The Fascinating Story of Cotton Cordell: The Arkansas Lures That Won Bass Tournaments

👉 Get the blueprint. Catch more fish. Spend less money. https://legacyfishingfrank.gumroad.co... This is the fascinating story of Carl "Cotton" Cordell, the legendary Arkansas fishing guide who turned a humble kitchen-table operation into the world's largest fishing lure empire [1]. In this documentary, we trace Cordell’s journey from 1945—when he was a teenager pouring lead jigs in handmade plaster molds and using hair shaved from his own dog—to 1980, when his company was manufacturing a staggering 22,000 lures every single day [1]. You will discover how Cotton Cordell revolutionized professional bass fishing by commercializing the legendary "Big O" [1]. Originally hand-carved from balsa wood by Fred Young in Tennessee, the bait was so scarce and effective that tournament anglers actually rented it for $25 a day [1]. By purchasing the rights and converting the fragile wooden design into a highly durable, mass-produced plastic injection masterpiece, Cordell ignited the "alphabet plug" craze and changed tackle boxes forever [1]. We also dive deep into Cordell’s lasting legacy beyond lures, including his early funding of Bill Dance's iconic television show, his crucial investment in Gary Loomis’s premier graphite rod company, and the ultimate sale of Cordell Tackle to EBSCO, forming what we know today as PRADCO Outdoor Brands [1]. If you enjoyed learning about this incredible piece of fishing history, please like the video and subscribe to the channel for more documentaries!