FISHING LURES

THE BIG 5

There is a recognizable “Big 5” of fishing lure manufacturers. These 5 manufacturers dominated the market from the early 1900s to the 1950s and 1960s. These giants set the precedent and developed many patents that are still used on today’s fishing lures. In fact, they often bought out many small companies just to maintain market share. No lure or idea was too small to be purchased. As such, some lures from these companies were invented by others first. One can barely call themselves a fisherman if they have not heard of these companies. Please enjoy the pictures from the Big 5, as they reined supreme.

PFLUEGER

SHAKESPEARE

HEDDON

SOUTH BEND

CREEK CHUB

SMALL MANUFACTURERS

There is hardly a fisherman that has not tinkered with his lures: whether it is cutting off hooks, adding hackle to a lure, or painting a lure the hot color of the day. In fact, many of us have even ventured into making our own lures. The mid 1800s was no exception for the fisherman. This was the great time that the American fisherman put down his night crawlers and minnows and crafted his own design to catch fish. While some lure makers only produced one bait, others went on to create many fish catching devices. (And some that did not catch fish at all!) On the following pages we salute those who have made and marketed lures for the past 150 years.