Strikezone Lures, the beginning - Paul Dolan |
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Tony
Admin Admin Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Location: Hervey Bay, QLD Status: Offline Points: 6012 |
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Posted: 16 Feb 2010 at 3:54pm |
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Paul Dolan currently owns and runs Fraser Coast Sportfishing at Hervey Bay QLD specialising in Fly and Lure fishing the saltwater in Hervey Bay and freshwater in the surrounding Dams - Lake Lenthall, Borumba, and Monduran.
In 1994 Paul carved a timber prototype lure that he named the "Intruder". Paul's brother Al Dolan then created a mold from the prototype to produce the final product using the Injection Molded polyurethane method that Al had used since 1987. The lures were then packaged and marketed by Paul up until the sale of the Strike Zone business to Mike Polfreman in 1997. Paul designed the Intruder using elements from two of his favourite Lures. These were the "Mad Mullet" and the "Assassin" made by his brother Al Dolan of Lively Lures. Top- Lively Lures Mad Mullet Middle - Strike Zone Intruder prototype Bottom - Lively Lures Assassin Here's some photo's of the original prototype lure that Paul carved. Being a consumate fisherman Paul couldn't help but to continue to fish with this prototype lure after the mold had been produced and eventually lost it to a solid mangrove Jack In a stroke of luck, some time later a friend of Paul's was fishing the same stretch of water and found the lure hanging from a mangrove - the lure was returned to Paul! (what's the odds?) Timber Strike Zone Intruder Prototype (including a few teeth marks from Mangrove Jack) The original version of the Strike Zone Intruder was made in 2 models (these were the only Strike Zone models commercially produced while Paul owned the business)
Here's some examples of orignal Strike Zone Lures. 3" Intruder (Shallow) 4" Intruder (Deep) Here's another couple of prototypes that Paul made during this period, although this model was never commercially produced. The Strike Zone Cray prototypes: Thank you Paul for taking the time to share the history of your Strike Zone lures with LureLovers.com Paul also kindly shared some great information with me relating to the "Pro Rigging Kit Lures" that he marketed and sold as kit lures prior to starting the StrikeZone business - I'll be posting up that information soon |
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Cheers, Tony
For the love of Fishing Lures. |
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Alistair
LureLovers.com Guide Beta Tester Joined: 10 Nov 2009 Location: Casino Status: Offline Points: 4385 |
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Interesting lures Tony. I can see why they would work well on the Barra and JAcks and other northern river species. Love the cray to. Pity that was never released.
Actually It is a pity they dont do any lures, mainly the mad mullet in timber. I personally am a big believer that timber produces more fish than plastic and would pay more for a timber lure. Perhaps a hint hint to the Dolan's for me
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Alistair.
Comfort the disturbed - Disturb the comfortable. |
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Tony
Admin Admin Joined: 09 Nov 2009 Location: Hervey Bay, QLD Status: Offline Points: 6012 |
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Gday Al, I think the solid bodied polyurethane lures that Al Dolan makes are probably a lot closer to properties of timber than say two part plastic lures. I think there's several lures made in this style that seem to get mistaken as being timber lures fairly easily. I certainly wouldn't mind a few timber Mad Mullets though (and maybe a few Arafura Barra's too) Paul showed me a few of his lures that he and Al had experimented with adding rattles to, the duller sound of the rattle in those sounded not unlike rattles in a timber lure. |
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Cheers, Tony
For the love of Fishing Lures. |
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puglee62
Stall Holder Fugly Lures Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Location: ipswich Status: Offline Points: 7939 |
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lure has a lot more ''soul'' (from the fact that its timber and the fact that its creator has put more of himself into it).its quite a pagan concept,the fact that the fisherman has more faith in his timber lure could add to its ''magic '' and better fish catching properties,whoo deep stuff!
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puglee62
Stall Holder Fugly Lures Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Location: ipswich Status: Offline Points: 7939 |
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horrorhead
LureLovers.com Fanatic LureLover of the Year 2020 Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Location: Cooktown qld Status: Offline Points: 14028 |
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So are Strike Zones and Assasins still being made? Since the introduction of BCF all of my local tackle stores closed down and I don't often get into a decent store to browse and chew the fat with a fisherman.
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Martin-
you don't havta be pretty to fish |
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Davent
LureLovers.com Fanatic Joined: 01 Jan 2012 Location: Darwin Status: Offline Points: 2227 |
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That's a sad story martin, bloody BCF, soon shops like that will dominate Australia,and charge what they want.
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horrorhead
LureLovers.com Fanatic LureLover of the Year 2020 Joined: 14 Jun 2011 Location: Cooktown qld Status: Offline Points: 14028 |
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There are fisherman who work there, but they are too busy to give you the personal services of the old tackle shops. I had a great tackle shop nearby years ago, spent more time there then actually fishing. He was forced to sell and the new owners (land lord's son in law - read into that what you will) sold out to BCF.
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Martin-
you don't havta be pretty to fish |
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Darby
Stall Holder Fishaholic Lures Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane Status: Offline Points: 7477 |
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Martin, Strike Zone is now out of business.
Paul sold to Mike Palfermann, he took on some investors, they took it over and ran it for a couple of years. Then they sold it to an ex mechanic who had it for another couple of years. Then he sold it to a couple who found out how hard the industry is on local makers and closed it down within 12 months. This applied to the Strike Zone Lures, Reflecta Lures & Castaway Lure ranges, and also affected a number of small companies that had their bodies moulded under contract by Strike Zone. I have no idea where the remaining stock (if any) and equipment ended up. Brad |
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"If you are going to have fun with your rod.. get some wood
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