Avid angler George Perrin of Fort Smith, Ark., did not like to fish with minnow baits made of wood. They tended to run to the right or to the left. A lure made of wood also absorbed water, dulling the action.
What he wanted was consistency. Owner of a factory that made plastic parts for refrigerators and air conditioners, Perrin decided he could make a better minnow bait out of hard plastic.
He designed a 3 1/2-inch prototype, and took it to Lake Ouachita for testing. Several versions later, he hit on the right shape, size and action for his ultimate plastic minnow bait. Perrin named his creation after the mascot of his daughter’s high school — the Rebel — and began to sell the lure.
That was in 1962. Today, the Rebel F10 Minnow is still being sold, alongside many other Rebel products as well as parent PRADCO’s 10 other lure brands, from the venerable Bomber and Cotton Cordell names to the more recent Booyah and Yum.
In 2012, PRADCO Fishing will mark the 50th year of the F10 and decades of making many other fishing products under the Rebel brand.
No small part of the celebration is the Rebel Lures 50th Anniversary Boat Giveaway, a contest that will end with a drawing on Feb. 26 at the 2012 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, La.
Wrapped in Rebel Lures 50th Anniversary graphics, the boat is a Skeeter FX21 powered by a Yamaha SHO 250-hp engine. Top-line features include a Minn Kota Fortrex 36-volt trolling motor, Humminbird 1197 electronics with side scan technology at the dash, a Humminbird 997 mapping unit on the bow, and a Power Pole on the back. The dual-axle trailer has surge brakes and a Toughcoat Trailer Protection surface.
Entries are now being accepted at Lurenet.com’s Facebook page. All that’s required is to “like” Lurenet.com, complete the entry form, and answer a few questions. No purchase is necessary to enter. One entry per person is allowed, whether made online or in person at the Classic.
The winner does not have to be present at the Classic drawing to claim the boat, but if the boat winner is on hand, he or she will also take home a $5,000 bonus package of fishing tackle.