The Creek Chub Lures may have been made before its official date but the Creek Chub Bait Company got its start in 1916, as far as mass lure production was concerned. While the stories and tales before this date vary by the story teller one thing is for certain, 3 Men came together to build and transform the American Fishing Lure Industry. Henry Dills, Carl Heinzerling, and George Schulthess are the three names atop or at the apex of the Creek Chub dynasty. These three men having different functions within the company made it their mission to not only create a quality product the would stand tall to anglers, but would stand tall against the trail and tribulations the the world and the industry would face. While known primarily for it lures which would become famous for its world record fish catching ability, it was through its innovations and applications it really excelled.
The most famous inventions I would argue, were not for the lures themselves but for its enhancement. Yes, there are those that will argue the Creek Chub Pikie, is its most famous accomplishment. I would ask then where is that pikie without its diving lip, and its painted lifelike scale finish. The Scale finish, applied by spraying the lure through a screen to give it scales was patent Number 1,323,458 granted in 1919. This process had already caused a stir between of all major lure makers Heddon included. It is said that Creek Chub had allowed Heddon to use this process for the cost of $1.00 and eventually awarding half the patent to Heddon to avoid costly court battles over patent rights to the antique lure painting process. The legal battles would continue into the late 20s and its final settlement with the South Bend Lure Company.
The second Patent for Creek Chub was granted for its improvement in the diving lip, while in use and applied for in 1915, it was granted until 1920. The use of the diving lip was to adjust the dept at which the lure swam during retrieval by the angle, size and shape. This development alone would be instrumental in the success of current and later lures alike. Whatever your opinion of its greatest contribution, one must agree from the Pikie, to the Darter, from the Injured Minnow to the Wiggler that Creek Chub made an impact on the fisherman and the industry.
Creek Chub Lures always had a vast array or color combinations and antique fishing lures to collect. From the advanced to the neophyte, Creek Chub provide a broad spectrum from the standard colors to collecting special order or “Friday Specials”. There are great books and websites out there to help guide you along your path. Creek Chub Bait Company has been well documented to help educate you on the way they valued their employees, customers and community alike.
Below you will find articles and pages on Creek Chub Catalogs, Model Numbers, Colors and Specific Lures.
This is a great piece of history, this 1916 newspaper article not only mentions the Creek Chub Bait Company and an error reporting its name but it shows Mr. Heinzerling’s hardware store having a Creek Chub Wiggler antique fishing lure contest.
For us oldsters, it is memory that makes up Christmas. Memories of the old days when grandma managed the Christmas feast, and friends dropped in for a chat.
We are happy to say that among out most treasured memories are the many Christmas celebrations we have seen come and go, and the friends we have kept with us during all the years. A Merry Christmas to all of you!
The photo of the Factory is 1925 I’m uncertain of the age of the the employee photo.
The Creek Chub Bait Company was founded in 1916 by the late Henry S Dills, who was a great fisherman and always was inventing a bait simulating the action and appearance of natural fish food. After making a few lure she interested George Schulthess and C Heinzerling in the idea of manufacturing them.
The present officers of the company are George Schulthness, president; C.H Heinzerling, secretary treasure; and Sam F Davenport, sales manager.
After considerable experimenting on different woods, white cedar was finally chosen as the best suited for their purpose. After further tests a proper finish was discovered for this wood and even to the present da Creek Chub Bait Company is the only company able to satisfactorily use white cedar for their bodies.
The first bats were fashioned in the basement of Mr. Shulthness home and in a short time the idea os a scale finish in lures was evolved. This operation was patented and entirely revolutionized the finish on wooden bait from that time. Later, one girl was employed to carry on the operations. The company then moved the factory into the upstairs of a house on Keyserand Cowen streets and as the business grew the company was compelled to move to the building it now occupies on East Keyser Street. About four years later it was necessary to enlarge this factory.
Since then sales have increased from year to year and shipments are not only made in this country and Canada, but lures are sent to nearly all the foreign countries, France and Sweeden receiving the largest amounts.
Canadian Branch Established
The sales demand in Canada is so large that a Canadian branch has been established, the work being conducted by the Allcock, Laight & Westwood Company, Toronto, Ontario. Although in its infancy, this plant has been doing a large business and the prospects for its growth are fine. Each year the Creek Chub Bait Company sends a display to the Canadian National Exposition held in Toronto, which corresponds to the Worlds Fair held in this country.
The Company now employs more than forty girls and a number of men all of whom enjoy their relations with their employer.
Two of the most important patents in the tackle business have been sued to the concern, giving it the control of natural scale finish and the mouthpiece. The company has developed approximately sixty different baits with thirty five finishes, all covered by patents and made to look as nearly as possible like natural lures for fish. The company has grown until it is now the largest in the world to exclusively manufacture artificial baits.
In the manufacture of these baits it is necessary to obtain machinery and material from all over the United States and some supplies are even purchased abroad. Practically all material has to be made to specifications for each kind of bait. In the manufacture of each separate bait here are over 125 different operation and they receive 15 different coasts of paint and lacquer.
In the Field & Stream 1930 fishing contest in the bass, pike, and muskellunge of all divisions, the largest fish caught on wooden plugs were taken on Creek Chub plugs. Creek Chub also holds the worlds record for the largest small mouth bass weighing12 3/4 pounds and large mouth bass weighing 20 pounds 2 ounces, the largest ever known to have been caught on artificial lures.
An Extensive Advertiser
An extensive nationwide advertising campaign amounting to $25,000 or $30,000 a year is carried on and advertisements are published in all the leading sporting goods magazines of the United States and Canada. Each year window displays are sent all over the country to dealers and catalogs are furnished to an individual mailing list of approximately 75,000 names. In addition to attending the Canada National Exposition, the company is represented at several of the large sporting goods exhibitions in the United States Each year. This not only tends to advertise the Creek Chub lures but also brings the name of Garrett to the attention of thousands.
Every Tuesday between 1030 and11 o’clock the Creek Chub Bait Company in connection with Bronson Reel Company, Bronson Michigan, the Gephart Manufacturing Company, Chicago and the Muncie Gear Works, Muncie Indiana broadcasts a program of music and fishing hints over the radio station WOWO, Ft Wayne.
Sales representatives regularly call on the sporting goods jobbers throughout the country who in turn distribute the lures to dealers. Thus the company upholds fair trade dealings and practices.
In spite of the general business depression, the company has kept all its employees and has turned outs its usual amount of baits daily, experiencing one of the best years it ever has had.
Between 2500 and 3000 is spent on postage yearly, helping to increase the pay of the postal employees. The cooperation afforded by the post office and its employees, has been greatly appreciated. In addition to the parcel post shipments the bait company also makes a large number of freight and express shipments.
The sums spent in other business of the city, such as water, light, gas, and steam heat make the company a large customer.
Creek Chub Catalogs & Paperwork give us great insight to the fishing tackle makers company at that specific time frame. Since, we cat go back in time to Garrett, Indiana being able to read about the Creek Chub Bait Company through their own publishing’s seem to be the next best thing.
Click the Button Below of the Photo on the right to Visit
Creek Chub produced a wide variety of standard colors as well as a multitude of special order colors. The hardest thing to learn with any manufacture is what lure colors were standard on certain lures versus special order on them.
The lure that started it all for Creek Chub, the Wiggler. The Creek Chub Wiggler came in 2 different models.
Model Series 100 Wiggler, 3 1/2″, Circa 1916 – 1964
Model Series 200 Wiggler, 2 3/4, Circa 1917 – 1954
The Creek Chub Crawdad came in three different models and sizes.
Model 300 Crawdad, 2 3/4″ 1917 – 1964
Model 400, Baby Crawdad, 2 1/4″ 1918 – 1954
Model F50, Fly Rod Crawdad, 1924 – 1950
Model 7000, 7000, 2 3/4″, 1950 -1954
The Creek Chub Open Mouth Shiner was another very early bait and appeared first in a picture box.
Model 500, Open Mouth Shiner, 3 1/4″, 1918 – 1931
The Husky Musky is essentially a big Wiggler. There were two different Husky Musky Lures, one cataloged and one uncatalogued.
Model 600, Husky Musky, 3 1/2″ 1919 – 1954
Unknown Model, Jointed Husky Musky, Circa 1930’s
The infamous Pikie would forever change the antique fishing lure industry. With so many different modes based off the basic Pikie.
Model 1300, Fly Rod Pikie Bass, 1 5/8″, 1924 – 1945
Model 1200, Fly Rod Pikie Trout, 1 1/4″, 1924 – 1935
Model 9300, Spinning Pikie, 2 1/4″, 1952 – 1978
Model 9400, Jointed Spinning Pikie, 2 1/4″, 1952 -1978
Model 2200, Midget Pikie, 2 3/4″, 1924 – 1961
Model 4200, Jointed Midget Pikie, 2 3/4″, 1934 – 1961
Model 900, Baby Pikie, 3 1/4″, 1921 – 1978
Model 2700, Jointed Baby Pikie, 3 1/2″, 1927 – 1978
Model 700, Pikie, 4 1/2″, 1920 – 1978
Model 2600, Jointed Pikie, 4 1/2″, 1926 – 1978
Creek Chub Jointed Pikie Minnow
Model 700SW, Salt Water Pikie, 4 1/2″, 1957 – 1978
Model 3400, Snook Pikie, 4 7/8″, 1929 – 1978
Model 5500, Jointed Snook Pikie, 4 7/8″, 1938 – 1978
Model 4000, Tarpon Pikie, 6 1/2″, 1933 – 1961
Model 6900, Striper Pikie, 6 1/4″, 1950 – 1978
Model 6800, Jointed Striper Pikie, 6 1/4″, 1950 -1978
Creek Chub Jointed Striper Pikie
Model 800, Giant Jointed Pikie, 1957 – 1978
Creek Chub Giant Jointed Pikie
Model 6000, Stright Pikie, 8″, 1960 – 1978
The Deluxe wagtail Chub was one of the early Creek Chub baits to utilize a metal tail.
Model 800, Deluxe Wagtail Chub, 2 3/4″, 1921 – 1953
The Bug Wiggler series came in 2 different models and were part of Creek Chubs True to Nature Line up.
Model 1100, Bug Wiggler Fly Bass, 1 1/4″, 1924 – 1945
Model 1000, Bug Wiggler Fly Trout , 3/4″, 1924 – 1945
Model 1400, Big Bug Wiggler, 2 1/2″, 1924 – 1932
Besides the Pikie, the Injured Minnow comes to mind when talking about the most popular antique fishing lure. There were 5 Sizes that CCBC produced.
Model F90, Fly Rod Crippled Minnow, 1927 – 1950
Model 9500, Ultra Lite Injured Minnow, 1 5/8″, 1961 – 1978
Model 9500, Spinning Injured Minnow, 2″, 1952 – 1978
Model 1600, Baby Injured Minnow, 2 3/4″, 1924 – 1978
Model 1500, Injured Minnow, 3 3/4″, 1924 – 1978
Model 3500, Husky Injured Minnow, 5″, 1929 – 1961
The Polly Wiggle was a pork rind bait and was only ever made in one size.
Model 1700, Polly Wiggle, 1 1/4″, 1924 -1931
Creek Chub had 2 Models of the underwater minnow, both shot lived and lasting less than a decade.
Model 1800, 5 Hook Underwater Minnow, 3 3/4″, 1924 – 1933
Model 1900, 3 Hook Underwater Minnow, 2 3/4″, 124 -1933
Another highly successful Creek Chub Bait Company offering that had a myriad of sizes.
Model 9000UL, Ultra Lite Darter, 1 5/8″, 1961 – 1978
Model 9000, Spinning Darter, 2 1/4″, 1952 – 1963
Model 8000, Midget Darter, 3″, 1938 – 1978
Model 8000CB, Concave Belly Darter, 3″, 1947 – 1978
Model 2000, Darter, 3 3/4″, 1924 – 1978
Model 4900, Jointed Darter, 3 3/4″ 1938 – 1978
Model 2000SW, Saltwater Darter, 3 3/4″, 1957 – 1964
Model 7600, Surf Darter, 7″, 1955 – 1958
Model 7700, Salt Spin Darter, 5 1/2″, 1955 – 1958
The Fintail Shiner can be found with the early version cloth tail as well as a later version with a metal tail.
Model 2100, Fintail Shiner, 4″, 1924 – 1949
The Husky Pikie was a Big Game version of the standard series and came in two different sizes.
Model 2300, Husky Pikie, 6 “, 1925 – 1978
Model 2300L, Saltwater Husky Pikie, 5″, 1957 – 1962
Model 3000, Jointed Husky Pikie, 6″, 1931 – 1978
The Creek Chub Wigglefish came in both a regular and baby version. The Baby Version would also take on a name change to Wiggle Wizard in 1934 and would gain an extra hook instead of rear metal tail.
Model 2400, Wigglefish, 3 1/2″, 1924 – 1957 (Again from 74-78)
Model 2500, Baby Wigglefish, 2 1/2″, 1924 – 1933
Model 4500, Wiggle Wizard, 2 1/2″, 1934 – 1938
The Creek Chub Weed Bug is a collector favorite and good old fashion chunk bait.
Model 2800, Weed Bug, 2″, 1927 – 1935
The Creek Chub Gar Minnow was made for over 20 years but is actually a pretty tough lure to find.
Model 2900, Gar Minnow, 5 1/4″, 1927 – 1953
The Castrolla was only ever produced in one size.
Model 3100, Castrolla, 3″, 1927 – 1941
The Sarasota was a short lived minnow lasting only 4 years.
Model 3300, Sarasota, 3 1/2″, 1927 – 1931
The Creek Chub Plunker series was another top water favorite and came in a myriad of sizes.
Model F1000, Fly Rod Plunker Bass, 1937 – 1946
Model F1100, Fly Rod Plunker Trout, 1937 – 1946
Model 9200, Spinning Plunker 2″, 193 – 1978
Model 9200UL, Ultra Lite Plunker, 1 5/8″, 1961 – 1978
Model 5900, Midget Plunker, 2 1/4″, 1939 – 1978
Model 3200, Plunker, 3″, 1927 – 1978
Model 5800, Husky Plunker, 4 1/4″, 1939 – 1955
Model 7100, Snook Plunker, 5″, 1952 – 1964
Every major manufacturer of antique fishing lures has a mouse lure line up.
Model F200, Fly Rod Mouse, 1931 – 1946
Model 600, Mittie Mouse, 1963 – 1978
Model 3600, Lucky Mouse, 3″, 1929 – 1947
Model 6380, Creek Chub Mouse, 2 1/4″, 1957 – 1978
Model 6580, Creek Chub Mouse, 2 3/4″, 1957 – 1978
Model 6577, Creek Chub Mouse, 2 1/2″, 1957 – 1978
The River Rustler only ever came in one size but didn’t last very long I think in part due to the weakness in the lip.
Model 3700, River Rustler, 2 5/8″, 1930 – 1935
The Creek Chub Beetle came in two different sizes and is a collector favorite.
Model 6000, Midget Beetle, 2″, 1939 -1954
Model 3800, Beetle, 2 1/2″, 1931 – 1954
The Sucker was a very very short lived lure only a year and is considered rare.
Model 3900, Sucker, 3 1/2″, 1932 – 1933
Click the Link Below or the Photo to Visit
The Creek Chub Jigger Lure acts like a spraying whale tye lure having a blow hole.
Model 4100, Jigger, 3 5/8″, 1933 – 1946
The RIver Scamp Lure resemples a Pikie Minnow in general but is fatter.
Model 4300, RIver Scamp, 2 1/2″, 1934 – 1953
The Skipper was only ever available in one size and is often confused with a Hootnana Lure.
Model 4600, Skipper, 3″, 1936 – 1951
This lure was only ever produced in 1936.
Model 4700, Fethi Minn, 3″, 1936
The Creek Chub Wee Dee is a big piece of lumber or Chunk bait, it would later be made in plastic as well.
Model 200, Wee Dee, 1 1/2″, 1962 -1968
Mode 4800, Wee Dee, 2 1/2″, 1936 – 1946
Many of the larger makers of antique lures had pier bait.
Model 5000, Close Pin, 3 1/4″, 1936 – 1946
Model 1800, WIggle Diver, 5″, 1957 – 1963
Model 5000, Spinning WIggle Diver, 1959 – 1962
The Creek Chub Dingbat Family Came in over a half dozen different sizes and models.
Model F1400, Fly Rod DingBat Trout, 1937 – 1946
Model F1300, Fly Rod Dingbat Bass, 1937 – 1946
Model 5300 (Plastic), Dingbat, 2″, 1964 – 1978
Model 5100, Dingbat, 2″, 1937 – 1958
Model 5200, Baby Dingbat, 1 5/8″, 1938 – 1958
Model 5300, Husky Dingbat, 2 1/2″, 1938 -1946
Model 5400, Surface Dingbat, 1 3/4″, 1938 – 1955
These Dinger air Baits Came in a few different sizes and models.
Model 6100, Midget Dinger, 3 1/2″, 1940 – 1949
Model 5600, Dinger, 4″, 1939 – 1954
Model 5700, Husky Dinger, 5 1/2″, 1939 – 1946
Model 6200, Plunking Dinger, 4″, 1940 – 1953
The Creek Chub Flip Flap Lure had a unattached lip that would make quite a stir when retrieved.
Model 4400, Flip Flap, 3 1/4″, 1934 – 1941
The Pop N Dunk had a concave face but was fitted with a diving lip.
Model 6300, Pop N Dunk, 2 3/4″, 1941 – 1954
The Tiny Tim Lure resebled a beetle bug and only came in one size.
Model 6400, Tiny Tim, 1 3/4″, 1941 – 1978
The Creek Chub Bomber or Kreeker came in three different sizes.
Model 6500, Baby Bomber, 2 1/4″, 1942 – 1946
Model 6600, Dive Bomber Kreeker, 2 7/8″, 1942 – 1954
Model 6700, Big Bomber, 3 3/4″, 1942 – 1946
The Surfster family had three different sizes in it and was a favorite for Striper fishermen.
Model 7200, Surfster, 4 1/4″, 1953 – 1968
Model 7300, Husky Surfster, 6″, 1953 – 1964
Model 7400, Salt Surfster, 7 1/4″, 1953 – 1964
There are a few different families that fall into the Creek Chub Popping Baits.
Model 1900, Striper Strke, 5 1/4″, 1959 – 1978
Model 2100-200, Striper Strike, 4 1/2″, 1961 – 1978
Model 2400-2500, Stiper Strike, 2 1/2″, 1964 – 1978
Model 7000, Pocket Rocket, 4″, 1957 – 1961
Model 7500, Surf Popper, 7 1/4″, 1955 – 1958
The Creek Chub Spoontail would have 2 different model numbers over time.
Model 500, Spoontail, 3″, 1954 -1956
To Visit Click the Lure Photo to the Right or Link below
The Deepster was a short run lure and only avalable for 3 years
Model 9500, Spinning Deepster, 1953 – 1956
Essentially Creek Chubs take on the Torpedo made for Salt Water Anglers.
Model 1700, Silver Sides, 4 3/4″, 1957 – 1967
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