I just looked the the TW website and couldn't find Hudds. Did something change when the store changed hands. That sure was nice to get them so fast when they were in.

I just checked also and din't see them there. You could always call them to see if they do have them in stock. If not I know Eric's tackle In Ventura still has a bunch of Hudds in stock as I was there yesterday.

Unfortunately, Ken has pulled the Hudds from TW because they are going to carry Ragos new bluegill. I'll just post a link so you can read it for yourselves......

http://www.swimbaitnation.com/forum/toast.asp?sub=show&action=posts&fid=1&tid=2254

Ken, if you read this......would a manufacturer pull all their baits from a store because the store carried other lures with a diving lip? Or the same hooks? etc. Do you see my point?

I am sure ken has his reasons.

http://calfishing.com/gallery/v/members/bassindon69/basspics/

Nothing like fishing!

All I know is this...

I can open up my Bass Pro catalog and on the one page I see Yamamoto Senkos for sale on the next page I see Bass Pro Shops Stick-O's for sale. I bet Gary Yamamoto makes makes more money than the entire swimbait industry combined. Figure it out.

Huddleston is my favorite bait, but come on. He pulled his baits because Rago's were too similar. What B.S. It would be diferent if Huddleston designed that tail but he didnt. He copied the Stanley wedge tail minnow. So now he gets mad at Rago for copying his copy. If you look at the baits, Huddleston's tail is almost an exact copy of Stanley but Rago's tail only resembles Huddleston. It is definatly different. I will continue to buy Hudds because they work but I dont like the guy who makes them. It also sucks that he, and now his friend have forced the retailers to choose. I hear Rago will be coming out with a new weedless bait. That should be interesting. }(

on the one hand, your totally right. But on the other hand, a guy can go straight to www.Huddlestondeluxe.com and order all the Huds, in what ever ROF #, and in whatever color he wants, any time of the day or night.
Why would a guy waste his $3 a gallon gas to drive to the tackle store, and "hope" they have Huds in stock. Hmmmm. I dunno..... I hate shopping, and I spend enough money on gas pulling my boat to the lake.

Online shopping is so conveniant..... and I think its safe to say, that everyone reading this has this option.

Peace,
Fish

My point is not to say that I'm concerned about availability on hudds. I know I can order from Ken directly, and I'm sure when I run out of baits that's what I'll do. I have no problem with that, that's just the way the world goes round.

My point is to say that no where else in the fishing industry do you see these kind of "wars" between manufacturers. My example of that is the fact that you can buy a Yamamoto Senko from Bass Pro Shops on one page of their catalog and on the next page of their catalog you can buy a Bass Pro Shops Stick-O. Not only is Bass Pro shops selling a competing product of the Senko that is an exact copy, it's them that's selling it! Instead of Gary Yamamoto getting in a huff over it and cutting off Bass Pro Shops, he continues to do business with them because it's just one more sales channel for him.

But you see in big baits for some of the mfgr's it's not all about making money. The money is a necessary evil, but fundamentally it's about who's top dog, who is numero uno, who is the biggest baddest swimbait maker whose guys catch the biggest fish and the most. And there's all sort of rivalries and loyalties and friendships that come and go depending on who copied who or whose bait is the hot bait of the moment. And there's all sorts of what you might call 'gentlemans agreements' between the manufacturers when it comes to how close one guy can come to copying the other guy without crossing some imaginary line into the zone of "ripping off" the other guy. This has been going on since day one of swimbaits as we know them today, and will continue to go as long as the manufacturers involved continue to have the attitude that it's not about money, it's about who is number one.

Because of this website and the fact that I catch a few big bass from time to time on swimbaits, I've been sucked into these type of disputes in the past. But I'm to the point now where I really don't care. I use whatever lures work best for me, and I'll review any swimbait that people want to send me as fairly and objectively as I can. Taking this path brings me peace of mind and allows me to focus on enjoying my time on the water and enjoying the time and energy that I put into the website here. Today in fact the sun is out and shining and I think I'll take off a little early and go fishin. Boy I feel good.

I agree with Rob. I mean, look @ not only the Senko but the Sweet Beaver. Reaction Innovations comes out with this awesome, new design, like Yamamoto did with the Senko. But look at it now! Roboworm, Gambler, BPS, snd loads of other major comapnies basically come up / a different name for what is essentially the same design! I see both Roboworm Sourpuss thing and the Sweet Beaver on TW but does Mr. Moore pull out the Beavers from TW?

I think a lot of it has to do with the swimbait scene here in Cali. Rago, and Huddleston and all the other guys want those big swimbait bass shown in the mags or on fishing TV to be caught on thier baits. So naturally it's kind of a competitive thing aorund here. But I guess that's why that 25 lber. @ Dixon hit a jig, right? (Note the omission of the words caught, snagged or otherwise... :P )

Bass + Fisherman= BAASS ADDICTT!!!

Point well taken. And I have to say, it is kind of amusing :-)

Their are many types of competition. I guess the competition between some of these lure makers can be very strong.

But competition is something I look at 'from the outside', as I don't think I have an ounce of it in me.

Peace,
Fish