True stories from 2 pros about my hand crafted lures.

 Before the show opened to the public at the Convention Center in downtown Nashville, Tn., Billy Westmoreland asked me, "is it true that no one has caught a fish from that 'Fish Tank' in the last 4 days?" I said, "from all I've been told it's true but I'd like to hear of someone getting a hook in that lunker largemouth staying hid around the stump at the far end of the tank." He said, "I'm doing a seminar today and after all the years of making world record colors of lures, can you suggest a color and lure that a bass will hit under those fluorescent lights?" I picked up a jig from my bin of 98 colors of hand tied jigs and I reached for a chunk to match. I put Smelly Jelly Crawfish Pro Guide formula on it as Billy told my wife, "you'd better get that cash drawer set up real good because fun's coming." Many people flocked in grabbing jigs and Smelly Jelly from the tables after his show. then got in an orderly line to pay for them. These folks helped themselves to other lures including buzz baits and spinner baits ,etc. It took over 2 hours after the show was over to get these folks checked out. When they were in line and quieted down some I asked, "What happened?" Many tried to talk and I had to wave them off because I noticed a lady being helped to the front to see me. She said, "that man climbed up the ladder to the top of the tank made one cast and as that lure hit the water a fish,  someone yelled "smallmouth." She said, "It went after it and a big fish", someone yelled, "lunker largemouth". She said," It exploded from a stump on the bottom of the tank throwing gravel against the glass. I was on the front row and fell out of my chair. I thought it had broke the tank." The largemouth knocked the smallmouth aside and grabbed the jig. Billy, who had never said a word, set the hook then pulled the Smelly Jelly from the leg pocket and it was on. Again, my wife and I were no where near this event. He never got to tell them his name before they rushed out. Sales records that day will never be touched again. Too much cheap and imported junk out there, if if they cost the same and even higher.

 A couple of weeks later at a Knoxville fishing show Guido Hibdon was on stage to give a seminar. He was holding up and shaking a hand tied hair & rubber jig in 1 hand, pointing to it with the other until you could hear a pin drop. My wife said, "Who's that guy up there with your root beer orange hair jig. I said "that's  Guido Hibdon but that can't be my jigs because he's not been by here. At the microphone he made this comment. "You folks paid good money to come here and listen to me give you my 40 plus years of fishing experience and expertise on how to catch more and bigger fish." His voice deepened and went up a little. "You made a mistake! Pointing to me he stated, "That man makes the ultimate lures and has for years". He went on with his seminar by pointing to the jig and said, "When he says that paint doesn't come off under water it's not a lie. It will dull over time and that's a good thing because there's not that many shiny things crawling around down there anyway." He then asked me, "What does it take to get the paint to come off your lures? I've never had it come off." Still stunned about the compliments from this Bass Master legend I said, "Smack them on a bridge column before they hit the water." After he concluded his seminar a while later, I asked him "How did you know about by lures?" He said "How did the show go in Nashville the other day?" Then it made sense. For those who do not know the 'Hibdon' name, this is the father of Dion Hibdon, and they are the only father and son to ever win the Bass Master Classic title. I'd never seen or talked to Guido in person or on the phone. To find out that for many years he and Billy had been purchasing and using my lures was a shock. 

 Over the years Viper Lure Manufacturing has been synonymous for the making, inventing and upgrading high quality fish catching lures and products. These include jigs, spinner baits, buzz baits, lead heads, shakey heads, painted sinkers and even some Smelly Jelly products. This American business makes more lures, sizes of lures, and colors of lures than many companies combined. 

 TIPS: Bass feed at different times, on different forage and different depths. An important thing to remember is bass are not color blind. I'm a firm believer in changing lures and lure colors based on water temperature, water clarity and light penetration. These are the 3 things to watch for successful catches. Don't believe it? If you can find the 'Original' Color Selector you'll understand. It's the one with a round dial face, has a long cord with probe, and takes a 9V battery. This was invented by Dr. Loren C. Hill many years ago. He and Bill Dance did a show with this years ago.

 Bass Master Magazine cover: The 'Original' Drop-Arm Spin Buzz was invented here in 1990. One turned up on the front cover of Bass Master magazine in April 1999 hooked to a big large mouth bass. "Check out that guy's smiling face."

 Viper high quality lures and products will never be outsourced to a foreign country like the others you'll find in every store. Viper Lure Manufacturing is all about high quality products and the catch ratio. PERIOD!

Different names: Viper Lures, ViperLures.com, Bass Specialty Lures, Bassspecialty.com, Pro Lures USA and proluresusa.com are 'original registered trademark names' of Viper Lure Manufacturing. When Billy Westmoreland passed away I brought all lures etc. under Viper Lures. He named it many years ago, but I found it hard in some areas of the U.S. to sell lures with that name. I just was'nt patient enough I suppose. This was the only way I knew to honor his name and tell those that never knew him what he was like, and his love of the industry. If you'll put bassspecialty.com or proluresusa.com in the top main browser bar and hit 'GO', it will take you to ViperLures.com instantly. Not the 'Google bar'. The very top bar to search.