June 2014
Super Wabbler
Champion Bait Mfg Co
South Bend, IN
1950s?
When collecting fishing tackle, sometimes you run across a lure you have never heard of before. You search online and in books with no luck. If all you have is the lure itself, it may get packed away in hopes that someday you may find out more about it.
However, sometimes you get lucky and find the unknown lure in its original box with a pamphlet inside, as this can tell you some great information about the bait.
This “Super Wabbler” is a lure like many others out in the field. Was it made by Champion Bait or was it privately labeled for them? Did they have any other lures? How many did they sell? When and how long was it sold for? And, what is meant when the city is listed as “South Bend 14”?
I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I do know this. The lure is old, probably from the 1940s or 1950s as the phone number on the box pamphlet is listed as “Phone 6-4144”. Also, it is listed as a “sinker” with a color of “green mesh” stamped on the side of the box…so I would assume they made a “floater” lure and their lures were available in several colors.
Also, they were quite confident in this baits capabilities. So much so, that the lure had a money back guarantee. “If you are not entirely satisfied, just return it to us”, the pamphlet explains, “enclosing the purchase slip showing the price paid, then we will gladly refund your money”.
For now, this bait has a home in my collection. Who knows, someday I may find out more about its history.
