The Birth of Wankerdom

Like most good things, Wankers were born out of necessity. 

Back in the early 1990’s we here in Central Texas kept hearing of the magical powers of the red lipless crankbait. Seems our East Texas brethren were hammering some big bags with this red wonder.  Unfortunately for us there were none available in any store and none available through mail order or on line.  The only way any of us who lived away from the shade of the piney woods could obtain one of these jewels would be to camp out in front of some East Texas tackle shop and be first in line when the mailman arrived. 

Well my great friend and tournament fishing partner, the late Sam Moats, and I decided to take matters into our own hands…….  We took some old lipless cranks, sanded them down and began experimenting with different paints, dyes, and clear coats.  Throwing our new creations, we managed a very respectful top 10 finish on our very next Angler’s Choice team event on Lake Whitney. 

Thus, Wankers were born.  It was not long after that the phone started ringing with requests from friends and family to paint and even repair some of their favorite cranks. 

To make a long story short, the requests became so frequent and numerous that a paint station (known now as the Wanker Lab) was set up in a separate building on the property.  The experimentation continued with new paints, colors, techniques, and clear coats until I was satisfied I had quality fish catching colors and a clear coat that is as tough as nails.   

What’s in a Name?

I am often asked how I came up with such a different name as “Wanker” to describe a custom painted crankbait. 

Well, the credit for that also has to go to the late Mr. Sam Moats.  Sam was one of the finest men I have ever met.  He was kind, generous, always optimistic, and one heck of a crankbait fisherman.  In conversation Sam used the word “Wank” in place of other…uh .. more familiar expletives.  I believe he did this to keep from getting in trouble at work (or at home), but I may be wrong. 

Anyway, while fishing a local tournament Sam decided to tie on a new crankbait.  This bait was not only new to him but also new to the market.  After about five minutes of digging through his tackle box trying to find where he had hidden his new secret lure, I asked him what he was going to tie on.  By this time he was pretty flustered and could not remember the name of the bait so he eventually replied, “That Wanker!”  The name just sort of stuck as inspiration.   

Unfortunately complications from cancer took Sam from us in 2004, yet his kindness, gerenorosity, optimism, and crankbait apptitude live on as the cornerstones to the Wanker Lure Company even to this day.