![]() They made version three of the plastic Creepers. In the early 1960's the Phillips Fly and Tackle Company of Alexandria, Pennsylvania acquired the rights.The second set made by Hew Plastic Sales Company of Erie, Pennsylvania were of lighter plastic material starting in 1949.The first set of early plastic Creepers or Exley Creepers made out of Wesleyville, Pennsylvania around the end of WWII until 1949 were made of heavier plastic.The original period started in the mid 1940's where few wooden baits were made by Reginald Chet Exley as the company began.To read more about him and a story of the development of the LeBoeuf Creeper, read Old Mossback and the LeBoeuf Creeper. Exley, Sr., was the inventor of the LeBoeuf Creeper. Chet Exley of Irving, Texas wrote to report that his Great-Grandfather, Reginald C. Thanks, Jay, for your comments - anyone know about the answer about the patent lawsuit? The crazy crawler was a complete flop on a fast retrieve. He took the crazy crawler that had a tendency to roll over at any kind of speed retrieve flattened it and lowered the center of gravity and made a lure that when properly tuned could be retrieved with bait almost out of water and only the wings in the water. This was one of the great lure improvements made by innovators. They are hard to come by or at least have been for me. UPDATE: Jay Lucas writes to ask, "Why did LeBeouf quit making creepers? From my understanding it was a patent infringement lawsuit by Heddon? Also I think you may be a little low on trade value of the creepers. ( Additional note: these price estimates are from the original 1997 article.) (NOTE: White's book mis-spelled the company name as LEBOUFF). Wood Creepers run about $100 while the heavy plastic versions go for around $40-$45 and the lighter versions for $10-$15. The lighter plastic version came in both those colors plus a solid black, but the frog colors were in multiple shades of green rather than just one shade. The wood and heavier plastic versions came in two colors, leopard frog and bull frog. One key difference besides the type of plastic used is in the eyes, with the heavier version having an 'embossed' eye while the lighter version has a painted eye. Still later, in the 1950's and until the 1960's, a lighter plastic version was made. Sometime around 1947-1949, the 'heavy' plastic version of the lure was made, again in two sizes. These lures came in two different colored cardboard boxes, one a solid lime-green and the other maroon. Like Heddon's Crazy Crawler, it was a surface lure which 'waddled' from side to side across the surface of the water due to its metal wings. The original version of the lure was made of wood and it came in two sizes, 2-1/2" and 3-3/4". Little has been written on the LeBoeuf Creeper so take notes! This lure was made by the LeBoeuf Bait Company of Pennsylvania, starting sometime in the early 1940's, probably 1942 or 1943.
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