Dance's Eel

[catman71]

Anyone remember the "Dance's Eel" from the early 80s? I had a huge pike swim off with mine a few years ago and bought a whole unopened box on HSOList. I just used one last weekend and caught a few. It is still one of my favorite lures of all time.

[Ray Esboldt]

I remember the existance of it. Didn't Bill have a couple other baits that were, shall we say, different from the norm.

Can you post a picture of it? I can't recall what they look like.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ray, it kinda looked like a small smiley face ball with a small lip then a 3-4" tail that came off the back..

I finally found a pcit online for you ray..

they were made by Keeper bait co. I believe.. which went out of buisness quite a while ago I think?.. I could be wrong.

[Trucker Jim]

I actually did use them years ago. They difinitely were different. The tail really swayed in the breeze, so to speak. My memory of them is that they were a fairly good bait, except I had a poor hook setting perecentage. That one treble didn't quite cut the mustard. Also remember getting quite a few toothy critters with em.

[Bobby Bass]

I still have a few in one of my tackle boxes, never did much with them, guess that is why I still have some..

[Ray Esboldt]

Thanks, Deitz. Now I remember. When I was a younger dude employed at Gimp's Live Bait in St. Paul, I think we had the same 4 Dancin' Eels hanging on a peg the entire time I worked there.

[catman71]

Trucker Jim, you must have wrote for In-Fisherman in 1980 something. I remember the write-up in an article about bass fishing and it was almost EXACTLY what you said about hooking percentage. I have had the same problem. I still use them though, more for nostalga than anything. the "DANCE'S CRAW" was also availible. Anyone have that one?

[slicksnail]

Holy cow! Gimps Live Bait? I lived in the green/white duplex straight across the street (1236 Rice Stree) from birth to 6... that was 1974-1980.

[Ray Esboldt]

slick,

We were almost neighbors in 1974. I lived on the corner of Maryland and Sylvan until 1974.

I spent most of my development years somewhat attached to Rice Street. Went to HS at St. Bernards, worked at what was once Rent-All Minnesota, and then worked at Gimps until about 1991.

I have no idea how this relates to the Dance's Eel, but it sure brings back a pile of memories.

[catman71]

i had a true neighborhood bait store a few blocks away when I was small. I remember all the jigs on a few foam boards that hinged to let you see both sides. no packaging, bought your daredevil spoons hanging from an old wire basket. it will never be like that for my kids, they might have fond memories of Gander Mountain or Fleet Farm.....

[Bobby Bass]

Marine General here in Duluth is still that way. I took my daughter there this summer and when we turned into the lake superior spoons I got an awe from her as there are thousands of spoons hanging from peg hooks in hundreds of colors. I'm sure that many a troller walks through there with the deer in the headlight look.

[hanson]

Quote:

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The "DANCE'S CRAW" was also availible. Anyone have that one?

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Ha!!! The only bass lures I have in my tackle box are the Dance's Eel & Dance's Craw!! LOL!

I bought them when I was a youngin' and they have never seen the water if I reckon!

Just never got into that bassin' thing.

[DTro]

you can't forget this one either

[hanson]

Here you guys go. Straight out of my massive selection of bass tackle.

[CrappieJohn]

BobbyBass....

That back wall in Marine is a sight to behold! I love it and simply stand in awe of it every time I stop. If a guy bought just one of each in each color available the tab would be outrageous and the sheer weight would sink a good lund. Love that place....and it is enough to act as my "childhood" dream center.

[catman71]

that's the feeling I remember at alost any bait store when I was a kid. This turned out to be a good thread. How about this one; Does anyone still have a chapstick looking tube of "Chum'n'Rub"?? remember the ad, "So potent fish will bite on a bare hook!

[Bobby Bass]

O NO I have an unopen pack of copter lures to, wife found them in some bargin bin and bought them for me. As you can see on the package it says "as seen on TV" so they must be good..

[nbdyknws]

Or the great flying lures

[Superduty]

I was at the weigh-in for the 1995 or 1996 Bassmaster top 100 on 'tonka and heard a great helicopter lure story. Fish Fishburne(now the bassmaster emcee) was still fishing competitively back then. He had the smallest limit of bass I've ever seen come out of 'tonka. He knew Rolan Martin was within ear shot as he grabbed the microphone and announced "this is what you catch when you fish nothing but helicopter lures all day long!"