Creek Chub

Creek Chub Bait Company: The Legacy of Wooden Lures

Creek Chub Bait Company (CCBC) is one of the most influential historical American lure manufacturers, known for its dedication to high-quality wooden lures in the early 20th century. The company played a key role in popularizing the use of artificial fishing baits.

Founding and History:

The company's concept originated in 1906, but CCBC was officially established in 1916 in Garrett, Indiana, by three fishermen: Henry Dills, Carl Heinzerling, and George Schulthess.

Henry Dills, the inventor, was responsible for the designs. Through his efforts, the company became known in the 1930s as the world's largest manufacturer of artificial fishing lures.

The "Wriggler": The first commercial lure, released in 1916. It featured a movable metal lip that caused the lure to "wriggle" in the water, imitating a wounded fish.

 In 1919, Dills patented a painting process that allowed for the application of a realistic scale pattern on the wooden surface by spraying paint through fine netting. This method became an industry standard.

Most Famous Lures:

The Pikie: Introduced in 1920, this is arguably the most famous CCBC lure. It imitated a Pike and was immensely successful, helping to set numerous record catches.

Injured Minnow: An original topwater lure without a diving lip. The bait was designed to wobble and "plunk" on the surface, mimicking a dying baitfish.

Darter: A lure designed for deep-water jigging.

The company adhered to manufacturing wooden lures even as competitors shifted to cheaper plastic in the 1950s and 60s. The high quality of the hand-crafted product eventually became too expensive for the mass market.

In 1978, the company was sold to Lazy Ike Corp. and closed shortly thereafter.

Today, Creek Chub lures are highly valued by collectors as works of art and symbols of the golden age of American angling.