Sure Shad

[Hotfire]

Hi Folks,

I am a former Lake Erie charter captain. I operated a boat called “The Hotfire” from 1986-1992 in the heyday of drifting and casting weight forward spinners. Sadly I haven’t fished Erie since then.

I have been reading this forum for a few years, but decided to register and post for the first time today. Why today? Because PZeller mentioned a weight forward spinner called the Sure Shad. This drew my interest because my boat was sponsored by Sure Shad back in the day. I was just wondering if PZeller’s weight forward is the same lure from the same company. The Sure Shad I used was made by the Veselka Tackle Company based in Toledo. The owner was John Veselka. Does anybody else use these or remember this company? I have a tackle box JAMMED FULL of them (still in the packages). Simply for nostalgic purposes, I would be interested in any information about this company. Thanks, everybody. I enjoy reading your reports and posts.

Hotfire

[rscotfish]

welcome aboard i think not positive that a friend of mine bought him out a few years ago he used to own a bait shop now he just owns the building i see him alot ill ask i used to get rejects that had a paint splatter or a bad mark on them ill find out from him and let you know i also have a box full of them and erie deries

[Hotfire]

And don't forget Reef Runners The Wobbler, Captain's Princess and Bar Bumpers. There were so many different types!

[LEfriend]

Parish Banana is my favorite. Similar to Erie Dearie and looks somewhat like Sure Shad, but I like the Banana as my experience is it doesn't tangle as much. Made by same fellow in Toledo that made Parish Peas. Sadly he passed away couple of years ago. New guy bought the business but I am not sure if he ever got it going and haven't heard any more. I loaded up last year and bought some of his old stock. I also have some Peas but have done better with the Banana. Should be a great year to sell casting lures! Hope he gets it going.

[branhamautomotive]

I was born in 79, grew up on the lake everyweeked alost casting Erie dearies, some rare days dad would drag hot and tots and warts. We didn't have line counters, didn't do speed control, heck till later on no such thing as GPS till site came out. I love to see how fishing has changed, especially after the zebra muscle took foot. But love hoe much of the same still works. I know we used a few other brands back then but don't recall the names, could you post a pic of sure shad just for the s&g factor of seeing if it'd something we used to use or not.

[Hotfire]

Here is the photo you requested.

[Hotfire]

Here is the company info from back in the day.

[Basstracker1333]

It is fun to read about old baits still working, Back in the late 70's and early 80's my Grandfather was stuck on the gold nuggets, every once in a while I will put one on and still manage to catch a few on the nuggets.

[Justretired]

was thinking about the old gold nuggets just the other day. Found some on internet tonight for 7 to 8 dollars each.

[Lucky Duck]

I too love this thread. More importantly is that these weight forward spinners still catch lots of fish. When I got my son out fishing a few years ago and we did a lot of trolling, that was fine. But on the days we threw weight forward lures, he was in love.I have several friends that enjoy throwing the weight forwards in stead of trolling. I still make the Lake Erie Hellion lures and we paint and dress those lures in several different colors. We still throw Erie Dearies and some of the golden nuggets too. I guess I am going to have to pull out my old green and my tooth marked orange Hot and Tots and see if they still have that effect on todays walleye.