Monday Morning Fishing Trivia #21

["G"]

Two questions...What man started a bait company in 1904 and rapidly expanded a line of lures and tackle throughout the teens ? His earliest bait is one of the most famous of all time. What was the name of this lure ?
I will give a hint later on today and will give the answer tonight.

[SuperDave336]

L.J. Tooley - Bunty lure

[DockShootinJack]

W.J " Smilin Bill" Jamieson . The Coaxer

[SuperDave336]

W.J " Smilin Bill" Jamieson . The Coaxer

Yeah I think you got it!

[DockShootinJack]

Found a second source that says the patent date on my pick is wrong. G may be throwing curve balls this morning.

[SuperDave336]

"W.J. "Smilin Bill" Jamison was an innovative early tackle inventor and manufacturer whose earliest bait, the Coaxer, is among the most famous lures of all time. Jamison created his little company in 1904 and rapidly expanded his line of effective bass lures throughout the teens. "

I still think you got it right.

[Slabprowler]

W.J. "Smilin Bill" Jamison was an innovative early tackle inventor and manufacturer whose earliest bait, the Coaxer, is among the most famous lures of all time. Jamison created his little company in 1904 and rapidly expanded his line of effective bass lures throughout the teens. In 1910, Jamison challenged a tackle competitor, Ans Decker of New Jersey, to a fishing showdown to see whose bait was better. Jamison's Coaxer beat Decker's topwater bait soundly in what was one of the most famous fishing duels of the century. Unlike many companies who made a single style box for their entire line of lures, Bill Jamison had a special box for almost every bait he made, meaning a complete set of boxed lures would number 50 or more

[Slab]

What about the idea we ask that google not be used till noon on these trivia threads. I think that's a fair way to hear from those that may have a guess using their own memory. Just a thought. I love the Internet and info available, but it kinda takes a little something away from life. Just think, if we had a power outage, or we lost our phone, we'd know nothing anymore! Just an idea, not attacking anyone. I thank everyone for their participation here.

["G"]

Sometime in the late 30's this company started making baits out of a new plastic called Tenite

[Slab]

I say it was Smilin' William Tenite. I guarantee.