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Bill Whitesell's Collections
Bill Whitesell was first introduced to Bagley lures by a company rep who brought salesman's display boards to a local bass club meeting. Bill remembers the samples being beautiful, and expensive. Up until that time, the only balsa lures you would find in Bill's tackle box would be the famous Rapala minnows. His other crankbaits were mostly plastics manufactured by companies like Rebel, Storm, Mann's, and Cordell's. Bill decided he had been "missing the boat" (no pun intended) by not having any Bagley's on his casting rods. He began noticing how realistic the Bagley Small Fry Bass, Crappie, Bream, and Perch/Walleye models were, and began buying them, even though he'd almost gone into shock when someone had priced one for $20!
Bill's admiration for the realism of Bagley's lures expanded to amazement when Johnny Garland's Bagley Collector's Guide hit the shelves and he was introduced to the over 500 different colors that were featured in the book. Initially, being somewhat color challenged, Bill bought a DB3 collection from fellow Tennessean Wayne Mullins that was new in the correctly marked packaging so he'd be sure of the color codes. Wayne took Bill over to Johnny Garland's house to see the "Bagley guru's" many collections. Eventually, Bill ended up purchasing Johnny's "Honey B Hive" to expand his own ever growing compilation. After Bill was given the opportunity to buy Ken Webb's world class DB3 collection, he had to accept he had "Bagley Fever" in a big way!
Bill has since bought a couple of world class collections from me, including Bass'N Shads that initially numbered 52, but have since expanded to over 105, and the world's most complete 2" Small Fry collection. The purchase of those collections, as well as many other lures Bill has bought from me over the years, has been much of the fuel that has fired this website. This site would not have been possible without Bill's help.
Bill Whitesell also has extensive collections in Rat Finks, Hustle Bugs, True Life, and a wide variety of extra tough miscellaneous Bagley Baits. Bill summed up his thoughts on Jim Bagley's creations, saying, "There is no doubt in my mind that no other company has as many colors, and even being color challenged, I can still tell that they sure are "purty"!
Jig Guides (Mandrels)
Bill Whitesell has acquired these amazing jig guides (mandrels) that were used in Winter Haven on a duplicator to make many of Bagley's most poplular models including the B Flat, Rat Fink, 007JR, Divng Killer B 1, Fat Cat, DB3, Small Fry Crayfish, Small Fry Shad, Hustle Bug, Bang-O-Lure, and many more. There are also several prototype lures and novelty items including the eagle and a ball point pen.
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Bass'N Shad Collection
The following two pictures are of Bill's world class Bass'N Shad collection. I would be very surprised if there is a better group of Bass'N Shads in the entire world.
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2" Small Fry Collection
I'm certain this is the most comprehensive 2" Small Fry collection in the world. Many of these colors were acquired when Bagley cleared out their warehouse of every lure that was laying around and brought them to Springfield, MO to Bass Pro Shop for that company's first World's Fair.
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This new in the correctly marked package, all brass, Small Fry Bass in the color LB4S (Little Bass on Silver Foil) is the only documented example of this color found to date. It is one of the rarest Bagley's of them all!
This Natural Golden Bream color is a factory prototype that never went into production. It's hard to imagine why this color never got sold because, not only is it an eye catching color to entice a fisherman to buy it, but I can't believe a bass would have passed up this tasty looking morsel!.
Bill Whitesell's Divin' B III Collection
This is known to be one of the largest and best DB3 collections in the world. The last picture in this grouping is his all brass DB3 collection.
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Hustle Bug/Rat Fink Collection
This combination Hustle Bug and Rat Fink collection is an impressive example of two of the more diverse models The Bagley Bait Co. manufactured through the years. Top Bagley collector, Bill Whitesell, contributed these pictures to the site.
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Stick-Up Collection
This is a picture of Bill's "World Class" Stick-Up collection. Also featured are the special ordered "G" series of Bang-O-Lures first brought to our attention in Johnny Garland's Bagley Collector Guide. Johnny didn't have any pictures to go with the codes, but using logic and deduction, I was able to match the codes to these Bang-O-Lures, which were most likely painted for a bait shop around Lake Erie.
Rounding out this display are some of the tougher topwater baits, jerk baits, and a few prototypes. Throw in a couple of autographed baits by Johnny Garland and a couple of catalogs, and you've got what can only be considered one heckuva nice Bagley display!
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