Lure Histories

[John Sheehan]

Rubber Worms, Original Floating Rapala, Johnson Silver Minnow, Dardevle Spoons Abu Reflex spinners Hula Popper , Jitterbug .Just some of the Lures I've used to catch Fish since my youth. 

Johnson Silver Minnow https://www.spottedtail.com/blog/brief-history-johnson-minnow/ 

Original Floating Rapala https://www.mybaitshop.com/pages/rapala#gsc.tab=0  
Eppinger Dardevle https://bass-archives.com/eppinger-dardevle/ 

[John Sheehan]

Back in the 70's I used the Johnson Silver Minnow with the Pennant Uncle Josh Pork Strip and recall my first two Bass on that Lure from shore in the Spring in Pompton Lakes NJ.

Using the Floating Rapala the first fish I had on the Line using that Lure was back in Packanack Lake casting up to my 5th grade Teachers Willow tree in back of her House. A bass sucked it in and jumped and threw it. The Bass looked HUGE to me, but I had never caught a Big Bass before. I was 10 years old in 1963.

My first Pike came on a Red and White Dardevle fishing alone in Pines Lake N.J. Late 70's probably. 

[John Sheehan]

24" Chain Pickerel on the Classic Dardevlet. A catch I submitted to the In-Fisherman Master Angler Award Program. 

[John Sheehan]

This year my old Rattle Traps have been catching again in the 3",1/2 oz, and 3,5",3/4oz sizes. Retrieving over windy flats with them reveal active Fish to go over the area with a flutter spoon for some more Fish has been my mainstay plan this Year. 

. Good ol' Bill Lewis! Here's some fun history: 

  Bill Lewis was a decorated World War II bomber pilot that grew up in the small town of Laurel, MS. He was an interesting blend of an artist, a salesman, and a fierce competitor. His brother Jack spoke of Bill selling minnows on the street as a kid. Bill went on to be a highly sought after football recruit but went to war for his country before ever seeing any time on the field in college.

After flying over 30 missions in WWII, Bill returned home and went to art school in Chicago. Thereafter he worked as a commercial artist in Dallas, TX and Jackson, MS. During that time Bill’s passion for fishing and his entrepreneurial spirit started to lead him into designing and selling fishing lures.

Bill made many attempts and took great risks in starting a fishing lure business before making it big. When most people would have called it quits and gone for a safer career path, Bill pressed on always finding a way to continue pursuing his dream. Then in the 60’s he developed a true champion of the fishing tackle industry, the legendary Rat-L-Trap®.

Then he heard the Rat-L-Trap coming through the water and saw his buddies catching fish like never before he knew he had something special. Bill also knew he needed a good name for this bait. Driving home from Toledo Bend one day in his old Ford station wagon, it hit him, he’d just name the lure after his car, the RattleTrap. It was noisy, but dependable like no other!

Today the Rat-L-Trap brand is the number 1 selling brand of hard-baits. With over 350 size and color combinations, The Trap™ is the undisputed king of lipless crankbaits.

[jim cosgrove]

Thanks for sharing John.Especially how he came up with the name.

[John Sheehan]

You bet Jim! I thought that was cool too!

 

[John Sheehan]

Classic Fishing Lures That Have Stood the Test of Time   Outdoor America Article (iwla.org)

[John Sheehan]

The Beetle Spin

When Virgil Ward set out to create a new lure back in 1948, he had no intention of marketing his product. Like many other lure inventors, he simply wanted to be able to catch more fish.

The modern Beetle Spin has changed little in over 65 years since it was created. The same safety-pin spinner design, small Colorado blade and round jig head are used. Only the body is made of a slightly softer material to give it a livelier action.

This is a classic lure for catching river smallmouths, bluegills, crappies, rockbass, white bass, white perch and other panfish. In larger sizes, it's also great for walleyes, largemouths, pickerel and northern pike. It's become a legend for many reasons, but one of the main ones is that it's so easy to fish. A simple steady retrieve with a Beetle Spin will catch almost any fish that swims.

Tactics

Cast into pools, pockets and eddies in rivers, coves, points, rock piles and wood cover in lakes. Let the Beetle Spin sink near the bottom, watching the line for strikes on the drop. Then retrieve steadily. That's all there is to it. The lure's thumping, fluttering action will do the rest.

From my collection: 0,1, and 2 sized Colorado Blades on spin forms. Trailers include, Squirrel tail, Plastic twin tail Grubs, Twister Tails, Tubes, and small baitfish imitations.