Heddon Fly Rod Colors on TackleCollecting.com

Fly Rod Colors

Heddon Fly Rod Lures

Heddon fly rod lures, like Heddon baits, are lures "that will catch fish." The "Wilder-Dilg" lures, were designed by B.F. Wilder and Will Dilg, two world-famous anglers of a past generation - and are dear to hearts of oldtimers. Other famous anglers co-operated in designing more recent models, with the result that those illustrated on this page represent "America's Choice" in fly rod lures.

I'm going to show images and print directly taken from old Heddon catalogues, just click the picture to enlarge. Hopefully this page will help the new as well as experienced collectors who wish to research Heddon fly rod lures.

I am not perfect. If you see any mistakes, please email me. The images are low resolution, but should give you a good idea. My Color Guides are printed at a much higher resolution, which can be purchased.

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CORK & WOOD BODIED

Wilder-Dilg	Westchester Bug
Bass Bug	Flap-Tail Bug
Tiny Teaz	Fuzzi-Bug
Bug-A-Bee	River-Runtie
Float-Hi Bug	Pop-Eye Frog
Bubbling Bee	Widget

SPOOK BODIED

Wilder Dilg Spook	Bug-A-Bee Spook
Bass Bug Spook	River-Runtie Spook
Popper Spook	Punkie Spook

Cork and Wood Bodied Fly Lures

No. 1-12 or 10 Series "Wilder-Dilg" Large Size

1923-32 COLORS

1933-38 COLORS

The original Feather Minnow - Bass Size - also used for Trout.
These cork and feather body combinations closely imitate the action of a wounded minnow, causing bass to strike virously. These wonderfully effective lures, successfully brought to perfection by B. F. Wilder of New York and Will H. Dilg, have been christened, after twelve of the country's foremost anglers, men who stand for the highest ideals in the Camp of Walton.

Made from a light enameled cork head, brilliant eyes, a ruff of various colored hackle and fin-and-body-feathers that impart the curious rolling, dipping and depth-seeking throes of a wounded minnow, with a single non-twisting hook.
Very durable, 3-1/4 inches long. No. 1 O'Shaughnessy hook. Moth-protected and packed in individual boxes. Also in counter display boxes of 12.

No. 30-35 or S10 Series "Wilder-Dilg" Small Size

The Trout size is the same construction as the Bass size and has the same wounded minnow action. Are especially effective in "white water." No. 6 O'Shaughnessy hook. Moth-protected and packed safely in individual boxes.

Key Dates

Introduced	1923
4 & 9 Changed Color	1933
Discontinued	1939
Re-introduced 10	1941
Switched Codes	1947
Re-introduced S10	1947
Discontinued	1951

Cataloged Colors for Wilder-Dilg

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
1	Captain Sampson	1924-43
2	Mannfeld's Coaxer	1924-38
3	Venable's Charmer	1924-38
4	Kemper's Charge**	1924-38
5 and 30	Irvin Cobb	1924-38
6 and 32	Wilder's Fancy	1924-38
7 13 and S13*	Peet's Choice	1924-43 1947-50
8 and 33 12 and S12*	Zane Grey	1924-43 1947-50
9 14 and S14*	Gifford Pinchot**	1924-38 1947-50
10 and 31	Brann's Glory	1924-38
11 and 34	Dilg's Own	1924-38
12 and 35 1 and S11*	Bob Davis	1924-43 1947-50

* indicates the later codes from 1947 to 1950
** indicates that the color changed, see below for the type of color change

Detail Description of Official Wilder-Dilg Lure Colors

CODE	NAME	HEAD	HACKLE	FINS	TAIL
1	Captain Sampson:	Green & White	Red	Green & White	White
2	Mannfeld's Coaxer:	Red	Red	Red & Yellow	Red
3	Venable's Charmer:	Green & Yellow	Red & Yellow	Green & Red	Yellow
4	Kemper's Charge: (1923-32)	Green Bronze	Brown & Red	Green & Red	Brown
4	Kemper's Charge: (1933-38)	Black	White	Black	White
5/30	Irvin Cobb:	Antique Gold	Orange	White	Orange
6/32	Wilder's Fancy:	Black	Black and Orange	Black	Orange
7 13/s13*	Peet's Choice:	White	White	White & Red	White
8/33 12/S12*	Zane Grey:	Antique Gold	Brown	Brown	Brown
9	Gifford Pinchot: (1923-32)	Red	Brown	Green	White
9 14/S14*	Gifford Pinchot: (1933-50)	Aluminum	Grey	Grey	Grey & Black
10	Brann's Glory:	Aluminum	Yellow & Brown	Brown & Red	Yellow
31	Brann's Glory: (30 series)	Aluminum	Grey	NONE	Grey
11	Dilg's Own:	Green & White	Yellow & White	Yellow & Green	White
34	Dilg's Own: (30 series)	White	Red & White	NONE	White
12 11/S11*	Bob Davis:	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow
35 S11*	Bob Davis: (30 series)	Yellow	Green & Yellow	NONE	Yellow

No. 50 Series "Bass-Bugs" Large Size

Fly Casting lure with solid cork body finished with Heddon superior enamel. Beautifully selected wings, hackle and tail, securely tied for extraordinary durability. Hackle aids weedlessness, conceals hook point and spreads water, supporting wings. Always alights in proper position with hook down. Hook firmly embedded in cork; will not turn.
No. 1 Model Perfect Hook. 2 in. long Each Bug packed in attractive box.

No. B50 or S50 Series "Baby Bass-Bugs" Small Size

The "Baby" size is popular for Bass; also for large Rainbows and Browns. A very light lure that strikes the water with the least amount of "splash." Made with No.6 Model Perfect Hook. 1-1/2 in. long. Six colors. Each bug in individual box.

Key Dates

Introduced	1924
Discontinued	1951

Cataloged Colors for Bass-Bugs

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
50	Peet's Favorite	1924-43
51	Dilg's Gem	1924-41
52 and B52	Brann's Ranger	1924-41
53	Carter Harrison	1924-41
53 and S53*	Gifford's Pinchot	1947-50
54 and B54 51 and S51*	Bob Davis	1924-43 1947-50
55	Buckingham's Glory	1924-41
56 and B56	Chadwick's Sunbeam	1924-41
57 and B57 52 and S52*	Ozark Ripley	1924-43 1947-50
B58	St. John's Pal	1924-43
59 and B59 54 and S54*	Clark's Fancy	1924-41 1947-50
60	Wilder's Fancy	1924-41
61	Alex's Friend	1924-41

* indicates the later codes from 1947 to 1950

Detail Description of Bass Bug Lure Colors

CODE	NAME	HEAD	WINGS	TAIL/HACKLE
50	Peet's Favorite:	White	White & Black	White & Black
51	Dilg's Gem:	Brown	Brown & Yellow	Brown & Yellow
52/B52	Brann's Ranger:	Aluminum	Orange & Black	Yellow & Red
53	Carter Harrison:	Black	NONE	Yellow & Black
53/S53*	Gifford's Pinchot:	Aluminum	Grey	Grey & Black
54/B54 51/S51*	Bob Davis:	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow
55	Buckingham's Glory:	Aluminum	NONE	Red & Brown
56/B56	Chadwick's Sunbeam:	Red	Brown-Blue & Green	Red & Yellow
57/B57 52/S52*	Ozark Ripley:	Black	Black	Black
58/B58	St. John's Pal:	Red	Grey	White & Yellow
59/B59 54/S54*	Clark's Fancy:	White	White	Red & White
60	Wilder's Fancy:	Black	Black & Orange	Red & Yellow
61	Alex's Friend:	Red	NONE	Yellow, Red & Black

No. 80 Series "Tiny Teaz" Fly Rod Wiggler

A lively little lure of many uses. Primarily designed as a fly-rod lure for large Trout, it is also very effective for Bass and pan fish.

Floats; dives when retrieved with excellent action. One double hook so placed to insure hooking. Length 1-3/4 inches; weight 1/10 ounce.

Key Dates

Introduced	1930
Discontinued	1934

Cataloged Colors for Tiny Teaz

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
1	Rainbow	1930-33
2	White and Red	1930-33
9BK	Brook Trout	1930-33
9N	Red Dace Scale	1930-33
9P	Shiner Scale	1930-33
9R	Natural Scale	1930-33

No. S1 and S4 Series "Bug-A-Bee" Two Sizes

S1-Y S4-R A "Spent-Wing" Bug completely exhausted and an easy prey. Striped cork bodies with non-twisting hooks. Exceptionally good for Bass and Large Trout. Packed in individual box.

No. S1 has feather wings and tail. (No.1 Hook) 1-3/4 in. long.
No. S4 has feather wings and buck-hair tail. (No.4 Hook) 1 in. long.
The smaller is also suitable for Trout, Crappies, and pan fish.

Key Dates

Introduced	1931
Discontinued	1938

Cataloged Colors for Bug-A-Bee

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
Blk	Black Body, Wings and Tail	1931-37
BR	Brown Body, Wings and Tail	1931-37
G	Grey Body, Wings and Tail	1931-37
R	Red Body, Wings and Tail	1931-37
WR	White Body and Tail, Red Wings	1931-37
Y	Yellow Body, Wings and Tail	1931-37

No. 550 Series "Float-Hi Bug"

Floats high and stays on surface, very easily seen. When moved the stiff hairs of front wings make a "wake" and give motion. Cork body with feather tail. Ideal for bass, also for pan fish. Very light and an easy caster. No. 4 size hook. Length, 1-3/4 inches. Hook turned down.

Key Dates

Introduced	1933
Discontinued	1939

Cataloged Colors for Float-Hi Bug

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
BY	Black Body, Yellow Stripes, Black Wings	1933-38
GG	Gold Body, Green Stripes, Green-Black Wings	1933-38
WR	White Body, Red Stripes, White Wings	1933-38
YB	Yellow Body, Black Stripes, Yellow Wings	1933-38

No. 90 Series "Bubbling Bug" Weedless

Brings up big bass with a rush! Very weedless. A very lively surface lure that will produce big bubbles when twitched slightly. Has cupped front. Creates a surface wake when retrieved. Strongly made and very durable. Swivel prevents line twisting. Weight 1/10 oz. Should be used with bass-weight fly rod only. Length, 2 inches.

Note: On special order, hook turned down will be supplied.

Key Dates

Introduced	1933
Discontinued	1939

Cataloged Colors for Bubbling Bug

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
BY	Black Body, Yellow Stripes, Black Wings	1933-38
GG	Gold Body, Green Stripes, Green-Black Wings	1933-38
WR	White Body, Red Stripes, White Wings	1933-38
YB	Yellow Body, Black Stripes, Yellow Wings	1933-38

No. 40 Series "Westchester Bug"

A Bass Fly Rod Lure with a new dipping, diving and darting action. It leaps to the surface after each dive, and acts like a small minnow trying to escape. Has light cork body with notched slot in head and a long tail feather. A sure hooker. Length overall 2-3/4 inches Weight 1/20 oz.

Key Dates

Introduced	1934
Discontinued	1936

Cataloged Colors for Westchester Bug

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
GW	Green and White	1934-35
YB	Yellow and Black	1934-35
WR	White and Red	1934-35

No. 710 Series "Flaptail Bug"

Liveliest of Surface Lures. Something new and different in a real swimming "Bug" that brings savage smashes.

The tiny flapping spoon at tail gives a lifelike action just like an insect swimming for its life. On a fast retrieve, the spoon breaks water, reverses its revolutions and kicks up a lot of surface commotion. An excellent caster Length 1-1/2 inches. Weight 1/10 ounce.

No. 720 Series "Flap-Tail Bug"

Click Here to view Display Cards for Flap-Tail Bug.

Key Dates

Introduced 710	1935
Introduced 720	1936
Discontinued 710	1938
Discontinued 720	1954

Cataloged Colors for Flap-Tail Bug

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	710 SERIES YEARS	720 SERIES YEARS
BR	Brown	1935-37	1936-43
GM	Grey Mouse	1936-37	1936-53
GR	Grey	1935-37	1936-43
WR	White & Red	1935-37	1936-53
Y	All Yellow	1935-37	1936-53

No. 75 Series "Fuzzi-Bug" Large Size

Wide spreading wings, like a spent moth on the water, beady eyes, and a natural fuzzy finish, make this the outstanding bass bug. Front of body slanted to make pick-up easy and natural, choice light cork, non-turning hook, well made and serviceable. Each bug in individual cellophane-top box. No. 1 Model Perfect Hook

No. 74 Series "Fuzzi-Bug" Small Size

Ideal for Blue-Gills, Crappies, and other pan-fish. Each bug in individual cellophane-top box. No. 6 Model Perfect Hook

Key Dates

Introduced	1936
Discontinued	1939

Cataloged Colors for Fuzzi-Bug

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
BR	Brown Body, Wings, and Hackle	1936-38
DG	Dark Green Body and Wings, Black Hackle	1936-38
GR	Grey Body, Wings, and Hackle	1936-38
R	Red Body and Wings, Yellow Hackle	1936-38
WR	White Body and Wings, Red Hackle	1936-38
Y	All Yellow	1936-38

No. 750 Series "River-Runtie"

Here is a fly-rod lure that is making a remarkable record for Bass, Blue-Gills, Crappies and large Trout. It floats and dives a few inches under water with an attractive wiggle. Cane-pole anglers tell us "it's a honey" for pan-fish of all kinds.
Length 1 inch. Weight 1/25 oz.

Key Dates

Introduced	1937
Discontinued	1938

Cataloged Colors for River Runtie

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
1	Rainbow	1937
2	White, Red Head	1937
9L	Perch Scale	1937
9P	Shiner Scale	1937
9R	Natural Scale	1937

UnCataloged Colors Found on River Runtie

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
GR	Grey	1937?

Also see River-Runtie Spook

No. 85 Series "Pop-Eye Frog"

There is something in the tantalizing stare of the downward-looking popping eyes that makes Mr. Bass really mad. "The Eyes have IT." Casts nicely, easy pick-up and never turns over. Equipped with effective weed-guard. Cork body, bucktail legs. Length 3-1/2 in. Weight 1/20 oz. No. 2 Weedless Hook.

The tied-leg version shown above is more difficult to find than the non-tied-leg. Heddon used this image until 1943, but was likely offered for a shorter period.

Click Here to view Display Boxes for Pop-Eye Frog.

Key Dates

Introduced	1937
Discontinued	1957

Cataloged Colors for Pop-Eye Frog

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
GF	Green Frog	1937-55
YF	Yellow Frog	1937-56

No. 300 Series "Widget"

This bait is a most unusual type of fly and spinning lure. I was specifically designed to crawl and wiggle along the surface of the water. When it is desired to troll or fish deep holes, the lure can be made to go to any desired depth by placing one or more split shot a foot or so ahead of it. It is unexcelled for large trout, bass and panfish such as crappies, white bass and rock bass. Length 1-1/4 inch. Weight 5/100 oz. No. 10 Treble Hook.

Key Dates

Introduced	1952
Discontinued	1957

Cataloged Colors for Widget

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
BF	Bullfrog	1952-56
BO	Black, Orange Spots	1952-56
GM	Gray Mouse	1952-56
L	Yellow Perch Scale	1952-56
RH	White, Red Head	1952-56
RHF	Read Head, Flitter	1952-56
SO	Spotted Orange	1952-56
SRB	Silver Body, Red & Black Spots	1952-56

"Spook" Bodied Fly Rod Lures

No. 950 Series "River-Runtie Spook"

A Tiny Fly Rod Wiggler that fills a long-felt want.
Also effective with cane pole.
Floats and dives a few inches under water, and wiggles like a small minnow. Excellent for Bass, Crappies, Bluegills, etc. Also large Trout. Weight 1/25 oz. No. 5 Model Perfect Hook. Hook molded into body and cannot pull out. Length 1-1/4 inch.

Before viewing Key Dates and Cataloged Colors below, please read this first. The River Runtie had disappeared from catalogs in 1948, but the 1951 shows it as discontinued. It is not shown or listed in 1948 through 1950 catalogs, but I will act as if it were re-introduced for 1951.

Click Here to view Display Boxes for River-Runtie-Spook.

Key Dates

Introduced	1937
Discontinued	1948
Re-introduced	1951
Discontinued	1952

Cataloged Colors for River Runtie Spook

COLOR CODE	COLOR NAME	YEARS
2 or RH	White, Red Head	1937-51
2XS	White & Red Shore Minow	1937-38
9L or L