The Arbogast Story

[ncboman]

http://www.arbogastlures.com/AR_Images/Fred.gif


Fred Arbogast was a competitive bait caster, reigning as the national champion in 1922, 1923 and 1924. He also broke the world’s long-distance casting record of 250 feet in 1924. It was this love of casting that prompted his interest in fishing lures. He really enjoyed watching bass explode on a topwater lure. This passion led him to create some of the world’s most popular topwater lures such as the Jitterbug® and Hula Popper®.

These lures are still atop every list of all-time favorite topwater lures, still prompting smiles on the faces of pro and novice anglers alike as they witness a big bass explode on their Arbogast lure. It is this same passion for topwater excitement that continues to inspire the Arbogast lure designers today. Those heart-stopping, surface-shattering strikes will always be what fishing an Arbogast lure is all about


http://www.arbogastlures.com/

:)

ncboman

[Altjaeger]

They both ride in my tackle box today. My personal favorite is the jitterbug. The hula poper was never as good for me.

[ncboman]

I've never caught much with a jitterbug but I've caught a few on hula poppers. Can't be in a hurry with them.

My two favorite Arbogast baits are the midget hula popper (the really small one) on the flyrod and the #2 Hawaiian Wiggler for casting.

http://www.joeyates.com/list/misc039.jpg

The #2 Hawaiian Wiggler with a red and white skirt is one of my all time best casting baits in the creeks around here. It catches a wide variety of fish and works thru lily pads really well. I can remember several mornings over the years when it loaded the cooler.

:)

ncboman

[Altjaeger]

I don't remember that one. May have to check it out.

[Sabre]

I've caught alot of fish on jitterbugs but these days I prefer a "buzz bait" for topwater bass.

[ncboman]

I've been doing a bit of reading and apparantly there are some collectors out there really interested in certain models and types of vintage Arbogast lures and ads.

Here's one going on ebay now;

rare Hawaiian Wiggler (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=260399521413)

I'm of a great mind to buy it. :rolleyes:

or find out just how badly it's wanted anyway.

ncboman

[Altjaeger]

Ysterday I was at Walmart and Dick's Sporing Goods. They both had the Hula Popper and Jitterbug, but no Hawaiin Wiggler. I saw Bill Dance tonight say his first first artificial was a frog colored Jitterbug.

[ncboman]

Hawaiian Wigglers are made of real metal. Have to buy vintage to get one.

They come in various sizes, colors, and models also. A shallow runner, #2 is the most common. #3 is a topwater and #1 is a deeper running model.

I'm most familiar with the #2.

ncboman