A Lure That Appeals To More Than Just Fish

One has to believe that necessity was not the mother of invention for this fishing lure’s design, but perhaps “opportunity” was the inspiration for the interesting concept.   Yea, I’m talking about the bottlecap fishing lure made by the Bottle Cap Lure Company.   As the you can imagine, half the fun of producing these unique fishing lures evolves around consuming the product in order to recycle the cap.

Norm Price of Calgary, Alberta is credited with this strange invention:

Norm had a specialty tackle and outdoor adventure shop called Call Of The Wild Tour & Fishing Accessories. He had a local brewing company come in and trade some beer for a few pack rods. So one night while Norm and his friend Warren were having a few of these wobblie pops, Norm bent a beer bottle cap in half and threw it up on his work table by some hooks. He walked over and sure enough it looked attached to the hook. So he built one. It wasn’t too strong because he drilled the holes, which weakened the metal. He went to a specialist and had the proper tool made, which makes it stronger. The lure has been tested to handle up to 54 lbs before stretching the split ring which is designed to give first.

Norm took his lure down to the river. Warren his friend bet him $50 that he wouldn’t catch anything. Know what, first cast Norm landed a 32" Brown Trout. Easiest $50.00 made in my life he said. No doubt Norm. Well Warren said it was just a fluke, so Norm kept fishing. Yet again he gets a bite after another 2 casts. This time he pulls in a 28" Rainbow. Wow 2 nice Trout in mater of 15 min, even after playing the first one….

Of course, the concept makes perfect sense.   Take the flashy metal of a painted bottle cap, contort the machine stamped bottle cap with a few bends, attach a swivel and a treble hook and you’re in business.   And considering that two bottle caps will never be bent exactly the same…when retrieved through the water each cap will have a uniquely different fish-attracting action.

What do you think?   What’s the strangest item you’ve seen turned into a fishing lure?   Still better yet…what’s the most weird item you’ve used to actually catch a fish?

© 2006 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.