What are these old lures?

[Todd2]

My elderly neighbor came over the other night and wanted me to have his tackle box. He said he hadn't fished in years and was cleaning out some stuff. He has some very interesting stuff. Can anybody tell me what some of this is? 

[A-Jay]

Looks like some of them were - re-painted.

I'm going with Hellbender, River Runt, Bass-o-reno,  MudBug,  & Flatfish.

That's all I got.

I didn't look them up, just spit balling. 

A-Jay

[Captain Phil]

It's hard to tell in your picture, but I believe some of these lures are knockoffs or have been repainted.  The lure at the bottom is a Creek Chub Darter 2000 series in the frog pattern. The white one on the left with the red eyes looks like a Bomber Mudbug. The red/white/blue lure is a Heddon Hellbender. The orange lure is a Helin flatfish of some kind. The green and white lure is a repainted Heddon River Runt. The green one in the upper right is a Creek Chub Injured minnow or something simliar. I can't tell what the center jointed one is.  None of them have any significant collector value.

[Todd2]

Thanks fellas...

[Jaderose]

That Hellbender is.....interesting

 

[king fisher]

Here is my guess.

 

Top left.  Bomber water dog.  Similar to a hellbender but has a round lip.

bottom left. ---  original bomber.

Middle top. --- Heddon River Runt knock off.  River Runt lip was attached with screws and hooks were attached with hangers.

Middle.---- No clue

Middle bottom --- Dalton special

Right  top--- South Bend Nip I Dee- Dee

Right Bottom --- Helin Flatfish.

 

I have owned and landed bass on River Runt, Water Dog, Bomber, Nip I Dee-Dee, and Flat fish.

 

  

[Log Catcher]

My best guess is 1.Top left is a Hellbender.

Middle left is an original Bomber.

Middle right is a Flatfish.

The rest I'm not sure.

[WRB]

On May 10, 2020 at 12:36 PM, Todd2 said:

My elderly neighbor came over the other night and wanted me to have his tackle box. He said he hadn't fished in years and was cleaning out some stuff. He has some very interesting stuff. Can anybody tell me what some of this is? 

Top row Bomber Waterdog, Hedon River Runt, Shakespeare minnow*

Center, Bomber, ?, Flatfish.

Bottom, ? Isn't a Dater has a rear prop.

Tom

* correction, Creek Chub #1500 Injured Minnow circ 1924

[Smells like fish]

An interesting side note is a white Bomber similar to the 2nd row, 1st lure in the pic caught the World Record Smallmouth in 1955. 

[Todd2]

59 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

An interesting side note is a white Bomber similar to the 2nd row, 1st lure in the pic caught the World Record Smallmouth in 1955. 

That's right, a former boss of mine was related to him and knew the story well. 

[Captain Phil]

The lure at the bottom is not a Creek Chub Darter, it's a Dalton Special.  Sorry, I missed the tail spinner.

[Todd2]

The knowledge here amazes me sometimes. I'm 48 and didn't know of these. My neighbor I'm guessing is in his 80's. He had many more that I did know..Hula poppers..etc. He has old licenses from out West and some surrounding states. Interesting fella.

[scaleface]

The bottom doesnt look like the Dalton Specials I use . It has a tail spin sure , but it also has three hooks and the front isnt shaped the same .  

[king fisher]

Just now, scaleface said:

The bottom doesnt look like the Dalton Specials I use . It has a tail spin sure , but it also has three hooks and the front isnt shaped the same .  

You are right.  Not a Dalton Special.  I guessed at Dalton Special, but after taking a closer look incorrect guess.  Like you said different hooks, and front.  Does any one have any idea on the middle lure?  River Runt is different than the one I have, but mine is plastic.  The one in the picture looks like an older wooden version.  They might have changed the way the  bill was attached and started using hook hangers when they changed to plastic.

[WRB]

Both River Runt and Flatfish look like cheap knock offs and probalilty the bottom unknown lure, center jointed lure. I could research my antique lure books, it's a waste of time.

Tom

[scaleface]

17 minutes ago, WRB said:

Both River Runt and Flatfish look like cheap knock offs and probalilty the bottom unknown lure, center jointed lure.

You might be right . When I was a kid I ordered a box of misc. lures from the back of an outdoors  magazine . They were all knock-offs and most  of them didnt work .

[MGF]

What you guys are calling a "flatfish" looks like what I know as a "lazy ike"

 

 I have some bombers...some still new in the box I think. I've caught a lot of fish on the original bomber...a "long-a" I think it was called.

 

I also have a river runt that I stopped using because it needs paint.

[WRB]

The orange lure isn't a Lazy Ike, has a different shape but looks similar. S3 Helin flatfish is brighter orange, double front hooks, could be faded and hooks changed.

Tom

[Captain Phil]

I believe all these lures have been modified or are cheap knockoffs.  I agree the bottom lure is not a Dalton Special as a Dalton has a different shaped head.  It looks more like a Creek Cub Darter with a spinner added.  The orange lure could be a flatfish, a Lazy Ike or a copy of the same.   Here in Central Florida, we used to run into rare old lures quite often.  Wives or kids would bring them in to us after their old men passed away.  We made some good money selling them.  These days, everyone believes any old lure is valuable.  Sadly, most are not. 

[WRB]

Upper right lure is a Creek Chub #1500, circ 1924, not a Shakespeare minnow. 

The flat sides are thecInjured Minnow design, I was confused by the pointed prop design but the glass eye 1924 era has this prop design. It's the real deal

Tom

[MickD]

On 5/10/2020 at 5:48 PM, king fisher said:

Heddon River Runt knock off.  River Runt lip was attached with screws and hooks were attached with hangers.

Right!  

 

[TBAG]

Very cool, nice of your neighbor to give them to you. 

 

Also good to see that old Bomber like a few others mentioned,  a similar one caught the world record smallie right here in KY at one of my favorite lakes ever. 

[Todd2]

59 minutes ago, WRB said:

Upper right lure is a Creek Chub #1500, circ 1924, not a Shakespeare minnow. 

The flat sides are thecInjured Minnow design, I was confused by the pointed prop design but the glass eye 1924 era has this prop design. It's the real deal

Tom

Interesting Tom, I'll ask him about that one. Thanks..

14 minutes ago, TBAG said:

Very cool, nice of your neighbor to give them to you. 

 

Also good to see that old Bomber like a few others mentioned,  a similar one caught the world record smallie right here in KY at one of my favorite lakes ever. 

Ralph's a good guy...recently lost his wife so we're all trying to keep an eye on him.