“Sooner or later,
everything old is new again” – Stephen King
By Derrek Stewart, 3/29/16, updated 3/14/25
The debate over the first swimbait creator, whether it was Allen Cole - the AC Plug, Ken
Huddleston - the Huddleston Deluxe, or Bruce Porter - Basstrix, is a significant part of fishing lure history.
These names and the time periods involved take us back in time a relatively
long way, sparking our curiosity about the origins of swimbaits.
Left
to right, AC Plug, Huddleston Deluxe Swimbait, Basstrix Swimbait
Further Back in Time
Delving into the history of swimbaits, we encounter a series of innovative
leaps. Was it the Worm King Dinosaur bait, initially designed for saltwater, later
repurposed to target giant freshwater bass in California lakes? Or the Mister
Twister Sassy Shad, a game-changer introduced in 1980? And then there's Rolla
Williams, who in the 70s ingeniously combined a head from a Rapala 18 magnum
plug with a soft body molded ocean swimbait, creating a hybrid lure that would
inspire future generations of lure developers.
Photo
credit BASS Master Magazine 1980
In 1907, John D. Kreisser of Cincinnati, Ohio, received a U.S. Patent for
the K & K Animated Minnow, a revolutionary lure that 'swims’ like a real
minnow. Kreisser's journey began in 1905 when he started marking lures, and he
applied for a patent in 1906, marking a significant milestone in fishing lure
history.
Photo credit Antiquelures.com
The Minnow That Swims
Here is what Kreisser
wrote on his patent application. “By the use of my animated minnow, the
alluring devices, spinning and rotating spoons and other artificial bait now
used in game fishing and the live minnow itself are all dispensed with as my
animated minnow combines the advantages
of them all in a perfect bait.”
Photo credit Antiquelures.com
Looking at this 125-year-old bait’s construction is fascinating. The
hinged jointed assembly sure looks familiar. Also, look closely at the ‘frog
style’ hooks. This lure has three hooks; each rests on a holding pin that
releases when you set the hook on a biting fish.
Photo credit Antiquelures.com
$1.00 in 1907 is equivalent to about $36.00 in purchasing power today.
Even the trend of expensive swimbait fishing lures is nothing new!
Ego and attention do not drive every angler or lure creator. It is entirely possible that someone has designed and built an even older swimbait.
“All new news is old news happening to new people.” – Malcolm Muggeridge
