At the recent ICAST sportfishing show, these items were selected from six categories.
- Original Floater Minnow (1936) remains one of the most successful and widely copied hard lures in sportfishing’s history.
Original and current manufacturer: Rapala - Spring loaded Bobber (1947) made suspending a baited hook at a desired depth simpler and easier. Even today this item is virtually in every angler’s tackle box.
Original manufacturer: Nibble Nabber
Current: Various companies - Mitchell 300 (1949) was the first commercially successful spinning reel, and is still one of the most common reels used today.
Original manufacturer: Mitchell
Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing - Creme Plastic Worm (1949) changed the sport forever as the first ― and still famous ― long-lasting artificial worm that both looked and felt real.
Original and current manufacturer: Creme Lure Company - Closed Face Spincast Reel (1949) made fishing easy and affordable to everyone regardless of age, size, gender and expertise.
Original manufacturer: Zero Hour Bomb Company
Current Manufacturer: ZEBCO Brands - Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor (1957), the “Little Green Box” introduced anglers to the use of sonar in locating individual fish.
Original Manufacturer: Lowrance Electronics
Current: Lowrance/Navico - Monofilament Line (1958) improved the durability, affordability and casting ability of fishing line while reducing its visibility to fish
Original manufacturer: DuPont Stren
Current manufacturer: Pure Fishing - Minn Kota Trolling Motor (1958) was the first electric gear-driven trolling motor gave anglers the ability to quietly maneuver and position their boats.
Original manufacturer: Minn Kota
Current manufacturer: Johnson Outdoors - Fenwick High Modulus Graphite Rod (1972), with its super-sensitive carbon (graphite) fibers, revolutionized the method of making fishing rods and how anglers fished.
Original Manufacturer: Fenwick
Current Manufacturer: Pure Fishing - Shakespeare Ugly Stick (1976), with its special construction, created an affordable, unbreakable and dynamic fishing rod still in use today.
Original and current manufacturer: Shakespeare
My only complaint is two fold, where are the handline reels that made fishing on the Detroit River famous, and how could they leave off the old faithful Red and White Daredevle?