, not the consumers who had to change out hooks and split rings on 15-30 dollar baits.
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Posts: 393
Location: Hopefully on the water | If you don't like them then don't use them, it is your choice. The way I look at it is that I have Litterally waste more money on baits that I thought would be great to only use very little or not even at all. If you fish with Bulldawgs, Super D'd, Shack Attack or who evers. Use the ones YOU have luck with and feel comfortable using. I have used all 3 of the above and there are things that I do and don't like about all of them. I personally love to see a bait shreaded from a fish. Baits coming apart always stinks but it also hurts when you get a backlash or bad knot and loose the bait. Them breaking in this instance isn't entirly the baits or Manufacturer's issue. It is our own by not casting properly or tying a better knot. Most muskie fisherman are impulse buyers or look for the NEW and IMPROVED. Buy what you want to use. It is going to be a long winter to think about which ones you want or will buy. |
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Posts: 727
| I look at it as being pretty simple. I will buy the most durable rubber dawg (or dawg nockoff). |
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Posts: 999
| Bulldawgs have been around since 1992 I believe. Top H20, what happened was the bulldawgs use to be of great quality except for the occasion 7 strand breakage but still a quality plastic that held up. Then they shipped the marketing overseas and went to a much softer rubber and the quality went right down the toilet. Now they are realizing they better get the quality back where it should/used to be. So it wasnt a matter of starting out poorly and then finally getting better.
Cant wait to see the line up. I wonder if prices will come down on the pounders. It would be cool if they could keep them around $20 instead of $30. Doubt it though.
Mr Musky |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | I recall reading someplace that the new MI products would be available at retailers when the 'old' inventory has all been sold. Will the 'old' stock be reduced in price, removed from the shelves, or will the new MI products be priced higher? Will there be a way to tell the difference between the new and old products by looking at the packaging?
---I should add that I am happy to see the redesign as like others I have struggled trying to figure out how to put the rear harness hook holder back into the bait...zip ties seemed to work okay---
Edited by Cowboyhannah 11/18/2008 9:56 PM
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Posts: 32959
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | 'These are simply the best baits they have EVER made, I still have some of the first made back in th 90's and these are much stronger and durable. Some of the colors of dawgs are hitting the market now with all these changes they should have 100% coverage no later than late spring according to Brad. I also understand their will be a whole color line, keeping the best colors and get rid of the bad sellers and add some new fresh awesome colors. ' |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | I will buy the NEW MEDUSSA, SUPER D DAWGS, SHACK ATTACK DAWGS. Then and only then will I look at M/I DAWGS, AND WAIT TO HERE REPORTS OF HOW GOOD OR BAD THEY ARE BEFORE I BUY ANY M/I DAWGS !!!!!!!!!!!!! I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE THAT BUY ALL THE OLD STOCK THAT IS LEFT OUT THERE. I feel just like esoxaddict on this one. |
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| If anyone has pictures of these new "PRO dawgs" with the painted design please post. I would love to see what they look like. Pikemaster - that new Medusa does look pretty #*^@ cool. I'll definitely have to get one of those to see what action is like.
**My next probably bad idea is, why can't they make a hard plastic body that will last forever, then somewhere in the area of the rear hook, would begin the soft plastic tail section which of course would be replaceable. What do you think? |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | I have a couple SWAMP DONKEE'S with replaceable tails but the bait does not have the action like a SUPER D DAWG.
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Posts: 512
Location: Appleton | Musky Madman - 11/19/2008 6:56 AM
If anyone has pictures of these new "PRO dawgs" with the painted design please post. I would love to see what they look like. Pikemaster - that new Medusa does look pretty #*^@ cool. I'll definitely have to get one of those to see what action is like.
**My next probably bad idea is, why can't they make a hard plastic body that will last forever, then somewhere in the area of the rear hook, would begin the soft plastic tail section which of course would be replaceable. What do you think?
H20 Tackle makes a bait with a hard head and soft body. He calls it the hard head. Nice bait. Great Action.
http://www.h2otackle.com/hardhead.shtml |
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Location: Twin Cities | PIKEMASTER - 11/18/2008 9:10 PM
SUPER D DAWG.
What is a SUPER D DAWG and who makes it? :-P |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | SuperD company name is Tackle Industries.
Website:
http://www.gruntmuskielures.com
PS-PIKEMASTER, While I only have one of those Swamp Donkeys, those things are TANKS! Need to take one with me to Canada to see how many hammer handle pike can hit it before it falls a part. I can imagine it woudl be all day I like the hard body but they do need to soften the tail up slightly to get a little more movement out of it. Love that replacement tail design!
Edited by tacklebooty 11/19/2008 9:02 AM
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Location: Twin Cities |
My comment was VERY tongue in cheek....<rolls eyes> |
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| Capitalism at its finest for sure.
Sounds like the new, improved BullDawg is a whole lot like the Super D! And what are the prices again?
Also, has anyone seen the new curly tail soft plastic from Dunwright Tackle? Holy moly, now there's a bait worth paying $25 for. |
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| And what/where is a Medusa? Pictures? |
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| I have had good luck on MI pounders. Maybe I got lucky and bought the ones with the better plastic. I love my Super Ds though because they just flat out work. MI makes a good bulldawg rod, you can't take that away from them. |
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| MI has great customer service, I emailed MI one day, replied back the next day and fixed the issue no questions asked, very impressed!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 427
Location: Wausau | I second the Hard Head - Rodger is a great guy to work with and the lures catch fish. I like you can weight them differently or turn the tail for different action or change the color of tail all together. Sweet glide with a wobble on the fall or a fast head first decent or head raise depending on the weighting. |
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| I'am done with Dawg's. The reason is not because I'm afraid to buy a better mousetrap if they made one, it's because of the way I was treated as a customer. I had two dawgs that the weight pulled out and rear wire appeared to be coming out the side. I used super glue, a soldering gun and all the other ways of repairing and got fed up. I e-mailed the co. and they said we will replace. Got an e-mail back saying there were teeth marks in them and muskies caused the problem. I have been muskie fishing too long to know when fish causes cuts rather than my sharp hooks. Both baits were used two days. When a representative says he is going to do something and they don't, I move on to the competition. No different then a politition saying one thing and doing another. They lose my vote of confidence. Enough said! |
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Posts: 4266
| Thanks Steve, I like you too.
Free enterprize at work.
I won't ever say never, but I will look forward to the chance to look them over and then compare the present product with the past. I think passing up a chance to even look at them is quite trifle. They obviously knew that they had problems, and now they are stepping out with a new product saying,"Look, we fixed what was wrong. Here it is, check it out." Why thanks, let me take a peek. Can I bring a torch? Beav |
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Posts: 32959
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The new MI products will be on the market soon, at which time we can discuss how they look talk about the improvements. |
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