fixter – Norcalkat Custom Wood

Mike Fixter

West Coast Surfcaster - Plug Builder

Early Fishing Career

Mike started his fishing career as a kid. He would wake-up early before school and hit the local waters to catch Steelhead and Halibut before going to school. Growing up off the coast of Santa Cruz, California has it’s advantages! As a kid he took every opportunity he had to fish. As he grew older he joined the Navy and traveled the world. Soon after he got into commercial fishing and did exceptionally well in that field. He then ventured into becoming a Fire Fighter and that is when his love for Striper fishing began.

Pikie Mike

Around the time becoming a Fire Fighter, Mike got into fishing the surf for Stripers. He would travel to Pacifica, California and join the crowds but soon found out he had Stripers within minutes from his house. Fishing before and after work became a normal thing to do. Soon he started venturing into making plugs for Stripers. Back in high school Mike had a part time job turning on the lathe making wooden bowls. With that gained knowledge he soon started tinkering making pencil poppers and pikies. Making a pikie is where Mike got super interested in perfecting, modifying the shape of Creek Chub Pikie and making his own style. With feedback from fisherman like Harry Bode and Chris Morello, he soon started making a name for himself in the Striper fishing Community. That is where he got the name of “Pikie Mike”. His Pikie’s were modified for the West Coast Surf Fishing scene and started becoming a staple in every fisherman’s bag.

World Wide Plugs

Once the world of internet opened up, Mike’s plugs started to get some demand on the East Coast. Few guy’s prior knew about his plugs and kept them a secret for a very long time. Word started getting around and people soon started fishing his plugs on the East Coast for Stripers, Mexico for Roosters, Florida for Reef Fish and even around the world for Giant Trevally. There is a big thread on Stripersonline.com in which people are showcasing the plugs that Mike has made for them. Mike has made 10’s of thousands of plugs over his 50+ year career of plug making. If you haven’t fished one of his plugs, you are definitely missing out, I always have a few of his plugs in my bag.

Fishing Partner/ Friend / Mentor

I met Mike over 10 years ago. He invited me to his house and gave me the ins and outs to working one of his plug’s for topwater at a local pond. I was to say the least intrigued and asked if I could join him one day for some fishing. He was a bit reluctant at first but I kept in contact with him and one day he invited me to go fishing!

I was in shock, because prior to meeting him I had no clue who this Mike Fixter guy was, but after some online research soon found out how much of a fishing legend this guy is! He said be at my house at 11, I was like 11am? no….Tonight at 11pm. Whoa! Prior I have never fished for Stripers at night but how could I have said no? ok! Tired from work I made my way to his house. That night was one that willl never be forgotten, with the guidance of Mike I got my personal best striper(at the time) and watched Mike put a clinic on catching Big Striper in the Surf.

Over the many years we fished every opportunity we had sometimes 5-6 days a week. Everything I know is because of Mike. So I owe him the world in my eyes and I am forever grateful to our everlasting friendship.

"I was fishing for over three decades for all types of fish. Primarily, my target was striped bass, at the time. I had bought a few pikies, sight unseen, from a west coast guy who sent me actual photographs in the mail. I circled what I liked and he sent me lures. He said, "fish them, if you like them you can pay me what you think they are worth". I did just that. The first day I threw one I caught three thirty pound plus fish in three consecutive casts. These East coast fish didn't know what hit them. The rest is history. Since then we have traveled and fished together, collaborated on lure designs, worked at flea market tables, among other things. Mike is the consummate expert on building lures and he is always reinventing himself. He is a humble plug builder who listens to the people that fish his lures. He is the best plug builder of his era in terms of quality and variety. Everything he builds, works and excels at catching fish. If you don't own one, you don't know what you are missing. If you do own one and haven't fished it, you are missing fish left and right and don't know it!"