Creek Chub Appraisal

Creek Chub Bait Co. (C.C.B. Co.) Injured Minnow No. 1500 with Original Cardboard Box

This is a vintage wood fishing lure manufactured by the Creek Chub Bait Co. (C.C.B. Co.) of Garrett, Indiana. The lure is an 'Injured Minnow' model, identifiable by its side-swimming orientation, glass eyes, and metal propellers at the front and rear designed to create surface disturbance. This specific example features a scale-pattern finish, likely in a green or gold shiner coloration, which shows a fine aged patina. The construction consists of a solid turned-wood body, painted glass eyes, and two large treble hooks secured by heavy-duty metal hardware. The lure is approximately 3 to 4 inches in length. Accompanied by its original 'C.B.B. CO. LURE' cardboard two-piece box, the packaging bears the distinctive graphics of the era, including the company name and illustrations of game fish. Condition-wise, the lure exhibits light crazing and minor paint chipping consistent with use and age, typical of early 20th-century wood lures. The metal hardware shows some oxidation and darkening. The box exhibits significant wear, soiling, and edge fraying, but remains structurally intact with legible branding. These lures date roughly from the 1920s to the 1940s and are highly prized for their craftsmanship and historical significance in the development of American sport fishing tackle.