Omar Khalid
The Bomber Bait Company was founded by two north Texas fishermen, C.S. Turbeville and Ike Walker, in 1946. They invented the 'Bomber', a lure that wouldn't snag, even when dropped deep into the water. Early versions of the Bomber were made of wood and metal, with black being the only available colour. In the late 1940s, the company experimented with plastic, and from 1949-1950, there was a brief changeover from wood to plastic. By 1971, the Bomber Bait Company had transitioned to full plastic production.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of transition from wood to plastic | 1949-'50 |
| Year of full plastic production | Around 1971 |
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What You'll Learn
The Bomber Bait Company was founded in 1946 by two north Texas fishermen
Turbeville and Walker sourced their materials from a variety of places. They obtained Northern White Cedar from old light poles, tail pieces from old cook stoves, grommets from shoe eyes, and paper clips for the pulling connection. They also used tobacco cans for the line tie and diving lip shapes, which they realised could be improved upon from the Creek Chub Crawdad lure.
By 1944, the two fishermen had a small business, with friends and local stores requesting their baits. The Bomber Bait Company was funded by the sale of Turbeville's family business in appliances, butane gas, and sporting goods in 1945. The company continued to experiment with different materials and colours, introducing plastic in the late 1940s and colours other than black after 1946.
The Bomber Bait Company's lures became very popular, with the original "football-shaped" Bombers holding more Largemouth and Smallmouth state bass records than any other bait. The company's advertisements featured professional fisherman Floyd Mabry, showcasing the variety of colours and types of lures available. In 1988, the Bomber Bait Company was purchased by PRADCO.
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The first Bomber lures were made of wood and metal
The Bomber Bait Company was founded by two north Texas fishermen, C.S. Turbeville and Ike Walker, in 1946. They invented the 'Bomber', a fishing lure that wouldn't snag, even when dropped deep into the water. The first Bomber lures were made of wood and metal. The wood used was Northern White Cedar, sourced from old light poles, while the diving lips were cut from old cook stoves. The lures were painted black to avoid reflection in deep waters.
The Bomber Bait Company was born out of Turbeville and Walker's dissatisfaction with existing lures, such as the Creek Chub Crawdad, which they believed could be improved upon. They experimented with line ties and lip shapes and eventually crafted a lure that wouldn't snag. The early prototypes were made using materials like tobacco tins and shoe eyes for hook hangers.
In the late 1940s, the company also began experimenting with plastic. This led to a brief changeover from wood to plastic in 1949-1950, before ultimately switching to full plastic production around 1971. The original wooden Bombers are now highly collectible.
The Bomber Bait Company's lures were known for their unique designs and effectiveness in catching fish. They were available in a variety of colours and sizes, with the original "football"-shaped Bombers becoming particularly popular among bass fishermen. The company's advertisements featured renowned fishermen like Floyd Mabry, showcasing the different colours and types of lures available.
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The company experimented with plastic in the late 1940s
The Bomber Bait Company was founded by two north Texas fishermen, C.S. Turbeville and Ike Walker, in 1946. They started manufacturing lures in a garage, using materials such as white cedar, old cook stoves, shoe eyes, and tobacco tins. The original Bomber lure was made of wood and metal, and it was designed to avoid snagging, even when dropped deep into the water.
The Bomber Bait Company's willingness to experiment with different materials and designs reflects their commitment to creating high-quality, effective fishing lures. They recognised the potential benefits of plastic, including its durability, flexibility, and ability to be moulded into various shapes and sizes. Plastic also offered new possibilities for colour variations, allowing the company to create lures in a wide range of colours to attract both fish and fishermen. This experimentation with plastic contributed to the company's success and helped establish Bomber Baits as a leading brand in the fishing industry.
The transition to plastic was a gradual process, and the company continued to refine their designs and materials over time. The early plastic lures were part of an iterative design process, with the company constantly seeking feedback from fishermen and making improvements based on their experiences. This back-and-forth between the Bomber Bait Company and the fishing community helped to shape the development of plastic lures and ensured that the final products met the high standards and specific needs of their customers.
While the late 1940s marked the beginning of the company's experimentation with plastic, it would be a few decades before plastic production became fully established. By the 1970s, Bomber Baits had transitioned to full plastic production, and their plastic lures became classics in the fishing world, known for their effectiveness and quality.
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By 1949-1950, Bomber lures had switched to plastic
The Bomber Bait Company was founded in 1946 by two north Texas fishermen, C.S. Turbeville and Ike Walker, who set up their business in a garage. They created the 'Bomber', a lure that wouldn't snag, even when dropped deep into the water. The original Bomber was made of wood and metal, with black being the only colour available at the time.
The Bomber Bait Company's products gained immense popularity among fishermen, with their lures known for their effectiveness and quality. The company continued to innovate, introducing new colours and designs to their lures, such as the Fire Tiger colour and the Popper lure, which served as both a topwater bait and a diving lure. The Bomber Baits hold more State Bass Records than any other bait, showcasing their exceptional performance.
The company's success attracted attention, leading to PRADCO's purchase of the Bomber Bait Company in 1988. Despite the transition in ownership, the Bomber brand maintained its reputation for producing high-quality lures that were sought-after by avid fishermen and collectors alike. The Bomber lures, with their distinctive designs and colours, have become nostalgic reminders of a different era in fishing history.
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By 1971, Bomber Baits were in full plastic production
The Bomber Bait Company was founded in 1946 by two north Texas fishermen, C.S. Turbeville and Ike Walker. They worked out of their garage to create the 'Bomber', a lure that wouldn't snag, even when dropped deep into the water. The original Bomber was made of Northern White Cedar, with diving lips cut from old cook stoves and shoe eyes used for hook hangers. The baits were painted black to avoid reflection in deep water.
Turbeville and Walker began experimenting with plastic in the late 1940s, and by the end of the decade, they had introduced a plastic version of the Bomber. However, these early plastic lures were not as successful as the wooden ones, and the company continued to experiment with different materials and designs.
Over the years, the Bomber lure went through several design changes, including a brief switch back to wood in the early 1950s. During this time, the company expanded its colour offerings beyond black, introducing lures in colours like Fire Tiger and Lemon Lime. They also introduced new models, such as the Popper, which could be used as both a topwater bait and a diving lure.
By 1971, the Bomber Bait Company had perfected their plastic production process, and the Bomber lure was now made entirely of plastic. This marked a significant shift in the company's production, as they moved away from the wooden lures that had characterized their early years. The plastic Bombers were just as effective as their wooden counterparts, and they quickly became classics in the fishing world.
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