Here is another email worth sharing on the forum.

-----Original Message-----
From: equinekrs@aol.com
Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2000 3:36 AM
To: rob@calfishing.com
Subject: Contact form from Calfishing


>From okc
Species bass,stripers
Subject trout plugs/swim baits
Message I enjoyed your site and reading about those big bass lures. I would like to get hold of someone to buy some plugs. Do you have any contact information on the 1-MS SLAMMER 2-STOCKER TROUT 3-BASSTRIX 4-OPTIMUM BAITS. Thanks for the tips....any information on how/where to get these lures would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

kendall smith

Kendall
Glad you enjoyed the articles. Here is the best I can do on contact info:

For the MS Slammer, give Mike Shaw a call in the evening between 5:30 and 9pm. His number is 805-466-8104. Mike is the person who makes the plugs. Just tell him you saw them on the internet and he'll get you all taken care of.

Stocker trout is a tough one. I don't know the number to call for those. You can try the Wilderness Outfitters tackle shop in Arroyo Grande. They usually have them in stock. Thier number is 805-489-9417.

Basstrix are a little easier to come by. Go to
http://www.umaxco.com/
They have the basstrix and the new osprey swimbait.

Optimum Swimbaits. Wilderness Outfitters has those too normally. Can't think of anywhere on the web that has them off the top of my head.

Good luck with the big plugs. Make sure to get the SHARPEST hooks you can buy. I highly recommend Gamakastku 2/0 trebles.

-Rob Belloni
http://www.calfishing.com

I also remember seeing some of the slammers and stocker trouts at the marina at Santa Margarita lake. They were both like $25. Maybe they could ship them to you if you could'nt pick them up. I also saw some of the older slammers at Four Seasons Outfitters in San Luis Obispo. Seems that nobody touches those. Hey Rob, what do you think of Castaic's new trout swimbait? Pretty realistic lookin lure!!

Till Later,
Joel

Dude
I rushed out like everyone and bought a couple. First cast I took with it at San Pablo I knew it was a dud. The problem is that you have to retrieve the thing really fast to get the tail to kick. If you don't reel fast enough it swims like crap. If you kill it to let it sink it rolls on it's side and doesn't swim straight down. What a bummer. Don't waste your money, buy an optiumum or maybe one of the new osprey swimbaits.

Thats my .02

I second the castaic swimbait criticism. I bought the 9" and it don't kick for sheeat. The little 4" is a little better, but you're still better off with a fish trap or bighammer. J&T Tackle has the stocker trouts, www.jttackle.com, their in simi valley, give em a call if you're not in the area. Friendly folks. I talked to one of the "outfitter/guides", Sean James in the shop who was a trout plug fisherman and told him about the slammers. He said he was going to try to talk to Mike about getting some for the shop, but I don't know if that will work out. They have all the castaic swimbaits (for what it's worth, they have the sardines though...), stocker trouts, basstrix, optimums etc.
-Brian