South Bend Pike Oreno Lure The South Bend Pike Oreno Lure was given a model number 957, by the South Bend Bait Company of South Bend, Indiana. The wooden antique lure went through a host of changes in its 21 years. The lure was first introduced in 1931 and lasted all the way until 1952. […]
Category Archives: South Bend Lures
South Bend Underwater Minnow 905 The South Bend Underwater Minnow 905 series is Circa 1912. This 905 series wooden, glass eyed minnow lure was made for over 20 years. The lure was South Bends 5 Hook Underwater minnow lure was the companies industry standard 5 hook lure at the time. The lure had a front […]
Pike Oreno Lure The Pike Oreno Lure was first introduced as a model 975. This South Bend Bait Company lure was first introduced in 1922 and lasted 7 years in its first appearance until 1929. I would later be reintroduced in take on a different shape and size. This antique fishing lure measured 4 1/4″ […]
South Bend Muskie Surf Oreno Lure The South Bend Muskie Surf Oreno Lure was given a model series number 964. The South Bend Bait Company, out of South Bend Indiana wanting to expound up the success of its smaller or little brother introduced this first version in 1925 and kept it until around 1929. I […]
South Bend Two Oreno Lure The South Bend Two Oreno Lure was a series model number 975, and for some reason, shared a model number with a King Andy and a Pike Oreno, south bend had quite a few lures that shared numbers over time. That actually would explain the Two Oreno as its actually […]
South Bend Lunge Oreno Lure The South Bend Lunge Oreno Lure was first introduced in 1932. Produced at 1108 South High Street, South Bend Indiana this antique fishing lure was given a model series 966. The lure was touted by Ivar Hennings the president of the South Bend Bait Company as being the best Muskie […]
South Bend Combination Minnow The South Bend Combination Minnow was an early lure and was first produced in 1912 and was given a model series number 931 / 932. Only three years after the legal formation of the company, the South Bend Bait Co released this a model series 1932. This fishing lure would last […]
Midget Teas Oreno Lure The Midget Teas Oreno Lure was first introduced in 1941. The 1941 catalog described it as a “Size designed for light tackle but exceptionally good as a trolling bait.” This classic antique fishing lure is the smaller brethren or the Teas-Oreno made by the South Bend Bait Company. This lure went […]
South Bend Crippled Minnow Lure The South Bend Crippled Minnow Lure was first made in 1929 and was only made a few years and was gone around 1933. The lure was fashioned after the success of other lure makers such as Heddon and Creek Chub with their injured minnow and SOS lure products. This South […]
South Bend Sun Spot Spoon Lure The South Bend Sun Spot Spoon Lure was first introduced in 1941. The Sun Spot Spoon however was not a South Bend origional lure. However when brought into the lure fold it was assigned model number 525. The South Bend Sun Spot was named in part due to its […]
South Bend Panetlla Minnow The South Bend Panetlla Minnow was first introduced in 1912. For three decades this lure a model series 913 was present in the South Bend Bait Company lure catalogs of South Bend, Indiana. I don’t think this lure is given the credit it deserves for its longevity and place along side […]
South Bend Callmac Fly Bug The South Bend Callmac Fly Bug was a series model number 860. The South Bend Bait Company of South Bend Indiana made this Antique Fly Rod Lure was made for over two decades. The lure was first produced beginning in 1921 and ending in or around 1942, you’ll note that […]
The following article appeared in the trade journal The Printer’s Ink for October 1921. It covers in enormous detail the customer service department for South Bend Bait Co. of South Bend, Indiana. If you ever wondered why the firm grew so large so quickly, look no further than the manner in which they tailored letters […]
Fishing For History, South Bend Lures
Louis A. Paeth Part 2: The Man Behind the “Fish and Feel Fit” Logo
Louis A. Paeth Part 2: The Man Behind the “Fish and Feel Fit” Logo Today, we get an update to the incredible Louis Paeth–the painter of the Fish and Feel Fit painting–penned by his son Peter. It’s a great story that keeps getting better. You can read the first article by clicking here. Louis Paeth: An […]
Fishing For History, South Bend Lures
Louis A. Paeth: The Man Behind the “Fish and Feel Fit” Logo by Peter Paeth
Louis A. Paeth: The Man Behind the “Fish and Feel Fit” Logo by Peter Paeth Recently I received a wonderful series of emails from Peter Paeth, the son of painter Louis A. Paeth. Peter has graciously agreed to allow me to reprint pieces of this correspondence on the blog to share this information with everyone. […]
South Bend Better Bass Oreno The South Bend Better Bass Oreno, is a model number 73. This vintage lure produced by the South Bend Bait Company is made of wood as was the traditional model. Trying to improve upon its already mastered production of the generational Bass Oreno, a model series 973, the Better Bass […]
South Bend Midget Surf Oreno Lure The South Bend Midget Surf Oreno Lure is a model series 962. This lure is touted as being one of the South Bend Bait Company out of South Bend Indiana’s longest lasting lures. The lure first appearing in 1916 and lasted all the way through 1952. Its no wonder […]
South Bend Lil Rascal Antique Lure The South Bend Lil Rascal Antique Lure is actually quite an obscure little vintage lure. The Lil Rascal was given a model series number 955 by the South Bend Bait Company of South Bend Indiana. This wooden lure is very similar to the South Bend Midget Pike Oreno that […]
South Bend Fish Obite Antique Lure The South Bend Fish Obite Antique Lure was given a model series number 1951 & G1951 for the Fire Lacquer color set. This plastic fishing lure was made by the South Bend Bait Company, of South Bend Indiana. First introduced in 1939 this antique fishing lure would last 14 […]
South Bend Two Obite Lure The South Bend Two Obite Lure was a model series 1975. This South Bend Bait Company lure would continue what started with wood, with plastic tenite. The lure was first introduced to the fishing world in 1938 and had a short shelf life and was shuttled in 1942. The lure […]
South Bend Mouse Oreno Lure The South Bend Mouse Oreno Lure was first introduced in 1932 and lasted only a decade and was out of production by 1942. This lure mad by the South Bend Bait Company of South Bend Indiana is a model series #949. This bead eyed, flocked cheese eater measure 2 3/4″ […]
South Bend Min Oreno Lure The South Bend Min Oreno Lure was first introduced around 1933 and was gone by 1939. This antique fishing lure made by the South Bend Bait Company was given a model number 927. The Minn Oreno fishing lures shown below are the Jr and middle sized version, or standard size, […]
South Bend Surface Floating Minnow Lure The South Bend Surface Floating Minnow Lure was first introduced in 1912 by the South Bend Bait Company. Assigning it a model 920-through 922, all are relatively the same with small or unique differences. The Surface Minnow lure is made of wood, has traditional glass eyes, measures 3 1/2″ […]
South Bend Fin Dingo Lure The South Bend Fin Dingo Lure was first introduced in 1952. The antique fishing lure was given model 1965 by the South Bend Bait Company. Surprisingly, the antique lure was only made for only a single year under South Bends Roof. The Fin Dingo fishing lure was a round molded […]
South Bend Plug Oreno Antique Lure The South Bend Plug Oreno Antique Lure was first brought to market in 1932. This wooden antique fishing lure produced by the South Bend Bait Company in South Bend Indiana was given a model number 959. This fly eater was in production for 12 years and was removed from […]
Best Of Luck Jointed Pikie Antique Lure The Best Of Luck Jointed Pikie Antique Lure was first introduced in 1935. The wooden antique lure is a model series number 931. Like the other large makers of fishing tackle, South Bend would have another company it would sell and create lures under, that company was Best […]
South Bend Spin I Diddee Lure The South Bend Spin I Diddee Lure was first introduced in 1952, and lasted only a dozen years and was gone by 1964. The South Bend Bait Corporation of South Bend Indiana assigned it a model number 916 when it first came out. The 916 came standard with two […]
South Bend Whirl Oreno The South Bend Whirl Oreno lure is a series number 935. This antique lure was first produced in 1929 – 1933 on its first production run, and 1938 to 1940 on its second short lived production run. The antique lure had no eyes and is 3″ in width with a trailing […]
South Bend Fly Rod Surf Oreno Lure The South Bend Fly Rod Surf Oreno Lure was a series model 961. Made by the South Bend Bait Company of South Bend, Indiana was first introduced in 1928 and lasted fourteen years through 1942.The antique Fly Rod fishing Lure measures 1 1/2″ in length and has painted […]
Moonlight Floating Weedless Lure The Moonlight Floating Weedless Lure was another in a series of the early Moonlight lure. This version of the self glowing bait red headed bait dates to the early teens. Moonlight, of Paw Paw Michigan used these yellow boxes for a while even though they stated in the early ads that […]
South Bend Zane Grey Teaser Lure The South Bend Zane Grey Teaser Lure is a giant antique fishing lure. This monstrous wooden lure was given a model series number 981. This huge salt water teaser lure measures 11″ in length. Originally introduced in 1928 it was in the South Bend antique lure line up for […]
South Bend Plunk Oreno Lure The South Bend Plunk Oreno Lure was a short lived antique fishing lure beginning in 1929 and only lasting 3 years in this form. The lure was given a model series number 929, by the South Bend Bait Company. This antique wooden lure measures 3 3/4″ in length with a […]
Rev O Noc Underwater Minnow Lure The Rev O Noc Underwater Minnow Lure dates to the mid and early teens. Like the Shakespeare lure shown in side the “New Winner” wood box, this is a South Bend 3 Hook underwater minnow lure of dual purpose. The Rev-O-Noc name was used as a trade name by […]
South Bend Tease Oreno Lure The South Bend Tease Oreno Lure was first introduced in 1929. The antique lure lasted over a dozen years in the South Bend of Indiana’s lure line up. The fishing lure was a series 940 and lasted long enough to go through a few modifications. The Tease Oreno measured in […]
South Bend King Andy Lure The South Bend King Andy Lure was a very short lived lure. The King Andy was once again another antique lure that was a victim to the model sharing number scheme of the South Bend Bait Company. The lure was a model series number 975, which was also shared by […]
South Bend Midget Pike Oreno The South Bend Midget Pike Oreno Lure is a series 974. This wooden antique lure is 3″ in length and is the smaller version of the Pike Oreno. This lure unfortunately shares its model number not with one other lure but 2, making for a total of 3 South Bend […]
South Bend BeBop The South Bend BeBop is a wooden pressed eye antique lure. The lure is a series 902 and is a color RYT, red yellow tail and has pressed eyes and surface rigging. The lure is the smaller of the series at 3 3/8″ in length and there is a larger a series […]
South Bend Coast Oreno Lure The South Bend Coast Oreno Lure is a great piece of craftsmanship. This large big game and saltwater lure was a series 985 and was a trolling bait more than capable of landing the coveted Tarpon. The Coast Oreno in the Oreno Lure tradition, came in a few different varieties […]
Collectible Fishing Empherma (Books, Catalogs, Photos, Etc), South Bend Lures
South Bend Counter Display Marlin
South Bend Counter Display This South Bend Counter display piece is one of the other miscellaneous pieces we a antique lures collectors covet. As if our lures rooms weren’t covered head to toe with lures reels, catalogs, oilers, fish plaques, mounts, nets, creels, line dryers, minnow buckets, minnow traps, tackle boxes…… Are you starting to […]