August 2012
Hula Popper
Fred Arbogast
Akron, OH
1947 - Present
Last month, I had to say “Goodbye” to the most influential man in my life…my father. As a tribute to him, for this month’s “Lure of the Month”, I am going to tell you about the very first fishing lure that I ever bought…the Hula Popper.
First, a little history of the fishing lure that most fisherman are very familiar with….
Before he invented the Hula Popper, Fred Arbogast was already a well respected fishing lure manufacturer. You can check out my December 2010 Lure of the Month Archive for some more information on how he got started. In the late 1930s, Fred invented his greatest creation for fishing…the rubber (hula) skirt. This skirt has gone through a few changes since its introduction, but these changes were mainly material changes to increase the skirts life. The overall design and concept of the skirt has never changed.
In 1947, Fred created the first surface lure to use this skirt. He decided to stay with the “Hawaiian Theme” and picked the name “Hula Popper” for his new popping surface flyrod-sized lure. The small lure was so successful that he introduced a new “bait casting size Hula Popper” the next year (1948).
Fred Arbogast was quoted saying that he wanted one of his lures in each fisherman’s tackle box. He knew his lures were great fish catchers, so he began advertising in sports magazines like mad. In fact, he would do something no one else did previously and put several eye-catching full-page ads in one magazine to promote his lures. It worked. How many of you have heard of or used a Hula Popper or his other big lure at the time, the Jitterbug? Now, how many of you had one in your tackle box at one time or another? When shopping for vintage lures and looking in old tackle boxes, how many boxes contain these lures? Yes, Arbogast was on to something, and he nearly achieved his dream of one in every tackle box, that is for sure.
When I was quite young, probably before my teenage years, my dad asked if I was ready to go bass fishing that year. He was planning on going out on the “Mud Lake” opening morning with my two older brothers and wanted to know if I could cast good enough to go. I was ready and very excited to go, but did not own any bass fishing lures.
“If you have some money saved up, we will go lure shopping tonight”, he said.
That night, we went to Pamida and I was looking at all of the fishing lures. When you have little money…only enough for one lure…what do you buy?
My dad pointed out two Hula Poppers (actually, these were Hula Popper copies, made in Hong Kong!) in one package; one was red and white and the other was a frog color. “These are great bass catchers”, he explained. I bought the lures and patiently waited for bass fishing opener.
I still remember the first morning of fishing. We drove a tractor to the lake with a small wagon behind to carry the kids. It was still dark and it was foggy, and the trek through the woods to the lake was kind of spooky. When we got to where the boat was located at, the sun was just starting to peek above the horizon and the fog was rising off the lake like ghostly clouds. The water was calm like glass…a perfect scenario for the Hula Popper. I used the lures all morning with great success. Ah, the memories of three young boys and their dad fishing from a wooden boat with no motor…powered and controlled only by my dad oaring…is one of the great moments in my life. How we weren’t tangled on every cast, I don’t know. And man, did we catch the fish…and we were usually the only boat on the lake!
Dad, I am in no hurry to get to heaven…but when I do finally arrive…let’s go fishing…just like old times.
Goodbye Dad!
My first fishing lures I purchased! Yes, I still have them in my original tackle box, now stored in my "Lure Room".
