Luhr Jensen
A.C. Plug Specifications |
Type |
Top-water
plug |
Material |
Wood
body, soft plastic tail |
Colors/Patterns |
7 available |
Sizes |
5,
7, 9 inches |
MSRP |
$22.95 - $29.95 |

The Fire Tiger(0979) and Rainbow
Trout(0806) patterns are the most popular. Notice the three different
portions of the AC Plug
Impressions: Many Anglers know
that the Original Allan Cole (AC) Plug catches big fish, and that's why there
are many lures that have come out over the years trying to mimic the AC's design. So why is this design so effective? Looking at the Luhr Jensen AC Plug you can break
it down by analyzing the three sections that make up this immense lure. The head and rear body is
handcrafted out of wood. They are joined together forming a broken back
design that resembles a wounded fish when retrieved. In addition there is
a soft plastic tail portion that is connected to the wooden back portion of the
body by three rivets. While holding the AC Plug you will notice the tail
feels exactly like a hand poured swimbait body. The slightly
concave head of the Plug is carved at a downwards angle for more splashing action
on the surface, and the ability to dive if retrieved quickly. The entire wooden body is painted with different patterns and
seamlessly matched with the
proper colored tail.
Complete Rig
for A.C. Plug Tests |
Rod |
Hookhider IM6, Kistler IM7 |
Reel |
TICA
Caiman CA150, Shimano Calcutta 250 |
Line |
20
lb. Big Game |
Real
World Tests: Fishing for the huge ones takes some skill, a great deal of
of patience, and
some good old fashioned luck. Sometimes they are so picky you have to keep on switching
lures until you find something they like. But finding waters that hold lunkers aren't
as tough as you might think. We tested the 7 and 9 inch AC Plug at Coyote
Reservoir, Clear Lake, and O'Neill Forebay, the lakes that are well known trophy
lakes.

The broken back design is securely
joined and performs well in the water
Casting: Fishing with the AC Plug requires
heavy gear in order to make decent casts and provide enough power for you to haul
in massive fish. When casting the AC Plug a 7 to 9 foot rod with medium-heavy
or heavy
power is recommended. I fished with a 7 foot Hookhider IM6 rod (model 110CX) which is
medium-heavy in power with a moderate action. Meanwhile Zander opted for a
buff 6'6" Kistler IM7 rod (model KMT66MH) that is medium-heavy and extra
fast. Casting the 7 and 9 inch AC Plugs wasn't a problem when equipped
with the right tackle.
Retrieving: After casting the lure
far past where you think the fish are holding, this is where the fun begins.
Because the AC Plug is so big it lands on the water pretty hard. Like
many other topwater lures be
sure to wait for a short time after casting before retrieving. There are many ways to retrieve the Luhr Jensen AC Plug,
and it's up to the Angler's preference on what technique they like to use to entice the
big fish to strike.

The Rainbow trout pattern is a big
hit for monster largemouth bass especially in lakes where trout are stocked
Slow Retrieve:
With a slow constant retrieve, the AC Plug comes
to life! The actions are incredibly attractive both to fishermen and to
the fish lurking beneath. Have you ever
watched a fish just cruise the shorelines? That's what the Luhr Jensen AC
Plug mimics with the slow retrieve method. The broken back design gives
it a steady side to side wobble at the same time it generates clicking sounds as the
two wooden pieces come in contact, and the soft plastic tail gives a thrashing
movement to further entice fish to strike. We found that retrieving the AC
Plug slowly is productive for both largemouth and striped bass along the shore,
right outside the weed line, and in shallow areas that border deep drop offs.

No matter what technique you use
to retrieve the Luhr Jensen AC Plug, the active swimming tail will give the lure
a realistic appearance
Slow Retrieve & Popping: Work it slow and work it like a wounded fish,
is an alternative to catching those whoppers. The Luhr
Jensen plug is designed to be retrieved in multiple ways and imitating a wounded
fish is one very productive method. After casting allow the AC Plug to sit for
a short time. The splash usually attracts the attention of surrounding
fish. Then on the surface start popping the lure on the surface with a few
rapid tugs and cranks. Repeat this a few times, then stop, allowing the lure to
rest on the
surface. Usually once you start jerking again the fish will blow up on
your AC Plug. At this time give the fish some time to get a good hold on
the lure, then set the hook, and set it hard.

By downsizing the AC Plug you can
also target smaller fish like this 20 inch striper
Trolling: Similar to the previous techniques, slow is the key and this
applies to trolling as well. For optimum performance Allan Cole recommends
trolling the Luhr Jensen AC Plug at speeds between 1.5 to 2.5mph. When
trolling slow the lure will swim like a real fish, with the tail wiggling
nicely.

|
JIP landed
this 8.2lb lunker on a slow retrieve with the AC Plug |
Durability: The
wooden portion of the Luhr Jensen AC Plug is quite durable and will not crack
even after extended use. After months of testing, the AC Plug only took on a
few paint chips where the joint is located. This is due to the "clacking"
when the lure wobbles side to side. The soft plastic swimming tail at the
rear is hardy, and looked as good as new. But if you ever
need to replace the tail on your AC Plug, Luhr Jensen does offer replacement tails.