Creek Chub Baits…the baits that have been setting world records for decades will soon be celebrating its 100th year. Unofficial accounts indicate that some of the founders of the Creek Chub Bait Company were making lures several years before the company’s "official" founding and selling them to friends and local anglers. In 1910, George Schultess, Carl Heinzerling and Henry S. Dills joined forces to establish this now famous firm, then housed in a very small factory building in Garrett, Indiana. Taking most of the year to establish their business, they made their first deliveries to local shops in 1911. Their business continued to grow at a rapid rate requiring larger quarters in 1929, proving that the bait business flourishes even in times of economic downturn as people have an increased desire to spend more time fishing.

One of the most significant contributions to the lure industry was their unique use of the netting from ladies hats in their decorating schemes. Paint applied through this netting creates the now widely used scale patterns. Their first use of this technique can be found on lures dating back to 1917. Creek Chub Bait Company was also one of the first in the industry to incorporate the use of glass eyes on their lures thus adding a dramatically realistic appearance. The Creek Chub Bait Company was one of the most innovative bait companies in its early years as demonstrated by the many patents it held. Some of the earliest on record were those for a weedless bait that featured a spring-loaded hooking device. It has been reported that scores of patents were granted to the company between 1920 and the early 1930’s.

All of the innovations made by the company have resulted in more effective lures as attested to by the number of anglers around the world that have made world-record catches using a wide range of Creek Chub baits. The most notable is one that remains unbroken today. That is the one set by George Perry in 1932 with his catch of a giant 22 pound 4 ounce Largemouth Bass on a Creek Chub Wiggle Fish that he cast into a quiet, cypress filled cove on Lake Montgomery, Georgia. Over the years Creek Chub baits have been credited with establishing record catches of muskie, pike, snook and striper.

As long as there are Creek Chub Baits, world record catches will continue to be
made and broken!