WEST FRANKFORT (WSIL) — Fishing is a big part of life for many in southern Illinois. And for more than 50 years building the perfect lure has been a way of life for a West Frankfort family.
Gale Warren founded after learning the popular lure had gone up from $0.25 to $0.75. He says after studying one that he already had, he was able to come up with a blueprint that is still used today.
Gale is now retired and his son Eric Warren builds all the spinnerbaits for the company.
Eric says he began building the lures when he was 12 years old and estimates more than a million have been sold since the company was founded. He says all spinnerbaits are built by hand, using American-made parts, and take about a week to assemble.Â
More information about Thumper Spinnerbaits can be found .
Watch the video above to see Dave Davis try his hand at building a Gale Warren Thumper Spinnerbait.