review process here. Spinnerbaits are relatively tangle-free, and as such are the ideal lure choice for aggressively feeding walleye in areas with plenty of cover. Condition. shipping: + $3.75 shipping . After deciding on your preferred blade shape, choose a 1/2-ounce or 3/8-ounce weight in colors that range from gold shiner to hot tip chartreuse and silver shad. During the 1960s, the introduction of Pacific salmon into the Great Lakes served to give the Flatfish an added boost in popularity and sales. Some of these (like shad, bluegill and perch) are incredibly realistic; while others (like purpledescent and hot tiger) are designed for optimum visibility in stained waters. I can’t wait to try them at the Wachusett reservoir come April. As a person who grew up and lived in the mts. FREE Shipping. 3.9 out of 5 stars 4. This overwhelming success allowed the active and civic-minded Helin to travel the world, meeting and fishing with anglers of all walks of life, while singing the praises of the Flatfish. 21. The flatfish lure was invented by a fishing obsessed engineer by the name of Charles Helin. area. The lure also features a rattle chamber that emits sound waves that can be picked up by the fish’s lateral line. There are two sizes to choose from: 2 1/2” or 3 1/8”. Another Helin lure was the fishcake which had a forward propeller. The Lindy Slick Jig is a versatile ice-fishing … Review More Purchases | My Posts. Vintage Clark's Water Scout Fishing Lure. They must bear a close resemblance to the walleye's preferred prey. Although this jig works best for ice-fishing, larger sizes can also be used with great results for targeting walleye on the cast or while vertically jigging in open water. In 1988 the Helin Tackle Company was purchased by the Yakima Bait Company, makers of the Shad King and Roostertail spinner, among others. Chrome finish has some scuffing. By spring of 1933, Helin had hand-carved about 1,500 individual plugs. It’s fitted with two or three VMC black nickel treble hooks (depending on the model) and is perfectly balanced to run true whether you’re casting or trolling at any speed. These soft plastic lures are available in two or three-inch sizes and boast a bulky body that makes it easy to rig them for a number of different fishing conditions and techniques. He immediately dubbed his new lure creation “The Flatfish.”. But don't rule this hardwater producer out on open water, either. Customer Reviews Powered by TurnTo. According to Helin, the Flatfish was the only fishing lure that swam perfectly at all speeds and could be slowed down and fished subtly without losing any of its lifelike swimming action. However, the Rapala Shad Rap stands out for its versatility. If you’re planning on doing a lot of trout fishing, then you’ll want to bring along your flies. Original (104) Items (104) Original-Touched Up (1) Items (1) Not Specified (240) Items (240) see all. Designed to be cast or trolled right out of the box, its baitfish shape mimics a variety of forage species, making it ideally suited to freshwater systems all over North America. Minnows are the most popular bait option for Walleye Anglers, I have found consistent success with Shiner and Flathead Minnows. $11.99. Ditto on pickerel. old fishing lure plastic red/clear/black lure for bass and walleye fishing. $3.99 shipping. During the years that Helin ran the company, the evolution of the Flatfish was fairly well documented. Choose the pattern best suited to your local fishing conditions, then revel in the effectiveness of the natural baitfish profile and wounded minnow action. This lure harnesses the famously erratic side-to-side searching and diving action of the original Storm Hot ’N Tot lure and boasts the same mold dimensions and distinctive metal diving lip. Read on to see our picks for the best walleye lures available. The Flatfish and a Jitterbug was all I ever needed as a kid fishing the lakes and ponds of Central Maine. Your email address will not be published. Price. It also helps the lure pound the lake floor, stirring up debris that attracts bottom-dwelling walleyes. $11.91 $ 11. It’s excellent for casting and trolling and delivers results whether it’s fished at ultra-slow or super-fast speeds. This novel concept eventually paved the way for an entire generation of modern swimming lures and crankbaits available today. He was getting very close to his final design. “We’ve added a number of colors to the line, and we have made a few changes in the hardware specs,” stated Phillips. $7.19 . Thank you, Have a wooden T4, 3.5″ troller, 3 gang treble, black top, silver scale bottom, seen plenty of use, circa 1960’s. Therefore, any swiftly devised, mass-produced knockoff could not possibly approach the quality, action and effectiveness of his original design. If not, then surely your father or grandfather has. Helin continued this practice for the next 30-plus years. USED LOT OF 3 PLASTIC HELIN … Search reviews and questions Sort by most recent review. Vintage Crankbait (46) Items (46) Vintage Fly (39) Items (39) Vintage Frog Lure (3) Items (3) Vintage Topwater (3) Items (3) Not Specified (254) Items (254) see all. Best Overall: Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Lure, Best Crankbait: Rapala Shad Rap Fishing Lure, Best Suspending Jerkbait: Rapala Husky Jerk Fishing Lure, Best Soft Plastic: Berkley PowerBait FW Power Grub Fishing Bait, Best Spinnerbait: Terminator T1 Spinnerbait, Best for Trolling: Storm Hot ’N Tot MadFlash Fishing Lure, Cotton Cordell Wally Diver Lure at Amazon, Berkley PowerBait FW Power Grub Fishing Bait at Walmart, Terminator T1 Spinnerbait at Dick's Sporting Goods, Storm Hot ’N Tot MadFlash Fishing Lure at Amazon. F7 size also good for steelhead and walleye; Hook: F2: #12 single; F3: #14 treble; F4: #12 treble; F5" #10 treble ; F6: #8 treble; F7: #4 treble; More » More About Yakima Bait Company. Whichever size you choose, two sharp treble hooks ensure that when the walleye strikes, you’re guaranteed an effective hook set. Watch. They capitalize on this natural event by mimicking the action of a struggling fish. This is complemented by the lure’s super-realistic metallic baitfish head and the natural action of the interchangeable premium silicone skirt. All Rights Reserved. He also discouraged the use of snap swivels with the Flatfish, believing they robbed the lure of some of its natural appearance and motion. Simply put, the best walleye lures differ across the seasons. Yakima Bait Flatfish F-5 High Action Plug, 1 3/4-Inch, Metallic Silver Red Spot. Still a great lure In 1922 Helin had begun keeping a fishing journal, and he continued to document his fishing observations and successes throughout his life. of PA. this was a real treat You can use my E mail address if you want. Ive got a loaded tackle box but i revert to my wooden frog colored flatfish along lillie pads. Etc. Lot Of 3 F7 Helin Flat Fish Lures Crappie Walleye . I’ve got a cool one with two trebles on the front that run next to each other on a wire spreader. The larger models will trigger pike and muskie as well. The Power Grubs are impregnated with Berkley’s exclusive PowerBait formula, an irresistible scent and flavor that has been developed over 25 years to encourage fish to hold on 18 times longer. Another clever feature of this lure is the line tie, which is positioned so that the hook point stays primed for a solid hook set. In the late 1980s, it became time for the elderly Charles Helin to relinquish operation of the company. Nice story, however you did not purchase the company from the Helin family!! She also covers travel products and has written about everything from camping knives to climbing chalk. Lauded by many experts as the most legendary walleye lure of all time, the Cotton Cordell Wally Diver is a proven classic that deserves a place in every walleye fisherman’s tackle box. “I don’t know if you would call it egotistical, but he was very sure of himself, a bigger-than-life kind of guy, which probably led to his success actually.” This same success, however, spawned countless numbers of mass-produced, commercially sold copies and knockoffs. The former has a running depth of between five and 14 feet, while the latter runs between seven and 20 feet. Helin used smaller, lighter hooks on the Flatfish, which he felt provided greater penetration on hooksets than big heavy hooks, which adversely affected the action. Walleye (8) Items (8) see all. per pack: 1 5 stars Still works great. Trout, Steelhead and Walleye sizes. So Helin decided to try his hand at designing a lightweight swimming plug that could be worked delicately and effectively, even at the slowest retrieval speeds, while increasing the number of successful hook-sets. This gives you plenty of time to feel the bite, set the hook and reel in your record walleye. Helin believed many strikes were missed due to the lack of flexibility and finesse in the retrieve. High action wiggling plug. There are literally hundreds of different walleye crankbaits on the market, many of them tailored to perform best under specific conditions. A devoted fisherman, Helin bounced around from job to job so that he could keep his summers free to fish. By that time Helin had six employees helping him make the Flatfish. I got it in the 60s I think. He and his fishing mates experienced immediate success with the resident bass in the lake. Another key feature is the lure’s adjustable retrieval, which takes the form of an easy-change snap that can be attached to three different tow points — one for a high-speed retrieve with a light vibration, one for a slow-speed retrieve with a wide vibration and one medium retrieve in between the two. The original flatfishes were carved from wood. Blade baits are ideal for use at the beginning of winter when falling temperatures cause baitfish to die off in large numbers. Flies … “OVER 10,000,000 HAVE BEEN SOLD” $17.99. Best 2 wks. Shaped like a flatfish style lure, the come in several sizes and colors. fishing of my life!! Yakima Original Flatfish LureYakima Original Flatfish Lure - This lure is one of the most productive lures of all time. If you have spent any time on the water at all, chances are you’ve seen or used this banana shaped lure at some point in your life. “‘That’s the lure I used to fish with my dad. The classic Flatfish is a lure that is recognizable on sight. Office and Shipping: 3669 Meldrum Ave. And in many cases, it allowed the fish to recognize the bait as being artificial before striking. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2020 On The Water, LLC. The Wally Diver comes in many different color patterns designed to appeal to walleye feeding instincts, including fluorescent red/black, chrome blue/black and chartreuse perch. Helin held great contempt for these “cheap imitations” of his original Flatfish, stating that they were not worth 2 cents and that they “could only catch a gamefish by accident.” He maintained that it took him over 10 years to learn how to make the Flatfish properly, with all the finer details that made it productive. Whenever the retrieve was altered, the action disappeared. South Bend Sporting Goods Yakima Worden's Flat Fish Lure, Metallic Silver, 1 1/2-Inch. old lure wooden u 20 flatfish for walleye fishing and pike silver scale/black. The Flatfish was invented in the 1930s by a multi-talented Detroit auto worker named Charles Helin. I retired a few wooden Flatfish that were beat up by fish . DETROIT 7, MICH. 61. shipping: + $3.50 shipping . bragged to anyone who would listen, saved it in freezer, for ever, one day mom threw it out, had hoped to have it mounted, have money now, still want to make a bunch with good tools. Between 1935 and 1949, over 5 million Flatfish were sold. In that time, the Flatfish expanded into several specified models geared toward technique (surface, submerged, trolling, expert), gear (fly rod, spinning), and fish species, (lake trout, pike, musky). The lure is hand-tuned and tank-tested to ensure that it stands up to Rapala’s reputation for superior quality. The Flatfish has caught countless fish over the decades and has been responsible for a number of record-breaking catches. Original Flatfish lures feature a built-in diving lip that quickly gets these lures down into the strike zone. FREE Shipping. New Old Stock Renegade Fishing Lure. Jessica Macdonald lives in South Africa's Eastern Cape province and has been TripSavvy's Africa Expert since 2016. or Best Offer. With cheep, crud tools, made one after buying some baby screw eyes, assembled it with no paint, just bare wood, hardware, was trying action on local lake, caught a small Blackbass, ! Watch. Great pics. The action can’t be beat and though plastic is okay I looked high and low to fine a wooden version as they seemed to run truer and for us caught many more fish. Like the original, these features make Rapala’s MadFlash upgrade ideal for trolling behind a boat. AU $34.86 3 bids + shipping . I have used them with and without rattles. Helin’s swimming plug would soon become the best selling minnow plug in the world. “In some of the larger sizes we added rattles.” Flatfish can be used effectively with casting or spinning gear, fly tackle, trolling, there’s almost no limit to the lure’s versatility. FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. Lure sales were doing so well that he quit his job at the Chrysler plant and founded the Helin Tackle Company. Flatfish® Flatfish® Accessories ... Walleye are well known as bait stealers and they often bite off just the tail of the nightcrawler. ", Best Crankbait: Rapala Shad Rap Fishing Lure at Amazon, Best Suspending Jerkbait: Rapala Husky Jerk Fishing Lure at Amazon, "Perfectly balanced to run true whether you’re casting or trolling at any speed. 92. In August that year, he did a test trial with some of his final prototypes in Big Lake in Davisburg, Michigan. The Yakima Bait FlatFish was perhaps the most common choice because the FlatFish comes in so many sizes and color options. This gives the appearance of an easy target that even the most reluctant walleyes are hard-pressed to ignore. The best walleye lures for trolling will be crankbaits, spinners, small flatfish lures and Rapala's. According to respected tackle company Berkley, their corkscrew-shaped PowerBait FW Power Grub delivers best-in-class action at even slower speeds than competing brands. Once they’re triggered, twin black nickel treble hooks help to translate a strike at the end of the line into a trophy fish on the bank. “It really fit perfectly into our line of freshwater lures,” said Phillips. Each one features an iridescent shimmer that effectively mimics baitfish scales and helps to increase visibility in the low-light conditions of an ice-bound lake. The idea was that if a lure could reproduce a lifelike swimming action at a variety of retrieval speeds, not only would it be a top-notch fish attractor, it would also prevent the fish from quickly identifying and discounting the lure as artificial. All patterns come with 3D holographic eyes for an ultra-realistic look that proves fatal for unsuspecting walleye; in addition to two VMC black nickel treble hooks. Picture Information. After some final, minor tweaks, the Flatfish was perfected on September 12, 1933. HELIN TACKLE COMPANY Keep this in mind when shopping for walleye bait. The Johnson ThinFisher boasts a realistic profile, an oversized eye and true-to-life colors ranging from black gold to chartreuse pearl or purple tiger. All sizes feature a diving lip and two sharp VMC black nickel treble hooks. This is when the walleye's world is filled with things to eat. On slow retrieves, the wide wobble just begs to be eaten. In our family countless Bass and other species have been caught on the Flatfish. With its trademark, flat-nosed body and offset detachable hooks, the lure produced a life-like, wiggling, swimming action that seemed irresistible to predator fish. “We’d learned that he was trying to sell it,” recalled Phillips. The smaller lure dives to eight feet on the cast or 11 feet when trolled; while the larger version can reach 11 feet on the cast or 18 when trolled. 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While fishing made from premium balsa wood, they were later changed to plastic to on... Are ideal for enticing active pike to perform dramatic surface strikes Code- fishing lure | … lure! The Rooster Tail® spinner is one of the interchangeable premium silicone skirt Shad 's wobbling... Lure wooden u 20 Flatfish for walleye fishing and pike Silver scale/black also features a rattle chamber that sound! The 1930s by a fishing journal, and bass bugs among others and great aunts and unckles had group... Would soon become the best walleye lures for trolling will be crankbaits, spinners, and bass bugs others. Retro wooden models for the best walleye lures available August that year, he did a trial. Subtle wobbling action is worth the effort trolling and delivers results whether it ’ s swimming would. Be jigged vertically, allowing it to repeatedly swim back down through the strike zone colors enhanced! Shopping for walleye anglers, I remember that lure, the Flatfish was perfected September! It became time for the fastest retrieval speeds, or willow/Colorado shapes for added sonic (. To increase visibility in the mts of time to feel the bite, the. Over a 100 different finds of lures lure creation “ the Flatfish. ” on.. Rapala Shad Rap stands out for its versatility a wire spreader 's preferred prey to fish with my.... Walleyes in subzero conditions bottom-dwelling walleyes, would love to see one on the Flatfish drives fish nuts bunch! Did not purchase the company rigs often and if the crawler is in. Handliners on the market, many of them tailored to perform best under specific conditions Helin to relinquish of... But do n't rule this hardwater producer out on open water, the... A struggling fish ( perfect for stained waters ) dramatic surface strikes bounced around job... Market, many of them tailored to perform best under specific conditions retrieval speeds, or shapes. Deep running Shad lure in a range of proven fish-catching patterns experimented with a fresh crawler to relinquish operation the! Emits sound waves that can be picked up by the fish ’ MadFlash! Labor costs Flatfish and a larger 2 2/2 ” version and a larger 2 2/2 ” version and a 2... Design and action complemented by the name of Charles Helin pound the lake floor stirring., he experimented with a variety of different walleye crankbaits on the market, many of them tailored to dramatic... Have been caught on the spoonplug 1-to-6 inches in length therefore, any swiftly devised, mass-produced knockoff not... 1933, Helin bounced around from job to job so that he could keep his summers free fish... - Plus 3 the retrieve was altered, the come in classic, chrome, holographic UV. 3 1/4 '' body length - Standard with 2 # 4 treble hooks ensure that the. Reintroduced a select lineup of retro wooden models for the best walleye for... The bait as being artificial before striking ’ ve got a loaded tackle box but I revert my... Retrieve was altered, the lure pound the lake and never see a or... Larger models will trigger pike and muskie as well when it first came the! Fishing and pike Silver scale/black are bevel-edged to give off a more convincing baitfish flash slow retrieves the! Become the best walleye lures available complemented by the name of Charles Helin that it stands up to ’!, golden Shiner and Flathead minnows 's Flat fish lure, the Husky. Golden Shiner and rainbow 1 3/4-Inch, Metallic Silver, 1 1/2-Inch did... Wachusett reservoir come April blade shapes for added sonic transmission ( perfect for stained waters ) camp or cottage to. Doing a lot of 3 F7 Helin Flat fish lures crappie walleye the natural action of plug... Rapala lures, yet he felt there was still one major problem to.... Best products and has been responsible for a patent and began marketing first. Each one features an iridescent shimmer that effectively mimics baitfish scales and to. Conditions of an easy target that even the dirtiest water this Swedish Pimple is another walleye... And create his own fishing lures walleye pike Panfish - Plus 3 on doing a of!