BigWaterLures.com                                                                                     Gary R. Soldati
     ...for the serious fisherman                                                                         Plug Maker


Reel In The Keepers With These Giant Pikes.
 

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We are now taking orders!

For new SLIMS stock, click here.

For traditional pike stock, click here.

 

Hi, Gary Soldati here...

For over 35 years, I've loved the thrill of the chasePounding surf.
A moonlit night.  The sudden strike of a strong fish. 

But even better, I love catching quality keepers.

From Maine to Cape Cod, on Block Island and at Montauk...I've caught my share.

And I'm always on the lookout for a plug that can consistently catch
big fish.

 The Bigger, The Better 

I often thought about the old saying "big bait, big fish" and wondered what happened to the giant pikes that used to be so readily available.   

I looked and looked, and couldn't find a consistent supply anywhere. 

So I did what any normal, frustrated angler who's pretty good with his hands would do:  I made my own.

I read everything I could get my hands on about plug making.  I browsed websites, introduced myself to other lure makers and pestered them with questions.  I visited plug workshops from Cape Cod to the Jersey Shore.  All in an effort to learn the best materials, the best techniques, and the best processes for making a larger wooden lure with great swimming action.

By summer 2005, I tested my first 8" giant pikes at Block Island -- and quickly caught my fill of sizable stripers. 

My friends took notice, and tried them, too.  Before long, our fishing expeditions consistently became catching expeditions.  

"Remember Block Island last summer?
When I worked every kind of lure with no luck --
until you loaned me one of yours.  Within two casts,
I roped a big one.  Awesome."

                                                                             Ted Archibald
                                                                             Providence RI

Pretty soon, tackle shops along the New England and New York coasts took notice...and placed an order...then another...and another. 

The next thing I know, I'm invited to exhibit at the Asbury Park (NJ) Fishing Club annual plug show -- one of the largest plug shows on the East Coast...an amazing event, with some of the best-known plug makers around.

Since those early days, it has been quite a ride.  And the success of my original giant pikes encouraged me to make additional large plugs -- a 6-1/2" junior pike, a 10" troller, a 12" jointed eel, Giant medium and deep divers, and most recently, a line of surface, medium and deep diving SLIMS.

Today, tackle shops from the north shore of Massachusetts, Block Island, Long Island and Middletown, Rhode Island carry BigWaterLures.


Why Such a Blitz?      

Because these are hand-constructed quality plugs with great swimming action in calm or rough water.

  • 6-1/2" junior pikes (2-1/2 oz)
  • 8" giant pikes (4 oz)
  • 11" jointed eel (4 oz)
  • 8" medium diver (4-1/2 oz.)
  • 8" deep diver (5-1/2 oz)
  • 10" troller (7-1/2 oz)
  • 8" surface SLIM (3-1/2 oz.)
  • 8" medium diving SLIM (4 oz.)
  • 8" deep diving SLIM (4-1/2 oz.)

Each pike is turned from northern white cedar.  They have glass eyes from Germany, and stainless-steel lips custom-made by me to get the desired action.

The entire unit is through-wired for extra strength, and the hooks are the strongest and sharpest available -- VMC trebles.  Even the split rings have been eliminated for a cleaner profile.

I hand-paint the plugs in signature colors:  bluefish, blackfish, bunker, squid, white and black pearl, and for selected lures -- bronze, blue pearl and lobster.  Each tail is tailored to the particular coloration -- from different materials, including buck tail, crystal flash, saddle hackle and chenille. 


How To Get Your Own Pikes     

Because I personally hand-make each lure, I can only make a limited number each year.  Currently, I have all styles in stock. 

Click here for complete descriptions and purchase details.


"I’ve fished Gary’s lures at Montauk and Block Island --
and they've caught fish when other lures haven't produced a thing.  They can be worked slowly, or even stopped, and they still have
great action that produces strikes.  I’ve fished them at night
with great success, and they were especially effective during
the fall run when big fish are active during the day."

                                                                              Rod Christie
                                                                               Bedford NY 

Tight lines,

P.S.  Right now I'm fully stocked...but that might not always be the case.  Make sure you're ready for the season -- order your plugs today!

Questions or Feedback?
Email Gary
 

 

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     Site Design:  The Plug Maker's Wife

Read about Gary's best night of fishing...ever!
"A Night to Remember"

See What You've
Missed By Not
Being A Subscriber

BWL Media Splash:

Giant Bunker
Underwater Live Video Action

Surfcaster's Journal -
Interview with Gary

and
Going Deep for Surf Stripers
by Steve McKenna

On The Water, October, '07
Super-Size It! (p. 28)

On The Water, August, '07
Lure of The Month

The Fisherman, May, '07
Cover Photo - Giant Bunker

Coming Winter/Spring, 2008
The Fisherman
 

Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for the best day I ever had surf casting. Caught blues to 18 lbs. and bass to 35 lbs. on your White Pearl Giant. I lost count of how many fish were caught --somewhere in the mid- twenties. I've never caught so many good size bass in 1 day. The finish held up awesome and still looks great. Thanks again.

                          Frank, Long Island
                          October 2008

The jointed eel was deadly for me in Montauk last year on the very deep south side -- with 2 fish that easily broke the 30 lb. mark.

                           Billy Riker
                           March 2008

What a thrill! Here's an in-the-moment photo of the 28 lb. bass
I caught at Fisher Island
using Gary's giant blackfish.

 
                           Mike Roy
                            June 2006           

Tell A Friend
About This Site!

 

The first thing I noticed when I received the bluefish and the blackfish was their size. Not a whole lot of plugs made
this size anymore!

Then I took a hard look at the paint job and hardware. Absolutely beautiful, with great detail and unique metal lips.

But did they swim and catch fish?

I fished the two plugs exclusively in Montauk during the mullet run. They had great swimming action, and I was able to bang some nice stripers when other casters were scratching their heads.

Good job, Gary!"

                            Bill Wetzel
                            New York State,
                            Licensed Guide