The Jitterbug Journey Begins: Why I’m Diving Deep Into One of Fishing’s Most Iconic Lures
For the better part of 15 years, I’ve been buying, selling, trading, and picking up fishing tackle whenever it crossed my path. Alongside that, painting fishing lures has become my full-time work and the core of my business. I’ve never thought of myself as an expert collector. I’ve simply enjoyed the history, colour patterns, wear marks, and small design details that old lures carry with them. I’ve always admired the people who can pull a lure from a box and instantly place it in a specific era or production run. I’m not there yet. Maybe I never will be. But the longer I spend around this hobby, the more I appreciate how much depth there is beneath the surface.
Over time, I started to feel scattered. I owned a little bit of everything, but I wasn’t learning anything deeply. I wanted to slow things down and focus on one lure — not to limit the fun, but to give the collection a clear direction. I wanted something iconic, something with real history, and something that still rewards close study.
That lure is the Arbogast Jitterbug.
Why the Jitterbug?
The Jitterbug is instantly recognizable. The wide metal lip, the rounded body, and the steady plop-plop sound are burned into fishing culture. Even people who don’t collect lures usually know exactly what it is when they see one.
As a fishing lure, the Jitterbug earned its reputation the hard way — by catching fish for generations of anglers. As a collectible, it offers something just as valuable: variety. A lot of variety.
The Jitterbug has been in continuous production since 1938. Over that span, Arbogast produced countless changes in size, body material, hardware, paint, and packaging. The lip itself has remained the same basic shape, but the materials and the lettering stamped into the lip changed at different points in production. Those details are something I’m still learning to read and date accurately.
At first glance, many Jitterbugs look the same. With time and attention, the differences start to stand out.
That’s where the appeal really lives. The lure itself is simple, but the history behind it isn’t.
A Focused Starting Point
Rather than continuing to collect whatever happened to come along, I’m choosing to focus my efforts on the Jitterbug and its close relatives. This marks the beginning of what I’m calling The Jitterbug Journey — not a race to acquire rare pieces, but a long-term effort to learn one lure well.
I’m starting with the Jitterbugs already in my collection and four older display cases that need refurbishing. The cases are solid but tired. The foam, backing, and layout all need work before they’re ready to hold anything. That’s part of the appeal. A collection doesn’t really take shape until it’s organized and displayed with intention.
This approach forces patience. Before adding much of anything, I need to understand what I already have.
More Than One Lure
While the Jitterbug is the core of this project, it doesn’t exist in isolation. Arbogast produced several related lures that belong naturally alongside it.
The Jitterstick shares the same lip design but uses a cigar-shaped body. It’s less common than the standard Jitterbug and adds welcome contrast in a display.
The Jitter Critter leans into character. It’s quirky, slightly odd, and unmistakably vintage. It breaks visual repetition and reminds you that lure makers weren’t afraid to experiment.
The Hocus Locust stands on its own as one of Arbogast’s most unusual surface lures. It’s a niche item, but one that helps tell the larger story of the company’s design philosophy.
All three will be part of this collection. They aren’t side notes — they help complete the picture.
Copies, Imitations, and Influence
Any lure that sticks around long enough gets copied. The Jitterbug is no exception.
Over the years, other manufacturers produced their own takes on the Jitterbug’s design. Some were cheap knockoffs. Others were well-made and developed their own following. These lures matter because they show just how influential the original design became.
One of the most recognizable examples is the Frantic Antic. It clearly draws inspiration from the Jitterbug but has its own look and feel. Including a few of these copycat lures adds context and depth to the collection.
Colour Series and Matched Sets
One of the easiest ways to go deep with Jitterbugs is through colour.
Arbogast produced everything from basic, utilitarian finishes to bold patterns meant to grab attention in low light. Some colours stayed in production for years. Others appeared briefly or were tied to specific promotions.
In certain cases, Arbogast released matching colour series across multiple lure styles. When a Jitterbug and a Hula Popper were intended to be part of the same series — such as the Seein’s Believin’ line — it makes sense to keep those pairs together. Those small sets preserve the original intent behind the release and add structure to the collection.
Displaying the Collection
The four display cases are an important part of this project. A good display doesn’t just store lures — it tells a story.
Refurbishing the cases means making decisions about layout, materials, and presentation. Grouping by size, colour family, era, or series all creates a different visual and educational effect. The goal isn’t to cram as much as possible into each case, but to give each lure room to be seen.
A well-arranged display can make even common pieces interesting. It invites closer inspection and rewards people who take the time to look.
Condition, Wear, and Honesty
Condition matters in any collecting hobby, but it isn’t everything.
Mint examples are great. So are lightly fished lures with clean hardware and intact paint. But even well-used Jitterbugs have a place. Honest wear tells its own story, especially on a lure that was designed to be fished at night and pulled across the surface.
What matters most is honesty — original paint, correct hardware, and a clear understanding of what a lure is and isn’t. Repaints and altered pieces exist, and learning to recognize them is part of becoming a better collector.
Learning From the Paint
Painting fishing lures isn’t a side interest for me — it’s what I do every day. Custom-painted and custom-made baits are the foundation of my business, and this site reflects that work.
Because of that, old tackle holds a lot of practical value for me beyond collecting. Vintage factory paint jobs, especially on something as long-running as the Jitterbug, offer direct insight into how colour, contrast, and pattern were approached when these lures were originally intended for mass production and real-world use.
Arbogast finishes were often simple, consistent, and deliberate. Studying original examples helps me understand what the company prioritized visually and how those decisions translated across decades of production. That perspective carries into my own work — not as direct reproductions, but as reference points for balance and restraint.
From time to time, some of the rougher Jitterbugs that come my way will be repainted as well. These won’t be restored or passed off as originals. They’ll be treated as art pieces and test platforms — a way to try techniques, materials, and ideas while staying connected to the history of the lure.
Learning as I Go
This collection isn’t about having all the answers, and I’m careful about where certainty ends and learning begins. It’s about asking better questions.
How do lip styles change over time? Which colours show up more often in certain sizes? What hardware details help date a lure? Why do some variations command more interest than others?
Each step forward comes from paying attention, comparing examples, and listening to collectors who have been doing this far longer than I have. This series will document that learning process as it unfolds.
Looking Ahead
Future entries in the Jitterbug Journey will explore specific areas in more detail:
- Early wooden and early plastic Jitterbugs
- Lip styles and how they evolved
- Notable colour patterns and short-run finishes
- Companion lures like the Jitterstick and Hocus Locust
- Display case restoration and layout choices
- Copycat lures and how to spot them
There’s no rush. Collecting rewards patience.
The Journey Starts Here
This project begins with a pile of Jitterbugs gathered over the course of about 15 years, four empty display cases in need of elbow grease, and a genuine interest in learning one lure well.
No hype. No pressure. Just a collector choosing a path and following it one piece at a time.
If you enjoy lure history, collecting, or the stories behind old tackle, you’re welcome to follow along. The Jitterbug Journey is just getting started.
