Halco Birthday

Hi there,

Ok, the birthday happened two years ago, but it was nonetheless an important milestone for the Australian lure company Halco, as they turned sixty...
Yes they have been making fishing lures for sixty years.
And why do I write about it only now you may ask...
Well because in my great wisdom, I learned about it only two weeks ago. When I was very generously offered by nobody else than the great fishing photographer and writer, Peter Zeroni himself, a commemorative lure of this anniversary.
Thank you Peter.

The lure is a Halco Twisty 40g Chrome.
I had what was my best Mackerel session so far on a Twisty 40g, so this is a lure that I already liked a lot.

Let me introduce you to the birthday lure:

In the box.

The back of the box.

The back of the box reads:

" TWISTY 40g Chrome (LIMITED EDITION)

Halco's Twisty was one of the first lures produced when Halco started operation 60 years ago in Fremantle, Australia. Over the years, modern manufacturing techniques have made the Twisty stronger, smoother and shinier. Now Halco produces Australia's greatest range of hard plastic, timber and metal lures as well as a large range of terminal tackle.

This limited edition lure celebrates Halco's 60th year. "

I know, I could have put the back of the box last, but I just wanted to tease you a bit...

And it also gives you a bit of background information about this very lure.

So here finally comes the lure:

Halco Twisty 40g Chrome.

Close-up of the engraving.

Isn't it beautiful?

Even if the Twisty is one of my favourite metal lure, this one is sure to never ever get near any piece of water. I will keep it safely among the few other who form my little collection.

The more I look at it, and the more I think, that it has been a very long time since I went fishing...

But hey, it could be worse.

Have a good day,

Me.

The Classic Scorpion.

Hi there,

Here comes my first ever Classic Scorpion, a very neat fishing lure.
I have had some Classic Barra, or some RMG Scorpion before, but never a Classic Scorpion till this one.
The lure was given to me by Seano from the FFF Forum.
Many thanks Seano!

And because it is a beautiful and tough lure, we are going to start with the photos before the historic...

The Classic Scorpion.

In a very nice black, and green chrome colour.

The Classic Scorpion logo.

It is wearing the Classic Scorpion on one side, and the RMG Lures on the other side.

The RMG side.

One of the differences with the Scorpion made by Halco today, is the tow point, straight on the nose of the lure. Today's Scorpion are bib towed.

Eyes and tow point.

Another difference is that this lure is not moulded plastic, but made by foam injection, it is made of urethan. 

Here comes a bit of historic about this lure:

The lure is a RMG Classic Scorpion 150 Urethane. 

It is chrome plated, then dye-painted over chroming. 

They were made by Rob Gaden between 1994 and 1996 in urethane. Then the business was sold to Halco, and soon after the lures were converted to ABS 2 pieces plastic. 

All of this took place while Rob lived in Glen Innes, NSW, before moving to Darwin, NT.

There were about 8-10 000 of the 150mm Scorpion made by Rob, (moulded by Lively Lures).

During that 2 year period, 80% of these were sold through one shop in Darwin: Fishing & Outdoor World by George Vokolous. 

This shows the confidence Darwin's anglers got in this lure, in the pursuit of Barramundi and other scaly critters. 

I would love you to believe that my knowledge about fishing lures is without limit. But no, I have to confess that when it comes to lures culture, I am just an absolute beginner...

All of this I learned by asking directly to the renowned Australian lure designer Rob Gaden, the very man who produced this lure.

Thank you Rob for your patience and replies to my many questions.

Ok, just one last image for the road:

Nice, isn't it?

So, I have just one of them, while there has been around 10 000 of them wandering out there...

I can't help but to wonder how many are left, forgotten and languishing in some dark backyard sheds, collecting dust, remembering some happier days...

But hey, it could be worse.

Have a good day,

Me.

8 Lures From Doors Off.

Hi there,

Not long ago, Doors Off, a respected member of the FFF Forum, gave me a few fishing lures as a present, for my small collection.
This is the lures that I am presenting you today.

First comes my first ever JaySea:

The JaySea Mundi 80.

I am very happy with this lure, as this is my first ever JaySea.

JaySea Lures, were first made in Queensland, then moved in the Northern Territory to Darwin, then disappeared from the radar. So I am very happy to have one in such a good condition.

Then comes a Rapala:

The Original Floater.

A classic in a nice retro colour, alway something nice to have in the collection.

Then comes a nice little Killalure:

Killalure Trout Bait.

A very nice little lure, not easy to find in the tropical north, where Barramundi lures are a lot more common than trout lures...

Then comes one lure for which I have absolutely no idea of its origin or name: 

Do you know it?

It is actually very well finished, but I don't have a single clue as to what it could be.

If you know, please enlighten me.

And now comes some of my favourite lures to collect, some Reidy's:

Aquat Rat in gold chrome.

Aquat Rat in chrome.

Aquat Rat in blue and white.

I am starting to get a few Aquat Rat, but I didn't own or hadn't even see some in these colours. So I am rather pleased to have them now.

The Rattle Snake.

This rattle snake is very interesting to me, as it has the Reidy's logo on the back, and is in a colour that you can't find on their catalogue anymore. Another lure that I had never seen in this delivery.

One of the reason I really like the Reidy's, is first because they are the local guys. And in second, because my first ever Barramundi caught on a lure was on a Reidy's B52's, in the colour gold. It was in 2007, and I still remember it, and have the lure...

Doors Off even gave me a Floppy lure.

But as the bib broke during transport, it is at the moment in the expert hands of a repairman. 

So the photo will come latter, and I can't wait, as this is too, my first Floppy.

Thanks again Doors Off, these will fit very nicely in my small collection of fishing lures.

Once again, you will have guessed it, none of these lures will ever swim any more...

Because, even if I haven't fished in a long time, I am not ashamed to say that playing with these, is nearly as good ... 

But hey, it could be worse.

Have a good day,

Me.

P.S: And don't forget to try to win a handcrafted lure in my giveaway just there.