Lure that change fishing

[WRB]

Back in the Late 50’s a lure came out that could catch nearly every fresh water sport fish across the country and still works today.

I was a dock boy working or helping at a boat landing when this lure 1st came out.

The Finland Minnow. The lure was too light to cast on traditional bait casting reels and spinning reels were not popular at that time. The word got out and everyone wanted this Finland lure to troll and catch every type of game fish in the lake; Rainbow and Brown trout and Bass. The Finland lure has small hooks but very sharp.

We couldn’t order anymore it wasn’t available.

About 2 years later the Finland lure was introduced by Rapala a new Company offering the F13 floating minnow, the rest is history.

Tom

[RRocket]

I thought Rapala released the lure that changed fishing history in the 30s? 

[Team9nine]

Though started in the 1930s in Europe, its move to the US began around 1952; It was 1959 when Ron Weber first got introduced to “the minnow” which would largely start the chain of events. But it wasn’t until 1962 that the lure literally took off due to the fortunate timing of having a small article about it appear in Life Magazine that just happened to feature Marilyn Monroe on the cover and the story of her recent passing - one of the most popular issues ever.

 

Full story here for those interested: Rapala - Marilyn history

 

[JHoss]

12 hours ago, Team9nine said:

Though started in the 1930s in Europe, its move to the US began around 1952; It was 1959 when Ron Weber first got introduced to “the minnow” which would largely start the chain of events. But it wasn’t until 1962 that the lure literally took off due to the fortunate timing of having a small article about it appear in Life Magazine that just happened to feature Marilyn Monroe on the cover and the story of her recent passing - one of the most popular issues ever.

 

Full story here for those interested: Rapala - Marilyn history

 

The jerk bait being made famous because of an article about the most famous "jerk bait" of all time... oh the irony. 

[WRB]

I have an original Rafin (Rapala) 1 3/4 oz Ice jig made for Canada’s Lake Trout fishing about early 60’s vintage. Gold plated hooks, gold color the gold plated tail fin. Original unopened package.

Interested PM for photo.

Tom

 

[primetime]

In my lifetime it has been the Sluggo and then senko. I would also say a bladed jig.

 

The Rapala minnow and shad rap were already great when I started and Power worms. 

[herder]

Mr Twister was the new thing when I was much younger.

 

[The Baron]

We fished smallmouth often with a Rapala F13 or J11 when I was a kid. Almost always in gold, or silver but sometime orange or chartreuse.  This was in the 70’s-80’s.  I guess I never paid enough attention to articles in the In Fisherman though, because we didn’t know the F13 was a jerkbait.  We’d either troll or cast/steady retrieve and give a flick or speed up/slow down occasionally.  We caught fish, but I wonder how much better we might have done if we fished it properly.

 

Mister Twister was the other big deal when I was a kid.  Beetle Spin with a 3” grub was one of my favourites.  Of course a hula popper, jitterbug or a Heddon Dying Flutter spook for topwater.  Come to think of it, I’ll bet the fish haven’t seen those last three in a while - might be worth a nostalgic topwater outing this year. 🤔

[GetFishorDieTryin]

The biggest game changer in FW bass fishing I've personally witnessed is undoubtedly the senko.  They catch fish now, but when they were just hitting the scene, it was like cheating.  The only other gamechanger that comes close in my mind is the introduction of Gulp in the NE SW game.  

[king fisher]

Banjo Minnow, flying lure, and helicopter lure

[HarrisChain]

I started using the Rapala F13S back in the early 80's and it's still one of my favorite topwater lures. Another topwater lure that I love is the Heddon Tiny or Baby Torpedo. An old man taught me to put a little larger treble hook on the rear so that it sits lower in the rear and chugs as you retrieve it. Finally there's the Smithwick Devils Horse... Still deadly after 40+ years. 

[greentrout]

In my lifetime: The buzz bait. Lunker Lure.

[DaubsNU1]

On 3/3/2025 at 3:37 PM, primetime said:

In my lifetime it has been the Sluggo and then senko. I would also say a bladed jig.

 

The Rapala minnow and shad rap were already great when I started and Power worms. 

 

Slug-Go for sure! Caught my PB bass on a rainbow trout colored Slug-Go in the 1990's. 

 

[padlin]

I’d have to say soft plastic baits, from Crème worms to whatever the current rage is.

Started for me with purple Cremes for whatever was in the local ponds, then Sluggo’s for saltwater strippers, and now Rage baits for freshwater bass.

[Bankbeater]

I can remember when the Big-O came out.  That was the lure to have around here.

[primetime]

7 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

 

Slug-Go for sure! Caught my PB bass on a rainbow trout colored Slug-Go in the 1990's. 

 

Funny you mention the Rainbow trout color....I was just fishing the ponds in my neighborhood with same color in small 3" size Slug-go as I was walking my dog. For some reason the bass here in Florida seem to love that color. I still fish the Slug-go more than I do a fluke. It works great as a topwater walking bait over grass and gets bit just like a senko on the drop...Awesome versatile bait in all sizes and on the bigger ones I feel like I get better hooksets since less plastic than the big magnum flukes. 

 

They also make some awesome colors and you can sometimes find them for $1.99 on their website, around black Friday and sometimes this time of year. Lunker City makes great baits with nice selection.

[king fisher]

Rattle Trap.  Not the first lipless with a rattle, but the first one I bought was revolutionary for me.  Just ask my friend that still wont talk about the day I tried my first Rattletrap.  I caught bass almost every cast while he didn't get a bite.

[Sp33dSnake]

If you're talking lures that changed fishing, one could argue that the modern spinnerbait, produced in the early fifties is one of the most influential lures of all time.  It inspired other similar lures like Tailspinners, Chatterbaits and Alabama rigs.

And people STILL use them.  And they are STILL effective.

For me, a lure that changed my game, my repertoire, was a baby rattletrap.  Later on, I got turned on to a full size rattletrap, but a baby rattletrap with continuous retrieve is not quite as good as finesse/senko worms for me; but it's one of those, "To hell with it, I know I can catch something with this lure, dammit!" lure.

[SC53]

Rapala minnow and Creme worm.