No Name Lure

[papaperch]

Got to talking about old lures on another thread here at Jigcraft and this old timer was mentioned. Anyone have an idea about how to make the leaded hook for this one ?

This is an articulated pattern tied on I believe # 10 hooks. the rear hook is all covered by the fluff of white marabou. I can't begin to estimate the amount of fish I caught on this simple lure. Make no mistake this was such a highly successful lure it spawned several knockoffs. None of which worked anywhere near as the original.

I would like to tie it but can't get a good idea about the lead hook. It came it a package tied with a mono line.

 

[toadfrog]

Is it poured or is the hook wrapped . Got to be one or the other. Can't tell .

 

[LedHed]

I've seen them where it looked like it was constructed similar to an ice jig. Had a sliver of metal soldered on the shank of the hook. Probably one of the knock offs.....

 

[StumpHunter]

I would also try using lead & wrapping the hook. You can get the lead flat or round.

 

[papaperch]

Relying on memory here because last one I seen was back in the 80's. I am guessing it was formed ( poured ) around hook. It was invented in WWII. By a John Fujita who was interred in one of the re-location camps back then. Out of boredom he worked and perfected this simple but highly effective lure. I am assuming he had only the most rudimentary tools to work with but can't say for sure.

I had all but forgotten about them until discussion on old times here sparked a memory. He used it to catch mainly trout. I used it too catch mainly crappie. Also worked great in ponds. I think when plastics first came out kinda killed this lure off because plastics were cheaper. In my opinion the No Name was still more effective.

The articulated part no problem , the white marabou no problem , the formed lead front hook leaves me scratching my head. Makes me feel really stupid. Here this guy being held captive is able with very limited resources to make something this good. Here I am with everything at my fingertips and can not duplicate what he did. I guess there is no substitute for ingenuity.

 

[jiggerjohn]

Papaperch, Yes, this little lure had quite a history of success. I even read ads that John Fujita offered FREE chartered trips to customers who visited California, to prove how well his lure and method worked! Apparently these trips produced huge catches. Recently I've acquired the instructions that Mr Fujita included with his lure, but,as you say, the lure itself is hard to find. I suspect ,tho, if you really pushed the matter that Ralph Frese of www.chicagolandcanoebase.com could turn up one of the small casting weights from the original No Name lure, as he used to sell them, and sent me those directions about a month ago!

 

[SaltyBuckster]

Why not just hold the hook point with needle nose and dip it into your pot until you get it as thick as you want.The eye would clean up easy with a cut around with some side cutters and just pull the lead up over the hook eye.Sounds easy anyways,lol.

 

[papaperch]

Gentlemen- Ledhed has given me an idea on how to approach this emulation task. For problem part the lead hook. Am soldering hook to slim pin min called a rocker. I made up 11 prototypes. 9 using the rocker and 2 using another style pin min body. Painted three white , three silver gray and three black. The two odd one going to leave natural silver. Going to use braided ice line white color for articulate tie. Ties I will use some marabou , some rabbit and some fox fur to see what looks best in water. Will post pix of prototypes when done tying. Later gotta go tie these.

 

[LedHed]

Hey!!!! does that mean I get a finder's fee or something???? - jk

Gotta see this...

 

[Fatman]

I have a bunch of articles on the no name, I'll take them to work Tuesday and try scanning them. If they won't work I'll have to try something else. If I can't do it I'll let you know.

Here's an article from the web on it http://www.chicagolandcanoebase.com/NoNameLure.html

 

[LedHed]

Little skunk (knock off) for $2.39!

 

[papaperch]

Here's my first few attempts at re-creation. Let me say I have found a re-newed respect for Mr John Fujita.
I am going to tie up about a dozen more . Going to try out this before I get too carried away.

Like I stated it was plagued by lots of knock offs but none of them duplicated the success of this little lure. I don't know if these will work or not. I also substituted rabbit instead of marabou after one tie. Liked the looks of the rabbit in water better. But the fish might not. Who knows until the fish judge it.

 

[CrappieHappy]

nice work...

 

[StumpHunter]

I think those will work great. I like the trailing hook, nice

 

[jiggerjohn]

Papaperch, Think ya did a good job with those. Let us know how they act in water,and later on how the fish react to them! earlier I had put a few together on ice spoons,that look good in the kitchen sink, but the test on crappies,trout, perch, and bass is yet to come! By the way,in reading about this tiny lure in the past ,one of the problems was the bigger largemouth that kept stealing them on the required light line!!

 

[Fatman]

Nice lures!!!!! Really want to hear how they work!!!!

 

[Fatman]

Ok, scanned the stuff on the No Name in. It's in PDF format and some of it you'll have to increase read size but some good stuff.

Looking at the leaded part again, looks like you could mod a spinning lure body mold to accept a hook and mold the lead right to it, but more interesting is in the pic of the lure in it's package it looks like the hook isn't a straight shank it has a bend in it.

 

[jiggerjohn]

Fatman, Thanks so much for posting that exciting story -terrific stuff! Now, if we can only experiment and determine the ideal jighead& rigging!! A most worthy project for the coming year!!

 

[papaperch]

Thanks from me 2 Fatman. Did a little tank testing today. Decided to go with a more flexible string for articulated tie. Although they still looked good I liked the movement from the little more pliant line ones. Good thing I was not around when they invented the wheel. I would have burnt myself out trying to improve it.

I think I am going to tie about 6 exact imitations to keep to the proven producer. Then about another dozen or so letting my imagination take over. Two that I tied using hackle and made a head out of midge chenille on the trailing hook looked deadly if I do say so myself. Another with duck flank looked like it might be a winner too.

Will post pix of some of my deviations from the No-Name standard. Really excited about trying to get these to work as good as the original. The Japanese culture often strives to do accomplish a simple task in a perfect manner. I think John Fujita accomplished this in perfecting his lure. I don't think I can improve on it but I like the challenge it brings to the table.

 

[Fatman]

Glad I could provide the info. Can't wait to see some of what you guys come up with. Might try some weird stuff myself