F.G. Worden started the Worden Bucktail Manufacturing Company in 1895. Mr. Worden invented and sold several wooden lures including the Worden Bucktail, Wooden Minnow and Combination Bait.
Three of his original employees acquired the business from him and formed the South Bend Bait Company in 1909. The South Bend Bait Company produced fishing line, reels, rods and lures including many wood plugs, spoons and fly baits. Many of those items are featured in this 1951 South Bend Fishing Tackle, Rod and Lures Catalog. Some other items are featured in this older 1939 South Bend Bait Company Lure Brochure.
Some of the lures made by the South Bait Company include the Bass Oreno, Pike Oreno, 3-Hook and 5-Hook Underwater Minnow, Bebop, Explorer, Woodpecker, Panetella, Surf Oreno, Wiz-Oreno, Ketch-Oreno, Fish Oreno, Vacuum Bait, Whirl Oreno, Plunk Oreno, Lunge Oreno, Truck Oreno, Two-Obite, Two Oreno, GoPlunk, Fin Dingo, Tease-Oreno, and many more.
The South Bend Bait Company made a variety of fly lures including the Roach Oreno, Dragon Oreno, Moth Oreno, Oreno Hair Mouse, Hop Oreno, Crick Oreno, Cork-N-Hair Frog, Hair Frog, Oreno Bass Bug, Callmac Bugs and many more.
Some of the more popular South Bend Lures to collect include the following.
The Fish Oreno Lure came with its own Fishing Guarantee. If the lure didn’t catch fish, the fisherman could get a full refund.
Old Indiana Lures 