A new cork is popping up with South Louisiana’s inshore anglers, and it’s getting a reputation for both durability and a sound that seems to be a hit with speckled trout and redfish.
Aaron Pierce and Roger Dowdy, co-owners of 4 Horsemen Tackle, started cranking out popping corks to test last summer, and began selling them online in December.
Like many new products, the 4 Horsemen corks came about because the pair weren’t satisfied with the performance of the corks they used while guiding.
“We couldn’t find one that lasted and sounded good, with the right beads, so we started fooling around and testing and making our own,” Pierce said. “Once we put the epoxy on the bottom, that was a game-changer for us because it locked in the bottom of the cork, which takes all the abuse. It holds everything together, and also helps make the lower-frequency sound which fish hear better.”
But sound is only half of the cork’s appeal, he said.
“The cork has extra heavy-grade wire, a compact shape you can cast a lot further with less tangles, and the beads and weight slide really easily to create the best sound of all the corks on the market,” he said.
All 4 Horsemen corks feature a 130-pound Spro swivel, and are assembled in Pierce and Dowdy’s hometown of Cut Off.
Three-inch poppers and oval corks (with 3/8-ounce weights) are available in yellow, orange and pink, and the 4-inch, ½-ounce model is available in orange only.
All corks, no matter the size, retail for $7.50 each.
The corks are now available at many local tackle stores, as well as through the company’s website.
More Info: www.4horsementackle.com
