Rebel
The Rebel Minnow is a legendary lure produced by Rebel Lures. This crankbait made history by becoming the world's first mass-produced plastic imitation of a small baitfish (minnow). Before its arrival, wooden minnows (like Rapala) dominated the market.
The crankbait was developed by Rebel Lures (founded in 1962 by George Perryman and P.H. Bidwell), which was based in Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA.
1962: The release of the Rebel Minnow was a revolutionary moment. It became the first successful crankbait manufactured from plastic using injection molding.
The Rebel Minnow was created as a more affordable and durable alternative to the expensive and fragile wooden minnows of that era.
Shape and Action (Wiggle): It has a classic, slender small-fish shape, but its action is more aggressive and sharp (tighter wiggle) than many wooden counterparts. Its small lip ensures a shallow dive (a topwater or shallow-running crankbait).
The success of the Rebel Minnow proved that plastic lures could be just as effective as wooden ones, while being much cheaper in mass production and more resistant to damage (for example, from hitting rocks or pike bites).
Today, Rebel Lures, like many other vintage American brands (Heddon, Bomber), is part of the PRADCO Outdoor Brands group, but the Minnow continues to be sold worldwide.
