In this episode we look at the history of that multi-species fish catcher the Worden's Original Rooster Tail in-line spinner. R.B. Worden founded Worden’s Floating Spinner Company, which became the Yakima Bait Company in 1941, selling handmade fishing flies and wooden bass plugs. After WWII when U.S. servicemen returned from France with spinning equipment and “French” in-line spinners like the Mepps Agila, his son Howard Worden tried his hand at an in-spinner of his own.
Crafted with a weighted body, willow leaf blade and a hackle tail, the bait was first dubbed the Retreat Special but the name was later changed to Rooster Tail after Howard Worden watched Seattle hydroplane races on TV. The Rooster Tail was sold only regionally until the 1960s when news of the lure’s effectiveness first spread nationwide after some Florida fishermen brought home and used Rooster Tail samples they picked up at the Fishing Tackle Manufacturer’s Show in Chicago. In addition to the Rooster Tail, Worden developed other Worden’s classics like the Spin-N-Glo, the Lil’ Corky, and the Vibric Rooster Tail.
HOWARD WORDEN OBITUARY
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/feb/22/field-reports-howard-worden-who-created-the/
YAKIMA BAIT COMPANY
www.yakimabait.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/retrobassinproductions
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/retrobassin/
RETRO BASSIN' THEME SONG
https://soundcloud.com/tomlamb3/retrobassin