Many collectors assume a “common” Creek Chub color is easily available on ALL baits. A good example is the #00 Pikie color. This color was produced on fifty seven different classic baitcasting & spincasting lures before 1960. Furthermore this color was produced in a greater QUANTITY than any other color although certain colors such as Silver Flash was issued on a greater VARIETY of lures.

As an example the #2400 series Wigglefish began production c.1925.  However it was produced in Pikie color with glass eyes from only 1950-1958. Another example is #13 color Black. Although it was in production since the 1920’s, several baits were produced in this color for no more than a few years. The #913 Baby Pikie  & the #1513 Injured Minnow were not offered until 1957.  Rarer yet are the #2619 & #2719 Jointed & Baby Jointed Pikies in Frog pattern. Glass eyed examples were made only in 1959-1960. Tack eye baits took over soon thereafter.

Another factor affecting scarcity is the NEW colors added to company’s offerings late in the Classic period. Several motifs such as Pearl, Black Scale, Yellow Flash & others weren’t catalog colors until the 1950’s. They are typically tougher colors because of their limited issue period.

There are certain LURES that were produce for only a few years. Obviously, baits made for a short time would have limited years for their colors. They won’t be part of this study. An arbitrary position concerns the  #31 Rainbow Fire & #32 Fire Plug colors which were made for virtually the same years (1950-1954) on twenty three different baits. Although some lures in these colors are very scarce, it’s not necessary to list these colors forty six times if one simply remembers that virtually ALL were made from 1950-1954 (except special orders).