History of Virgil Ward and his Bass Buster Beetle Spin

[@RetroBassin]

Special thanks to Dan Galusha for his help on this episode! Check out the World of Virgil Ward documentary on Dan's channel! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYenqauKjZlsicU

[@Darkman-Fishing]

What I know of Virgil Ward came from an article from Ned Khede so I'm looking forward to the Documentary. Seriously under appreciated and not mentioned enough cause his contribution to bass fishing was important to the growth of bass fishing

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

Thanks for the link👍👍I SO wanted to travel and catch alot of fish like Virgil when I was 11.

[@sghoston]

Virgil Ward was one off the greatest fisherman of all time, and he had a huge impact on my love for fishing during my formative childhood years! Thank you for the clip and thank you Virgil.

[@RetroBassin]

...wherever fish are biting, that's where he's gonna go.

[@adamperkins4305]

16:51 best fish dance ever 😂

[@scottwinslow940]

Wow! What an awesome video. I am 66 years old and remember Virgil Wards fishing show. Virgil Ward, Bill Dance and Hank Parker were my favorite sport fisherman. I also liked Jimmy Houston and Roland Martin.

[@carlmchale8341]

One of my absolute favorite videos I really do enjoy rewatching it

[@andywilliamson7846]

All the Scorpions I bought, like at 12:27, came with vinyl skirts. It was/is a great THROBBING spinnerbait as is the Tarantula. I still use mine sometimes, but not where there are northern pike!

[@fattbizzle]

This is cool as hell!!! Glad I stumbled into this video.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Bizzle! We drop old school video every weekend!

[@chestophercolumbo4561]

Bought a happy smile to see your kids having fun!!!!

[@robertveith2255]

Love that patch they should bring it back !!!!!!!!

[@flintlockDave]

Virgil Ward = Legend! Awesome episode.

[@RetroBassin]

So glad I got this one off the ground!

[@JimmySutton-uy9pg]

Yes sir used to watch him every time he was on tv 👍👍

[@scottfiber9366]

Had a chumm'n stick when i was young. Have been looking for one lately. I had the glitter one. Found jb's fish sauce and reminded me of the bass buster stick. 1st of it kind back in the day. Found field and stream ad from 1984 for them.

[@RetroBassin]

Those are tough to find these days!

[@DennisRegling]

The Beetle Spin is my favorite Smallmouth Bass lure

[@RetroBassin]

What size do you throw?

[@DennisRegling]

@@RetroBassin Usually 1/8 oz. My daughter caught her first largemouth and her first white bass on consecutive casts (first two casts of the day) on a 1/8 oz Beetle Spin.

[@markschwieterman2296]

Love the vids keep it retro

[@terryporche9059]

Beetle Spins caught a lot 5-6 pounders in late 60’s & early 70’s. My favorite was the Tarantula and black and chaurt silicone skirts. Still make them today.

[@j.t.cooper2963]

I grew up watching Virgil Ward's Championship Fishing show, long before anyone else. There is no better fishing theme song than his. Gone Fishin' with Harold Ensley is another old school favorite.

[@Stumpjack]

Looking into Virgil Ward again. I recall watching his show with my grandpa when I was just a little fart. As I got older I tended to think that Virgil wasn't all that cool, with his gym teacher appearance and old-timey eye glasses. So I gravitated toward anglers like the Lindners (bearded northwoodsmen) and Roland Martin (Roland looked like a California surfer). Little did I know, Virgil was actually cool as heck, with a TV show that gave all those other guys the inspiration to start their own. I still remember the melody of his theme song. God bless Virgil Ward, he was definitely The Man!

[@RetroBassin]

Virgil definitely before my time, in fact, don’t think I knew the Bass Buster connection before I started this retro journey…

[@robertveith2255]

I still use the Beatle Spin a friend of mine caught a musky on 1/4 oz

[@rockyraab8290]

What memories. I was their age when I watched Virgil's show. He and Gaddabout Gaddis were my favorites, the latter because of his airplane.

[@cag1763]

I watched the flying fisherman...what year was tha

[@robertveith2255]

They should run those tournaments like that today !!!!!!

[@macprince5667]

I caught several bass on the tarantula.

[@RetroBassin]

Wish I could find one of those!

[@SumDood1]

Nothing better than seeing the youngins catch fish! Awesome video!

[@gizmocarr3093]

Great video looks like you have two fishing pals for life.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Gizmo. Don't think Iaconelli gets as excited to catch a 1 pounder!

[@valindajones1602]

My first job. Rigging at Bass Buster's 1974.

[@RetroBassin]

What!? Do tell please! Would love to share that with the Bassin’ Buds!

[@robertveith2255]

A friend of mine caught a musky on a Beatle Spin 1/4 oz !!!!!!

[@saltysailor141]

I’m assuming that’s your son Retro? What a blessing….to see that passion and enthusiasm from a youngster! Really made me smile. Took me back to that age for a moment….appreciated the simple joys like the tug on a line! You’re a blessed man. 🙏 🎣 keep up the great channel!

[@americafirst7794]

I still use the Beatles pin but what I use for the trailer is I take a real small small boot tail and put on there it works great still to this day but I'm old school also

[@fishingalot247]

Just found the channel. Awesome idea for a fishing channel. Subbed

[@RetroBassin]

Welcome aboard this olde thyme vessel, good buddy! Fish it old school!

[@fishingalot247]

@@RetroBassin definitely want to learn more about Virgil ward now and how bass fishing became what it is today

[@tomjohnson8479]

More fun stuff!!

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Tom. Those kids had a blast (from the past).

[@jonathanhomesley4895]

We definitely need a cover of Virgil’s tune!

[@RetroBassin]

Hear that, Tom???

[@andywilliamson7846]

I first saw Championship Fishing in the early 1970's. Before Virgil's last theme song, there was a different tune used for the show, though I am pretty sure it did not have words.

[@treylawrence8152]

Dude, great stuff...great content on such a significant lure and personality in fishing history, and then fishing with your kids (and them catching several)...that's the good stuff in life.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Paul! Love it when they go full “Ike.”

[@daleporter9162]

I still use the beetle spin for panfish fishing. I do extremely well with them in northern Michigan.

[@teamflanneloutdoors5631]

Grew up watching Virgil on one of the 4 tv channels. He reminded me in mannerisms of my PamPaw (Mom's side), might have been the jumpsuit. Dude would always catch fish at any location, back in the studio he would demonstrate the chosen technique of hopping a jig off bottom. Every week, regardless of species or location, same hopping not motion. Of course I couldn't repeat that from the bank without losing lure after lure! Too this day I still call someone who is on the bite "Virgil Ward"😎

[@projekpat86]

One of my favorite lures for the north woods of Wisconsin, caught my largest bass ever on one of those, 22" bass on the see through dark purple color , which I believe is discontinued and hard to find

[@jerrythefisherman94]

That was one of the first fishing shows I watched.

[@randallpinkfloyd7225]

Still have an original bass buster beetle spin and scorpion in my tackle! Great video!

[@RetroBassin]

That Scorpion is a rare find!

[@ericl2969]

That black lure at 5:00 in the documentary that you gave us the link to looks very much like a "Midget Digit" from Heddon. The Midget Digit was basically a miniature River Runt, except I don't think they had a floating model as was the case with the River Runt. If that was a lure made by Virgil Ward, I'd say it was a knock-off of the Heddon original, and it even had Heddon's exact color pattern. That prop lure next to it might have been a knock-off of another major brand, though I think a number of lures were made in that shape and style back then. Maybe they just grabbed a couple of common old-time lures to use as background as this part of the topic was presented, not worrying about whether the viewer might recognize them.

[@moncorp1]

Came for the theme song, stayed for the victory dance. epic

[@40s9s3]

First artificial i caught a bass on was a beetle spin

[@thorpypoo]

The 1980's packaging and branding was the best.

[@RetroBassin]

It really was!!!

[@Smithsfan71]

The first bass I ever caught was on a Beetle Spin. I went through a lot of those and Chummin Minnows. It always seemed when nothing else worked, they’d hit a beetle spin. Great video!

[@RetroBassin]

Waylon got one of his two on the Chummin Minnow...I kinda like that bait!

[@dennisreglingwondershowsfo6485]

Beetle Spins still rock. I always put a Beetle Spin on my daughters' lines for them when fishing. It's a lure I know will catch fish. One day, my one girl caught a Largemouth and a White Bass on her first two casts - on a Beetle Spin

[@jefferystovall9617]

I remember that one bettle spin that you adjust the spinner blade.

[@RetroBassin]

I need to see that!

[@Darkman-Fishing]

Check out what you can about unsung hero Chuck Woods who invented the Beetle spin and who had a huge influence on Mid west finesse aka The Ned Rig Old school for sure

[@RetroBassin]

Yes, I saw his name in the research for this episode. Any direction you can point to Chuck Wood would be much appreciated...we are all about unsung fishing heros at Retro Bassin’!

[@Darkman-Fishing]

RetroBassin Check out Ned Khede articles on infisherman.com He has history of mid west finesse and talks a ton about Chuck woods, Seriously unsung hero of finesse fishing and fishing in general. He even has the only know photo of Chuck woods.

[@Big_Johns_Life]

Remember throwing a bunch of there baits as a kid catching a lot of bass and bream

[@RetroBassin]

Man, it's been years since I threw the Beetle Spin...but I think that's gonna change!

[@yesterdaytech9569]

You should pick up a 1988 kids Zebco micky mouse catch'em fishing combo. There getting rare and it was my first combo.

[@bassguy1960]

Caught my very first bass on a Bass Buster Beetle...no spin...purple with black head

[@RetroBassin]

If you had one lure for jr. anglers, that would have to be it!

[@robertveith2255]

Jimmy Houston fish the Road Runner all the time !!!!!@

[@robertveith2255]

Jimmy Hughson use to his fish all the time great guy could be funny at times !!!!

[@lets_fish_already_9345]

I've heard that the beetle spin inspired the ned rig and now people are starting to put wire arm spinners on ned rigs and fishing them in a similar way.

[@thorpypoo]

Remind's me a bit of Hank Parker's "BP Kids' Corner" segments.

[@RetroBassin]

I appreciate those segments more the older I get!

[@victorremick9721]

And that's how it all starts.

[@RetroBassin]

Yesssssss!

[@garylee1544]

That Fish Dance was Hilarious. Does he do that every time he catches a fish?😅

[@Darkman-Fishing]

I want a version of every theme song Roland Martin Jimmy Houston And any other I can't remember (loved the Orlando Wilson one)

[@RetroBassin]

Me thinks we need a campfire fishing’ song session with Bluetooth Brandon (who is mean on the vibraslap) and Tom Lamb!

[@carlmchale8341]

I was wondering how long you were going to make me wait for this video definitely one of your best yes we would like to hear a remake of Virgil song and please don't ever compare the googan clowns to one of the original classics

[@SWCFLORIDA]

When all else fails. Beetle Spin. Good video. The specks (crappie) here tear up a beetle spin. Yellow and black. Our latest video we do a little speck fishing. Check it out. Keep on fishing

[@Mattschwag]

Awesome show. Love the history and appreciate you keeping it alive. Would love to see you do a show on my hero and in my opinion my the best bass fisherman to ever walk this Earth..Mr Doug Hannon. Keep up the good work

[@RetroBassin]

I have a collection of Hannon Snakes and Moon Clock...and yes, that’s in the column of “wanting to do that show for a long time”!

[@BradW.]

Breaking out the Zebco 202 with the Beetle Spin, two great classics! I think these two fishing buddies catch more fish than your other buddies too, just sayin. Hahahaha!!!

[@RetroBassin]

That they do! Hahaha

[@eaglespetty]

Caught many Bass, Crappie and Bluegill on a Beetle Spin over the years. Have you seen the rattling Beetle Spin?

[@madtownangler]

Virgil didn't invent the Beetle Spin. I think he may have changed the mixture to make it a little softer though. Plus I think he made the single tail Beetle Spin whatever that was called. I got a huge bag of Beetle Spins for a high school graduation present from a friend of my dad. I remember seeing old episodes of his show in the 80's but I don't know if any of them were original. I can't seem to find when the show with him in it was finished.

[@RetroBassin]

I read that Chuck Wood invented the Beetle Spin before selling it to Bass Buster, but I wasn’t able to find any more information other than that...hopefully we get a Part 2 on this amazing lure!

[@aarondavis8224]

No matter what video you upload theres always at least one thumbs down. How do you watch those kids fishing and give it a thumbs down? some people LOL.

[@RetroBassin]

I’ll give a thumbs up to that comment, good buddy! Thanks for tuning in!!

[@carlmchale8341]

And those chumming minnows are absolute garbage

[@CrunkyOMan83]

Lol