Creek Chub lures have a rich history. Formed in 1906, this company created a plug called the Wigglefish that caught the world record largemouth, a bass weighing 22 pounds, 4 ounces. It also produced several other extremely popular lures including the Injured Minnow and Darter.
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| Sixty years later, the Creek Chub Surfster still rules the surf, especially along the East Coast. |
Another famous bait it created was the Pikie Minnow. Huge muskies have been taken on this lure, including many fish weighing over 50 pounds. And before George Perry caught his record bass on the Wigglefish, the Pikie produced another monster largemouth weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces.
Originally offered in 1919, the Pikie featured a distinctive flattened nose and bent metal lip. It gave bass, walleye, northern pike and muskie fishermen a deadly lure for both casting and trolling, diving to a depth of 7 feet when cast and 11 feet when trolled. The plugs were first carved from white cedar trees, but other woods were used later when cedar became harder to get and more expensive.
While the Pikie was a very popular lure in its heydays, it has faded from use and now is only seen mostly in antique lure collections and a few diehards’ tackle boxes. It still catches fish, but it’s an offshoot of this lure that is more commonly used by anglers today.
The Pikie was created as a freshwater lure, but its offshoot has gained its fame as a saltwater lure. Appropriately, it’s called the Surfster.
Released by Creek Chub 60 years ago, the Surfster has a fatter body in the mid-section than its predecessor, instead of a straight cigar shape. Otherwise is quite similar in design and action in the water. It is a very popular lure among East Coast surf fishermen, but will produce anywhere that large predator fish are found, from Costa Rica to the coast of Africa.
The Surfster is offered today is still made of wood like the original, and sold through retail outlets such as Bass Pro Shops. It comes in three sizes from 4 1/2 inches to 7 inches. It weighs 1 1/2 to 4 ounces, making it good for long casts through the wind when casting in the surf. A quality made lure, it’s not cheap, selling for about $15-20. But you get a lot for your money.
The Surfster features 3X corrosion-resistant hooks, realistic recessed large-pupil eyes and saltwater grade hardware with a stainless steel lip. This lure has a very enticing wiggle and is extremely effective for use in harsh saltwater conditions for stripers, tarpon, snook, blues and other gamefish.
Tactics
The Surfster will catch fish with a simple steady retrieve because of its wide wobbling, undulating motion. If that doesn’t work, try erratic jerks. You can also use this lure for large bass, muskies, pike, pickerel and walleyes, as well as inshore and offshore saltwater species. Trolling works well with flat-lines when fish are holding 6-15 feet deep. Using planer devices, in-line sinkers or downriggers will take the lures even deeper for fish holding lower in the water column.
Sixty years after its creation, the Surfster still rules the surf.
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