Recently I’ve been going through all my 1977 magazines in preparation for a number of articles to be posted soon. We’ve already started posting the 1977 Bassmaster Trail and we’ll soon have the old boats from 1977 posted too. Before that, let’s look at what was available in spinnerbaits in 1977 – a bait that played a huge role in the first six Classic wins – either as the main bait or as a supplement to the winning angler.
In 1971 Bobby Murray won on a Zorro, in ’72 Don Butler won on an S.O.B., in ’74 Tommy Martin used a Fleck Weed Wader, as did Jack Hains in ’75 and Rick Clunn in ‘76.
It takes more than two feet and hands to count the wins that KVD and others have had on the spinnerbait. The crazy thing is, as great as the bait is, few contemporary events have been won on the lure. In fact, the only recent win on a spinnerbait I can recall was Jacob Wheeler’s win on Euafaula, AL a couple years ago. Makes you wonder how much the pros use it anymore.
While going through all the 1977 magazines, the sheer volume of spinnerbait ads really stood out. It makes sense when you think of the year. Everyone was winning on them and, therefore, everyone was making them. Some of the more well-known manufacturers were:
- Bass Buster (Virgil Ward)
- Jackson Lure Co. (Little Jewel/Billy Phillips)
- Bumble Bee (Bill Huntley)
- Cordell (Cotton Cordell)
- Fleck
- Lindy/Little Joe (Lindners)
- Nasty (Doc Moorehead)
- Norman (Bill Norman/Jimmy Houston)
- Rogers (Jim Rogers)
It kind of surprised me that with all the Strike King ads in that year’s worth of magazines (over 30) that I didn’t find one spinnerbait ad from that hulk of a company. There are others I was surprised not to find such as the Bomber Bushwhacker.
Then there were the companies I’d never heard of, such as:
- BassTrap
- Daz-E-Mae
- Hustler Tackle
- Kobra Head
- Kricket
- Laddie Lures
- Scamps Lure
- Tennessee Tackle
Most of these smaller companies I found in magazines such as National Bass Association, American Bass Fisherman, Bass Casters Association, and other organizations who probably didn’t have the ad costs that Bassmaster Magazine did.
In all, there were 21 different ads trying to get you to buy spinnerbaits, many from smaller tackle companies that not many knew about unless you were in the general area they were produced. Cutting my teeth in the waters of the West, we had our own local favorites such as Rip Nunnery’s Bush Hogs, Tom Markey’s Bushmaster and the Ross’ KR spinnerbaits.
A quick look at any tackle store or online shops reveals tens-of-thousands of blades for sale. You know people are still catching fish on them. But the results from the second-tier events up through the top-tier wouldn’t let you believe it.
Below are a number more spinnerbait ads from the 1977 era. If you know anything about the more obscure baits, we’d like to hear about them. Just drop us a comment in the comments section below.
(1) 1977 Nasty Ad ABF BMM
Charles “Doc” Moorehead’s Floozy spinnerbait with a plastic curl-tail skirt. This skirt, which came out before Mister Twister’s rendition, was patented by Morehead. We’ll be talking soon to Doc’s son and former professional angler Dan Morehead about his father’s bait business.
1977 Bass Buster Ad found in Bassmaster Magazine.
1977 Basstrap Lure Co Ad found in both American Bass Fisherman and ABF National Bass Association.
1977 Billy Phillips’ Jackson Lure Company ad found in Bassmaster Magazine.
1977 Billy Phillips’ Jackson Lure Company ad found in Bass Caster’s Association’s The Lunker Hole.
Bill Huntley’s Bumble Bee Spinnerbait ad found in American Bass Fisherman and National Bass Association.
Another of Bill Huntley’s 1977 Bumble Bee spinnerbait ads found in American Bass Fisherman and National Bass Association.
Bill Huntley must have felt it was worth the advertising dollars due to this third 1977 Bumblebee Spinnerbait Ad found in National Bass Association.
1977 Cordell spinnerbait ad found in Bassmaster Magazine.
1977 Daz-E-Mae spinnerbait ad found in The Lunker Hole.
This 1977 Fleck ad was run in every magazine I could find.
1977 Hustler Tackle ad. This is a new company to me.
1977 Kobra Head ad found in National Bass Association.
1977 Kricket Spin ad found in American Bass Fisherman.
1977 Laddie Lures True Trak spinnerbait ad found in American Bass Fisherman.
1977 Lindy-Little Joe Cra-Z-Spin ad found in The Lunker Hole.
Mepps was never a solid spinnerbait manufacturer but I still found this 1977 Mepps ad in American Angler and American Bass Fisherman.
This 1977 Norman Ad could be found in nearly every magazine I checked.
Rogers World Champion Lures wasn’t going to be left behind in 1977. This as was found in the 1977 Bassmaster Magazines.
Here’s another company I have no experience with. This 1977 Scamps Lure ad was found in National Bass Association.
This 1977 Tennessee Tackle Company spinnerbait and crankbait ad is probably the nicest ad from 1977. I found it in Bassmaster magazine and National Bass Association.
Not sure of the year, but Mann’s Tom Cat and Wooly Bully were some of the first I fished with. Also Hildebrandt had a spinner that was like a twin spin called the Gold Nugget in that time frame.
Mike, you’re right. Tom Mann’s Wooly Bully was out in the late 60s / early 70s and the Tom cat was definitely out in 1977. I just didn’t find any ads for them in the 30 or magazines I looked through.
You also mention Hildebrandt. You know, of all the early magazines I have gone through, you’d think I’d have found one ad from them. So far, I don’t recall seeing one. Amazing since Hildebrandt was a huge player in the market back then! Thanks for the comment!
I have two Limberneck baits , i think they were made by Blakemore co.? I think i bought them on clearance at some obscure tackle store.
Mike Oshann, they were made by Brothers Bait Co. in Kentucky. They were made sometime in the 80s from what I remember. Instead of wire, they used cable for the arm.
My first bonified spinnerbait was the Lindy Squirrel Spin in 1976. It was a single spin tied with squirrel tail hair instead of the vinyl or flat rubber that was popular at that time.
Squirrel and deer hair were popular in the early 1900s on spinnerbaits and kind of fell out of vogue in the 50s, after most companies went with rubber and vinyl. I remember those Lindy spinnerbaits you’re talking about.