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"!