Topwater design legacy
Fred Arbogast designed and sold enduring bass lures including the Jitterbug, Hula Popper, and Hawaiian Wiggler. These names remained popular, which means collector listings can include older production, later production, commemoratives, and modern fishing examples.
Jitterbug clues
Record body material and size, the shape and marking of the metal lip, screw placement, eye style, paint, and belly markings. A familiar black or frog finish may appear across long periods, so color alone cannot date it.
Hula Popper clues
Check cup shape, body proportions, skirt attachment, original skirt material, hook hardware, and box. Replacement skirts are common and should be described honestly.
Buying older Arbogast
Ask whether skirts, hooks, and hardware are original. Look for cracks around screws, lip distortion, and paint loss at contact points. Compare exact sizes because the same family name may span several bodies.
See what collectors are listing now
Inventory changes constantly. Open a focused eBay search and compare markings, condition, boxes, and seller photographs before buying.
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