Did they think they could make a better mouse trap? Or couldn't afford the store price? Or had time to kill when the fish weren't biting. These are some of my favorites. Some are by known miscellaneous makers, some are possible unknown makers, but most are home made lures. What do you think?
Early Cork Bait
Thru wire rig, hand made glass beads. Prop attached to shaft running thru cork head (head and prop turn together. Head is yellow with geen spots. Body is white with gold spots. Prop has very refined appearance - looks stamped, painted yellow with green spots on the front, red with green spots on the back.
Found in Ohio.
Musky Decker Type
Heavy duty bait, utilized gun cleaning rod. Found with other similar but more refined revolving head baits. Smaller, similar version shown.
Originally found in Michigan.
Cork Spider
Nice early cork bait. Has thru wire rigging with single hook and exposed belly weight.
Mouse Lure
Very nice hand carved mouse, with early glass bead in front (But not sure what the bead
was for.)
Ohio Minnow
Early minnow, flat bodies, fish shaped - with bead to imply the fish chasing a minnow. Great hand painted scales. Holes added for weight? or sonic effect?
Musky Minnows
Great folkart look, with old Pepsi bottle tops added for lips - probably later to make them diving.
Very similar to Hans Janner decoys, very likely St Clair Michigan area lures.
Wiggler
Great wiggler - possibly carved from a Creek chub lure? Glass eyes, cross hatching carved into the sides of the body.
Musky Lure
Body revolves around wire rigging. Piece of brass scales used for tail spinner.
