September 2016
Shad-Quack
Shad-Quack and Jennings Decoy Co (Gavian Corp)
St. Cloud, MN
Late 1960s
One cool Fall day, Virgil Waterwacker went for a walk along the Mississippi River in rural Minnesota. It was a beautiful day, and Virgil was enjoying all nature has to offer. Then he noticed the distinguished green head of a Mallard Duck on the river. Suddenly, “WHAM!”, a huge fish leaped from the water and engulfed the mallard in one bite!!
Virgil wanted to catch huge fish like this. So, he rushed home and “hatched” out an idea for a Mallard Lure. He also made a Loon Lure, as he knew some people wouldn’t believe him and call him “loony”. The Shad-Quack bait was born!
Well, I don’t believe this wild fish story (as told on the box of the lure), but I am sure if you search online…you will find several stories and videos of fish eating birds and waterfowl. Now, a full-grown Mallard is hard to swallow (pun intended), but you get the point.
Steve Jennings came up with this lure and design and it was sold for a number of years. Living in Minnesota, I still see these lures fairly often at auctions and antique stores. Typically then sell in the $10 – $20 range. I have fished with one…but yet have enticed that monster fish to bite on "The Lunker Hunter". Someday….
