Original Wiggle Wart

[WRB]

For you who are hunting for the the original "Warts" Don Iovino has duplicated them, same plastic, action etc and will be available for about $9 in 4 popular crawdads colors. They look better then the original with upgraded hooks.

Tom

[Smokinal]

I've heard so much about this bait. Learn me on it. And not to be a smarta$$ but are these considered "original warts"?

https://store.radvandamwarehouse.com/original-wiggle-wart-by-storm-lures-p392.aspx?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=googlebase&Color=082%20-%20Purple%20Tiger&gclid=CI_o7LXtrskCFYb2HwodDesFjQ

 

 

[Smokinal]

So I did some homework and found some good info. Here's some of it:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/130271-pre-rapala-wiggle-warts/

 

And after seeing some pics of them, something sparked in the old memory that I have seen one of these baits before. So I went out in my garage, found some old boxes of "junk" lures I never throw anymore but can't get rid of, and found this:

 

I looked it over and found no markings on it whatsoever. It's at least 20 yrs old though. Total length from tip of bill to end of body is exactly 3"; weight is .4 oz on walmart digital kitchen scale. I found it wrapped in antique jelly worms so the paint is sticky and wiping off; construction still seems fine though.

If this is an "original" would it be worth lightly sanding and having it custom airbrushed? I have a buddy who does some of that for me and he's incredibly cheap. Like, he has never charged me for painting baits...

 

EDIT: Looks like it is an original. Found many pics of it on the interwebz in this color.

 

So I guess I will have it re-painted after all.

 

Didn't mean to hijack, Tom. Just found that many people do not know the history of this bait, myself included. Thank you for bringing it back around.

[WRB]

Storm sold out to Rapala a few years ago and retooled the Wiggle Wart because the tooling was worn out. Unknown to Rapala was the reason ugly Warts caught bass was their erratic running path known as hunting back and forth during the retreive that trigger strikes. The new original Rapala Warts don't catch bass as well as the older lures did. Bass anglers being bass anglers started to search out buying up the old Warts and a cult developed driving up prices. Don knows what made the older warts so effective and has his Warts action are generating strikes like the older lures do.

Tom

[gulfcaptain]

For you who are hunting for the the original "Warts" Don Iovino has duplicated them, same plastic, action etc and will be available for about $9 in 4 popular crawdads colors. They look better then the original with upgraded hooks.

Tom

 

 

Since you seem to have the inside info, do you know when and where are these Iovino Warts going to be released and be available by chance?  

Looked around but can't find any info on these.

[WRB]

Don has been using TW to sell his products for the past few years, should show up when he inventory.

Tom

[bmlum415]

Awesome, i hope they're as good as the originals. Can't wait until they go up for sale.

[Big C]

Don has been using TW to sell his products for the past few years, should show up when he inventory.

Tom

 

 

TW should write a "For Dummies" book,  "Taking Money From Fishermen, The New Candy From Babies".

[Bluebasser86]

So I did some homework and found some good info. Here's some of it:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/130271-pre-rapala-wiggle-warts/

And after seeing some pics of them, something sparked in the old memory that I have seen one of these baits before. So I went out in my garage, found some old boxes of "junk" lures I never throw anymore but can't get rid of, and found this:

I looked it over and found no markings on it whatsoever. It's at least 20 yrs old though. Total length from tip of bill to end of body is exactly 3"; weight is .4 oz on walmart digital kitchen scale. I found it wrapped in antique jelly worms so the paint is sticky and wiping off; construction still seems fine though.

If this is an "original" would it be worth lightly sanding and having it custom airbrushed? I have a buddy who does some of that for me and he's incredibly cheap. Like, he has never charged me for painting baits...

EDIT: Looks like it is an original. Found many pics of it on the interwebz in this color.

So I guess I will have it re-painted after all.

Didn't mean to hijack, Tom. Just found that many people do not know the history of this bait, myself included. Thank you for bringing it back around.

It should say "wiggle wart" under the bill. I would get it painted without question.

WRB, are these baits just original warts or are they under a different name?

[Jrob78]

I was under the impression that it was poorly made molds, in part, that made the originals hunt.  I was also under the impression that those molds were destroyed.

[WRB]

I was under the impression that it was poorly made molds, in part, that made the originals hunt. I was also under the impression that those molds were destroyed.

Poorly maintained molds and they were destroyed by Rapala when they purchased them.

Iovino can't use the Tradename Wiggle Wart or Wart and will have a new name to be determined.

Will ask Don if he has named it yet and when they will be available.

Tom

[rangerjockey]

I'm always skeptical when it comes to duplicating the wart...It's been tried before. . Brads, the wart hog, g5, predator ect.

 Fortunately I still have a dozen or so pre-Rapala warts . With the prices they bring here on the White River chain ,I would say there's a market for them....if they run and sound like the pre rapalas.

[BobP]

I wouldn't be in a hurry to pay top dollar for old Warts if you want them for fishing instead of collecting.  Some of them hunted.  Some just ran straight.  And some would neither run straight nor would they hunt, no matter how you tuned them.  Most guys who fish them cull through their inventory to find the good ones and are happy to sell the duds to you, young man!

[WRB]

Talked to Don and the new _______ name to be determined wart will be ready by February.

Tom

[Looking for the big one]

I have heard that the Megabass S Crank hunts just like the old Warts, just fyi.

[Spankey]

I've fish the warts for many years. A few of the original crawdad patterns have been great but, some of the newer patterns are a killer for smallies. Newer action seems to be fine. I'm under the impression there is a difference in plastics. They are fish catchers.

[gardnerjigman]

I was under the impression that it was poorly made molds, in part, that made the originals hunt. I was also under the impression that those molds were destroyed.

I was under this impression as well.... the junk ones back then were really the good ones, and the good ones back then are really the junk ones.

[DTack]

I'm always skeptical when it comes to duplicating the wart...It's been tried before. . Brads, the wart hog, g5, predator ect.

 Fortunately I still have a dozen or so pre-Rapala warts . With the prices they bring here on the White River chain ,I would say there's a market for them....if they run and sound like the pre rapalas.

Agree with you, until I tried the predator baits.....  If the rattle were just a little I guess... lower pitched? not sure how to say it, I would probably never think about another bait or another original wart.