The Bite-Em Bate Company or Bite-Em Bait Company made wooden fishing lures beginning around 1917. “Bate” and “Bait” were both used in the name and both versions can be found on Bite-Em boxes. This small lure company started in Warsaw, Indiana then later moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The Bite-Em Bate Company made the following old fishing lures: Bite-Em Revolving Bait, Lipped Wiggler, Water Mole, Wiggler, Floater Minnow, Bass Enticer and the Bite-em Bug. Most Bite ‘Ems found in the field have chipped paint so it’s difficult to find “photo quality” examples. This rare Bite Em Wiggler Brochure illustrates the colors available for that lure.
Here are 2 versions of the Bite-Em Bug. The Bite ‘Em Bug II looks similar to version 1 but has a more pointed nose.
The Musky Wiggler and Bite-Em Pork are rare finds.
The first Bite-Em Bait patent was granted in 1922 to Claude Rodgers and Arthur Wenger of the Bite-Em Bate Company. Some people believe the company became the Wenger Manufacturing company sometime in the 1920s.
There were several different versions of the box used for the Revolving Bait. The most common version is yellow, while this brown box is quite rare.
Here is a seldom seen Bite-Em Pork Bait Box.
Old Indiana Lures 