Rapala - Legendary Fishing Lures

RAPALA - LEGENDARY FISHING LURES by John E Mitchell
Price: £18.99

Published by Motorbooks, Hardback, ISBN 0-7603-2271-6

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Lauri Saarinen was born in 1905 in Finland. At the age of seven, he moved with his mother to Asikkala, 60 miles from Helsinki. The local clergyman mistakenly entered the name of the village they had moved from - Rapala - as their surname in the parish register.

When Lauri Rapala grew up and married, he worked as a lumberjack in the winter and a fisherman in the summer. He thought a fishing lure might help him catch more fish and used a shoemaker's knife, a file and sandpaper, to shape his first successful lure from cork. Tinfoil from cheese packets and chocolate bars formed the lure's outer surface. Lauri melted unwanted photographic negatives onto the lure to create a protective coating, since he was unable to obtain lacquer. That was 1936, and the first 'Wounded Minnow' lure still exists - it's black on top, gold along its flanks, and white on the bottom - just like the minnows of Lake Päijänne, where Lauri fished.

After the Second World War, demand for Rapala lures grew and producing them became a family business. Today, Rapala lures are sold in 140 countries and are responsible for more world-record fish than any other lure. It is the dominant company in a hugely popular sport enjoyed by 44 million anglers in the U.S. alone - more than the number of tennis players and golfers.

To celebrate the centenary of the late Lauri Rapala's birthday, John E. Mitchell, has written this detailed official history with the full cooperation of the family and key associates from around the world. As a lifelong angler and current managing director of the Rapala Normark Corporation, Mitchell is uniquely placed to compile the Rapala story. He has also consulted leading anglers such as Larry Dahlberg, Jan Eggers, and Constant Guigo to offer insightful commentary on the company's fishing gear and their successes with it.

Rapala: Legendary Fishing Lures is 200 pages of detailed product history, record charts and performance information. As such, anglers will eagerly purchase it. However, Mitchell presents much more than a comprehensive historical account. Drawing on personal, company and historical archives, he includes many fascinating stories and anecdotes - which broadens the appeal of the book. For instance, many readers will be surprised to learn of the role Marilyn Monroe played in the company's growth. With many colour and black and white illustrations, Rapala: Legendary Fishing Lures is the book you shouldn't let get away.

About the author
John E. Mitchell is a lifelong angler who started fishing at the age of eight. In 1977, he joined EMAP, the largest publisher of fishing magazines in the UK. He's worked for Rapala since 1982 and is currently managing director of the Rapala Normark Corporation. He lives in Devon.