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Company Information
It was the late 1950s and Harry Ehlers, an
avid fisherman and advertising executive at
Solo Marx (better known as Totes, makers of
rubber rain boots) observed a boot mold being
dipped into plastic. He had the idea to
create a fishing lure using the same method.
As with many fishing lure businesses, Snag
Proof started over the kitchen stove. Mr.
Ehlers combined his knowledge gleaned from
working at Totes Rubber Company with his love
for fishing and created a soft, hollow-bodied
frog lure for catching big bass from weedy
farm ponds.
Encouraged by fellow outdoorsmen at Solo
Marx, Harry began working at night developing
the lure and a machine that could produce a
number of lures at once. Advertising in the
classified section of Field & Stream and Fur
Fish & Game soon brought in the orders to
make Snag Proof a full-time business. Harry
hired Richard Patmann to help in the
production while Harry's wife Vivian
assembled the lures and kept the books. Soon
the company outgrew the Ehlers' home and
moved for a short time to a little "hole-in-
the-wall" site before moving to the present
7000 square foot location in the northeast
suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. At the time
Harry wondered how they would ever fill the
building. Snag Proof is now busting at the
seams!
Employing 13 people on site with 7 in
production, 1 in shipping, 4 in packaging, 10
who assemble the lures in their homes and
Richard Patmann as plant manager. The core
employees--Lynda Sturgill, Lexie Branham,
Peggy Simpson and Darlene Martin have all
been loyal Snag Proof employees for at least
12 years and Richard for about 40 years!
Harry's son & daughter, Harry Ehlers Jr. and
Connie Ehlers Fuller are co-owners, and with
Mom, Vivian, and the team effort of all
employees, are growing Snag Proof and
producing over 1 million lures annually.
Harry Sr., probably wouldn't recognize the
place! (Sadly, Harry Sr. passed away in
1984.)
Snag Proof produces 23 different styles of
fish-catching weedless lures ranging from
"critters" such as Frogs, Mice, Leeches,
Lizards, Worms, and Craws to Crankbaits,
Buzzbaits,and Poppers. Best known for Frogs,
Snag Proof offers a wide variety of them from
the Original Frog, to the Skirted Frog, the
very popular Tournament Frog and the biggest
frog on the market-- FROGZILLA!
The basic concept; a soft hollow body with a
double hook hugging the sides allows the lure
to slide through weeds, moss, over lilypads
and other structure without snagging. This
lets the fisherman access areas on a body of
water where most gamefish hide and feed and
where ordinary lures can't go. The soft,
hollow body also feels more natural to the
fish and the fish will actually turn the lure
in his mouth and begin chewing it, giving the
fisherman more time to set the hook.
The lures are very effective and, fun to use!
The excitement of a big bass or pike blowing
up through the weeds or lilypads to get at
the frog is terrific! Tournament pros in the
world of bass fishing use them to
consistently up the weight in their live
wells during tournaments such as the B.A.S.S.
Classic. This type of lure is also good for
beginners since they won't be hanging up in
the weeds and cleaning weeds from the lure--
more time to fish!
Branching out into the saltwater market under
the trade name Sea Bay, offerings include the
Twitchin' Shrimp, Crippled Crab and Sea
Demon. These lures sport special cad-tinned
double hooks and holographic glitter bodies.
Ideal for inshore and flats or pole fishing
these lures attract trout, redfish, snook,
and many others.
New products are introduced annually and
current lures are updated as the market
changes. Snag Proof also produces private
label lures.
Snag Proof and Sea Bay lures are distributed
through wholesalers and dealers worldwide.
About 1/4 of production is exported through
agents to Japan, Italy, Spain and Russia as
well as countries in South America.
Catalogs and brochures are available for Snag
Proof and Sea Bay lures and are distributed
at trade and consumer shows and seminars as
well as through consumer requests.
So, if you're planning to fish in a weed-
choked lake or river, your best choice of
lures is in the Snag Proof line of products.
They're 100% weedless and guaranteed to get
more strikes and catch more fish, --and that
makes fishing much more fun!
http://www.greatlures.com/snag/index.htm
View all Snag Proof products here at LandBigFish
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