Classic Baits and Bass On June 2, 1932 George Perry used a Creek Chub Fintail Shiner to fool a 22 pound, 4 ounce black bass. That fish remains the world record today. However, it's hard to say what is more surprising - that the record has stood for so long or that Perry used an artificial lure to set record. After all, artificial lure fishing was still in its infancy during the Depression Era. Sure, Creek Chub, the brand used to set the record, had been in business for over two decades at the time. And, a handful of other manufacturers were also offering artificial lures to fresh water fishermen. But, the overwhelming majority of anglers during that time utilized natural baits as opposed to artificial ones. In 2006, Creek Chub celebrated its 100th year of manufacturing artificial fishing lures. Although the Fintail Shiner has gone by the wayside, many traditional designs are still in production. Surprisingly, Creek Chub isn't the only - or even the oldest - manufacturer of artificial lures still in production today. In fact, modern-day anglers may be surprised to realize just how old some of their favorite lure designs are. And, fishermen who have forgone `classic' lures in favor of today's innovative designs may want to rethink their strategies. Many of those old plugs will still keep pace with recent offerings. HEDDON - James Heddon is commonly acknowledged as the creator of the first artificial fishing lure. That was in 1894. Today, Heddon Lures is still manufacturing artificial lures, making it the oldest continuously operating fishing tackle company in the United States. Of course, many of today's Heddon plugs are modern designs. But, a few of the old classics remain in production. Zara Spook - Every modern `walk-the-dog' plug can trace its roots to the Zara Spook. The original dog-walker, the Zara Spook was originally put on the market in 1939. Over the ensuing six decades, Heddon has introduced an entire family of Spooks. However, the original Zara spook remains one of the most popular models. Lucky 13 - The uniquely cupped face and under slung lower jaw of the Lucky 13 makes the bait act somewhat like a cross between a traditional popper and a shallow-running diving plug. This interesting action has drawn strikes from bass for a generation of freshwater anglers. Today it has gained popularity along the coast was well, but it remains a great `creek bait' for bass fishermen. Bayou Boogie - Looking like a throwback to the early plug designs, in large part because it is an early plug design, the Bayou Boogie definitely stands out in a modern-day tackle box. One of the most first truly successful subsurface artificial lures, the Bayou Boogie has a fairly aggressive side-to-side wobble that gives off strike-stimulating vibrations. Crazy Crawler - Once upon a time, it seemed as if every bass lure on tackle store shelves featured some sort of metal appendage. Today, the Crazy Crawler's metal `wings' make it somewhat of a novelty. However, there isn't a bait on the market today that provides more nostalgia than these antique-looking surface baits. Basically, the wings catch water alternately when retrieved, causing the bait to sway from side-to-side while moving forward. ARBOGAST - Fred Arbogast became a full-time lure maker in 1926. In 1928, he formed the Fred Arbogast Company and began mass producing baits. For many middle-aged bass anglers, the first lure they threw was likely one of the Arbogast line of baits. However, for just as many of those fishermen, they may not have thrown one of those same baits for a decade or more. That's not because they are no longer in existence, but because they've not been as prominent on bait shop shelves. While the Arbogast line of isn't necessarily technically advanced, the baits are fun to fish. Jitterbug - Since its inception in 1937, the Jitterbug has been one of the most popular topwater plugs throughout the entire United States. Not only is it easy to use for anglers of all experience levels, it remains extremely effective. And, because of its unique side-to-side `walking wobble,' it is one of the most effective lures made for night fishing. Hula Popper - Like the Jitterbug, the Hula Popper was a popular surface plug for generations. The bulbous head and body of the Hula Popper gives it a unique profile and sound. However, it is the use of the living rubber skirt that made this topwater bait stand out from the crowd. Though it's not used nearly as often as it once was, it remains every bit as effective as when it was originally created. CRÈME - Artificial worms and bass fishing are practically synonymous. However, that was not always the case. In the 1940s, there were no soft-plastic lures on the market. Akron, Ohio resident Nick Crème, along with his wife Cosma, set about changing that. The Cremes dallied with various concoctions of synthetic materials until they perfect a mix that gave them the desire effect. The original Crème worm spawned an entirely new segment of the fishing industry. Today, hundreds of thousands of fresh and salt water soft-plastic lures have descended from that one worm. When they were first introduced to the market in 1949, Crème worms were sold at a rate of 5 for a dollar. Amazingly enough, a pack of four 4-inch worms sells for just under a dollar today. Scoundrel - The original Crème worm design is still marketed today with the moniker Scoundrel stamped on the package. The Scoundrel is available in both 4- and 8-inch lengths. This particular lure has been sold and copied perhaps more than any other single lure design. And, with good reason - they catch plenty of fish. CORDELL - A relative newcomer compared to Heddon and Arbogast, Cordell has nonetheless been around for more than five decades. Cotton Cordell himself, as well as a number of lure designers employed by his company, has contributed a number of unique lures to the bass fishing world. However, it was the mass production of lure maker Fred Young's lipped, diving plug that introduced bass anglers to an entirely new way to fish. Big O - Modeled after the original balsa wood crankbait Fred Young, the full-size Big O was recently reintroduced to the market by Cordell (smaller models had consistently remained in production). The main differences anglers will notice between the Big O and most modern-day crankbaits are the fatter body and shorter lip utilized by Young's design. JOHNSON - During the pre-Depression Era, there weren't many materials for lure makers to utilize in their designs. Therefore, most artificial lures were either wood or a combination of wood and metal. In 1920, Louis Johnson created a simple, but effective all-metal lure that spawned a new subculture in both fresh and salt water. Silver Minnow - Johnson's original lure, the Silver Minnow was the first weedless spoon ever created. The metal's flash, the lure's wobble and the efficiency of the weedguard combined to make the Silver Minnow unusually effective, particularly in heavy cover. This bait remains a popular bass fishing lure, but has become one of the top artificial lures on the coast. The lures listed above represent some of the oldest designs still in production that are productive in Texas waters. Of course, those wishing to fish out-of-production plugs can find plenty of baits in `fishable condition' on the internet or at collector shows. However, when searching for these baits, make sure you indicate you are looking for a fishable version, not a mint condition, in-the-box, priceless antique. Some anglers throwing classic baits are motivated by nostalgia and many even match the lures to same-period rods and reels when fishing them. Other anglers have come to realize these little used baits can give them an advantage among lakes full of commonly seen, modern-day lures. Either way, tying on a classic bass bait gives anglers a change of pace and can be both fun and productive. texas bass fishing, texas fishing, texas fishing reports, texas catfish, texas lakes, texas rivers, fishing in texas lakes, fishing in texas rivers