This one is the one that started my entire TOMIC custom plug series. The recipe of my custom plug series is indicated with my initials "RVP" at the start of the colour number on the nose of the plug. Today, TOMIC has now added the recipe into their custom number catalog sequence.
The reason I created this particular plug pattern was because of an event that happened to me and my son Nathan when he was about 7 years old. At the time, I was a sales rep for a local fishing tackle wholesale firm that sold to numerous tackle supply stores throughout BC. I was the very first rep to have samples of the then, all new HOT SPOT flasher #690. I was having a hard time selling them into these popular island stores as it was so new and out there compared to other favorite colour patterns. The buyers and owners would laugh and joke as soon as I presented it, one shop coined it the disco ball and vowed not to have it on their shelves.
I had to prove them that it was a worthy investment, so my son and I went fishing with my samples in the Alberni Inlet during optimal Chinook timing. We were angling near Dunsmuir at first light. We used a common set up for the area, Coyote spoons with a 6ft tail to the plaid 690 hot spot flasher. Set all four rods off the downriggers at 15, 35 feet on one side and 23, 45 feet on the other. Within 15 minutes the first fish went off, then lost. I reset, then a few moments later a second and then a third, lost. WTF! My hooks are razer sticky sharp, the hooks are my favorite choice, how the heck are they getting off?
After the fourth fish lost, I was not in a good mood. While settling out the gear again, I happened to notice some damage to the flasher and my automatic thought was that during all the excitement I was thinking that my son was stepping on the flashers. After the fifth fish, I noticed another flasher getting damaged. I said to my boy, I thought I asked you to be careful and keep your feet off the flashers...these are my samples, I still have to show them...he immediately stated that he wasn't and to top it off he was sitting in a different direction. It could not have been him. I closely inspected all four flashers, all four had similar scrapes from the head to the mid and one mid to tail. We are in 200 ft, fishing near the surface, so we are not rubbing bottom. I immediately conclude that the fish are biting the flasher.
I decided to cut the leaders down to 3ft. In less than an hour after the change up we had our limit and head back to the dock. I showed the local shop owner and told him all about our excursion...he finally bought in as did others, we never looked back. The Hot Spot 690 is still in my favorite four patterns for flashers.
I told a buddy about our event and he was highly skeptical until one day he actually had a similar weird event. He inspected his flashers and immediately proclaimed that I was a SOB. LOL
That's how the RVP series of TOMIC plugs came into play. 30+ Patterns later...
