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Vic "McSea" McCristal and the McSea Scorpion

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Tony View Drop Down
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    Posted: 25 Nov 2009 at 8:13pm
LureLovers.com star reporter covering the Far North of QLD fish69blue (Barry) paid a visit to his friend Vic McCristal last week to get the goss from Vic as to the full story of how the McSea Scorpion was concieved amongst other things.

Thanks for sharing with us Vic and Barry Clap

Here's a transcript of a section of the recorded interview covering the McSea Scorpion:

The discussion took place at Vic's house in Cardwell in Nov 2009.
 
Barry - Vic what can you tell us about this Scorpion lure here made by Peter Newell?
 
Vic - Well this particular one developed out of what Peter had made some of his conventional Scorpions and sent them up to me and ahh I used them mainly for trolling for fingermark and they worked well.But I came up with the idea of the slotted bottom to make more noise when it wobbled, and because it faces slightly down as well as out on each side I figured it would put out a sound wave to each side of the lure. It is quite a shapely lure too and you don't see many like that, in fact I don't think there was another like it.
Barry - No I can't say that in all the years that I have watched lures that I have seen anything like it as well.
Vic - Every lure that the bloke made was perfect.
Barry -  So the belly was scooped out so that it creates more of a sideways profile to put off more vibrations.

Vic - It probably also alters the width of the wobble,I don't know. But it still wobbles and certainly still caught fish!

Barry - That one there that we are looking at has got a few teeth marks and I pulled the hooks off it before I came. They were looking a bit sad, so it looks like it has caught a few northern fish that one. That is quite a unique design, so just basically you asked Peter could he come up with an idea or did you ask Peter could he hollow the stomach out a little bit?

Vic -   I suggested it and drew a couple of rough drawings for him to work on and being Peter he loved doing anything like that.
 
Barry - Unfortunately I did not get to meet him.
Vic - Well you can see the early model  which this was one(referring to the Scorpion in his right hand)which is a much more conventional one.



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Nov 2009 at 8:19pm
Here's Vic with a huge Kadaitcha and Scorpion




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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alistair Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Nov 2009 at 10:13pm
they sure are nice.
 
Barry, can you tell me if the large Scorpion came with those double hooks? I would be interested to know as those large off shore scorps I have coming my way have splitrings on them so assume they ran trebles.
Alistair.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 11:40am
Originally posted by Alistair Alistair wrote:

Yes they sure are nice.
 
Barry, can you tell me if the large Scorpion came with those double hooks? I would be interested to know as those large off shore scorps I have coming my way have splitrings on them so assume they ran trebles.


Gday Al,

That big Newell Scorpion was one of Vic's personal lures I believe - Apparently Vic has a tendency to prefer doubles rather than trebles on some lures and I imagine that the hoooks were possibly changed by Vic, although Barry will probably be able to confirm that.

Vic did the same thing with some Eric Moller lures as well (changing from trebles to doubles)


Cheers, Tony

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CaptainCranky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 2:45pm
Sorry Alistair a bit late answering but the lure did come with the doubles as well as another a bit smaller also had doubles.
The Journey is the Reward


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote CaptainCranky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 2:46pm
These were requested by Vic.
The Journey is the Reward


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Oldman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 7:28pm
I enjoyed reading Vic's writing a long time ago...
Look forward to reading about him soon.
Laurie.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Alistair Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2009 at 8:31pm
Thanks Barry. Personally I like the use of doubles, less chance of marking a collectable lureLOL
Alistair.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tony Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2009 at 4:03pm
I have added a transcript of the discussion between Barry and Vic McCristal above - thanks Barry and Vic Thumbs Up
Cheers, Tony

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote reel deal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Sep 2011 at 11:16am
I suppose this is the place for this post - to remind everyone of the early days of Vic and his knowledge.
I have received copies of 2 letters (4 pages) that were written by Vic to Bill Classon - now Australian Fishing Network.

The A4 sized letters are dated 4 March 1996 and 10 October 1998 and refer to the first barra caught on fly and a reference to abu killer v heddon tiger. Second letter is about Bill Southam snr and junior and Wal Hardy.

The problem is, I am unable to enhance these letters enough to make them a readable post as they are quite faded and were typed on an old ribbon machine. Pages one are ok but 2nd pages are very faded.

More than happy however, to photo copy them for anyone interested and post them out.
All I need is a returned postage paid envelope plus 2 more 60c stamps to cover photocopying.

Gary Wade.... PO Box 294   WARILLA   NSW 2528 - if your are interested.



Thanks again Keith

Wadey
www.reeldealfishing.com.au
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote barneyminno Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Sep 2011 at 5:42pm
Good story and even better to see Vic looking quite wellSmile
Anthony.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fishaholic5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2013 at 12:09am
Great interviewSmile
Vic's writings about the McSea Scorpion were of great interest to me as a budding luremaker. the concept of being able to direct soundwaves from the lure motion and other writings where he pointed out that most predatory fish approach and hit a lure in particular ways (i believe one was an article called "Where the Fang's fit" )  influenced my approach to lure design more than anything else at the time.
 
Cheers
Wal
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bassnbob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jul 2013 at 3:12pm
NOW THATS cool what a great readClapClapClapClapClapClapTongueregards bob
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bassnbob Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Oct 2016 at 10:29am
WHAT a legendBig smileBig smileBig smileBig smile
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