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Virtual Lure Show |
CREEKSPEAKS’S VIRTUAL CCBCo LURE SHOW, Part V
#800 Deluxe Wagtail and #900 Baby Pikie Series
This latest virtual lure display features two series that are highly collected.
Although the #800 Deluxe Wagtail Series has far fewer catalog colors than the #900 Baby Pikie Series,
it is very popular with Creek Chub collectors.
This design was first offered in 1921.
The #900 Baby Pikie series was also introduced in CCBCo’s full size catalog in 1921. This smaller version of the #700 Pikie series was quite popular with anglers who wanted the Pikie profile but in a downsized example.
There were twelve different catalog colors produced during the 1921-1960 glass eye era.
My collection ends in 1960 so any newer colors offered after this year
won’t be part of this online show nor will any plastic baits be shown.
Specials aren’t part of this virtual show. As an aside, you will find very few Specials from the #800 series.
*Note: When I refer to a color being common within one of these series, it is for ANY variation within that particular color.
Sometimes, a common lure can be very difficult to locate if a specialist is searching for a particular variation, especially in superior condition.
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#800 DELUXE WAGTAIL SERIES 1921-1953
Offered in only eight catalog colors, that is if you count the #05 Red Side and the later #05 Dace as two colors. The #00 motif is Chub, one of only five bait casting lures offered in this pattern as a catalog color. You should expect the usual evolution of a slightly changing size and other morphs within this bait.
The earliest specimens will display a plain rather than fluted metal tails and hand painted gill marks. One example was even located in an Intro Box (fig. 1) with a #800 Series number. However, the box illustrated a Wiggler bait.
It’s not believed any of these early boxes were produced with an image of a Deluxe Wagtail on top since these lures were introduced in 1921 – at the end of the Intro Box era.
The body of this bait is identical to the Baby Wiggler except it was drilled differently for its hardware. #05 Dace is considered to be the rarest catalog color in this series. |
#800 Deluxe Wagtail, Chub: 1921-1953.
As mentioned, Chub pattern is the “00” color for this bait. Collectors seem to gravitate to this series. Perhaps it is the metal tail or the overall design.
#801 Deluxe Wagtail, Perch: 1921-1953.
Expect to eventually find this color in all the incarnations of this series: plain & fluted tail, a marked and unmarked back, double and single line tie, etc.
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Red Side
Dace
#805 Deluxe Wagtail, Red Side/Dace: 1921-1953.
The early Red Side is another charming pattern that is a pleasure to the eye. It was cataloged from 1921-1949 so you will see an evolution of this color. Dace pattern was first listed in CCBCo’s full size catalog in 1950. It is similar to the later Red Side except Dace has an area of blue between the sides and lure’s back. It’s not clear if Dace replaced Red Side or if they were produced in tandem once Dace was introduced or were commingled even earlier.
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#802 Deluxe Wagtail, Red & White: 1921-1953.
Remember, most colors in this series were introduced before 1925. Therefore, the series/color codes on the end of the lure box may be different than shown here. For instance, this #802 lure was #804 from 1921 until the change in 1925.
#804 Deluxe Wagtail, Golden Shiner: 1921-1953.
One of the all time favorite patterns among Creek Chub enthusiasts. Color collectors often specialize in gorgeous colors such as this rather than take on the entire gamut of CCBCo. |
#806 Deluxe Wagtail, Goldfish: 1921-1953.
Unfortunately, this lovely color was produced as a catalog bait on very few CCBCo series. A later version was introduced in the 1960’s but the scale color is a different tone. Similar to many standard colors, Goldfish can be located on other series as a special order.
These Specials are highly coveted by Creek Chub collectors.
#818 Deluxe Wagtail, Silver Flash: C.1926-1953.
Yet another catalog color that was offered on scores of Creek Chub designs. Some collectors have specialized in this pattern due to the intriguing combination of: white, green, glitter, a back chain pattern and red highlights. This color is considered a fairly common color in this series. |
#900 Baby Pikie 1921-1979*
*Although Creek Chub was sold in late 1978, some production continued in Garrett, Indiana into early 1979.
This series never enjoyed the diversity of colors offered on its big brother, the #700 series Pikie.
However, it was a great seller based on the quantity of examples still available to collectors today.
Oddly, the toughest colors to find, if you aren’t locked into an exact variation within a color, are the late offerings.
#13 Black is the rarest but #30 Orange with Black Spots and #33 Black Scale are elusive devils as well.
Starting in 1950, an elongated deep diver lip was offered on this series (and some others) as an option.
One example is shown below.
The series eventually waned in popularity, perhaps due to the introduction of other similar baits by CCBCo, starting in the 1950’s. |
#900 Baby Pikie, Pikie (Scale): 1921-1979.
This was a best seller in this series and by far the most common color. You’ll have no problem locating this lure in pristine condition, even with a double line tie. This lure is shown with the optional deep diver lip. |
#913 Baby Pikie, Black: 1957-1960 and 1967-1979.
Here you have the choice of a glass eye example (1957-1960 production) or a later plastic lure. This color is an easy target for the repaint guys, so be careful. Not as rare as the #713 Pikie in this color but a difficult addition nevertheless. |
#901 Baby Pikie, Perch: 1921-1979.
This is another common color in this series. Until 1925, when Creek Chub standardized the numbering system, the correct catalog number for this lure was #904. It must be remembered that very early examples of common colors may be quite difficult to find in outstanding condition. |
#918 Baby Pikie, Silver Flash: 1926-1979.
Fortunately, this is one of the common examples within this series. A pattern unlike any other this company ever produced. |
#902 Baby Pikie, Red & White: 1921-1979.
Unless you are looking for a finite variation within this color combo (i.e. blended red head), you’ll have little trouble adding this example to your hoard. |
#930 Baby Pikie, Orange with Black Spots: 1952-1961.
This is one of the late colors that can be daunting to locate. It seems one collector had a small group of these but it was dispersed long ago. Since this was also produced in 1961, which was the first year for tack eye baits, I assume this is a scarce variation in this color. |
#903 Baby Pikie, Silver Shiner: 1929-1979.
Finding an exceptional Baby Pikie in this color will take more patience and cash than the previous colors. It was offered as a catalog color on only sixteen of the original bait casting series. This pattern was also seen later in a different paint scheme on certain post-1960 baits. |
#931 Baby Pikie, Rainbow Fire: 1950-1954.
Perhaps this color was short lived because Creek Chub charged extra for this and the #32 Fire Plug pattern. The matte paints for these two styles were purchased from the Gantron Company. Some later special orders were painted with a semi-gloss paint. |
#904 Baby Pikie, Golden Shiner: 1921-1964.
You would expect a color combo this popular would have been manufactured until the company’s closing (1979). For whatever reason, it wasn’t to be – resulting in a limited post-1960 production with tack eyes or in plastic. |
#932 Baby Pikie, Fire Plug: 1950-1954.
The second Gantron pattern first offered in 1950. Although it appears this and #31 Rainbow Fire were a failure due to their short production period, there seems to be no shortage of them on today’s market. It’s possible Creek Chub overproduced them in anticipation of a huge demand that never materialized and later dumped them on the market. |
#908 Baby Pikie, Rainbow: 1923-1964.
Certain examples are seen with a blue back while others have a silver back (usually earlier lures). Yet another motif heavily collected by color specialists who have decided to gather their favorite patterns rather than amass a hoard of baits in colors that hold little appeal to them. |
#933 Baby Pikie, Black Scale: 1952-1956 & 1960-1979.
As you can see by the sporadic production of this lure/color combo, this will be much more difficult to find than most of the other patterns in this series, especially in a glass eye example. |
