I thought it would be nice to have a document with the basic info about the biggest lure manufacturers. I did some research and some copy / paste work and here´s the result.


Rapala
Dedicated to delivering memorable fishing experiences every time, the Rapala Group, based in Vääksy, Finland (Helsinki Stock Exchange: RAP1V), manufactures and markets fishing lures, fishing line, fishing rods, hooks, terminal tackle, knives and accessories under the Rapala, VMC, Blue Fox and Storm brand names. The company was unofficially founded in 1936 when Lauri Rapala invented the Rapala fishing lure. Rapala maintains its strict standards of quality and craftsmanship while delivering its fishing products to anglers in more than 130 countries.

Berkley
Berkley was founded in Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1937. What began with young Berkley Bedell tying flies in his parent's basement has grown into one of the world's leading producers of technologically superior fishing gear. From the beginning, Berkley has committed significant resources to research and development - a continuing strategy that has resulted in countless product innovations, including Berkley Trilene, the Lightning Rod, PowerBait, and most recently, FireLine.

You have a passion for the sport. And so do we. That's what's made Berkley the world's leading fishing tackle company. Passion. We simply love fishing. When we're not developing products, we're on the water, just like you. This gives us insight into what you're looking for. And even more motivation to come up with products that catch more fish.

Mepps
When French engineer Andre Muelnart invented the Mepps spinner in 1938, it wasn't long before he realized it was an extremely effective fishing lure. He didn't realize, however, he had invented a lure that would revolutionize the fishing tackle industry. It would take a World War and an unusual series of events to do that. It would also take the vision of a man who could see the lure's full potential.

Todd Sheldon (owner of a tackle store in downtown Antigo, Wisconsin) discovered the Mepps spinner in 1951. As the Mepps reputation grew, so did sales. In 1956, Todd sold his store and formed Sheldons', Inc. to focus his attention on his growing import trade. By 1960, sales of Mepps spinners in the United States had topped half-a-million, and sales continued to grow rapidly. Todd set an annual sales goal of 3-million lures.

When all lure sizes, colors and hook configurations are taken into account, Mepps currently manufacturers more than four-thousand different Mepps spinners and spoons. In addition, Sheldons', Inc. now owns Mepps S.A. (Mepps France) and Mister Twister, a premium soft plastics lure company located in Minden, Louisiana.

Storm
Storm Lures is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Rapala/VMC Group (Helsinki Stock Exchange: RAP1V). Founded in 1964, Storm is well known for such popular-selling hard lures as the Wiggle Wart®, Hot ‘N Tot®, Chug Bug®, ThunderCrank® and ThunderStick®. In 2002, Storm’s breakthrough line of soft plastics positioned the company as a dominant player in the category.

At Storm™, we're pretty serious about fishing and not too serious about other stuff. But, that's another story. Our obsession with fishing can be kinda extreme. We believe in getting into the head of a fish to really understand what's goin on. What makes ‘em tick? Ya know what we’re sayin? Like, do they chase slippery wiggle minnows with wild eyes? Yes, in fact they do. Nice. This is what we do and why we do it. Good fish mojo to you and your friends.

Blue Fox
Blue Fox Tackle Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Rapala/VMC Group (Helsinki Stock Exchange: RAP1V). Originally founded in 1932, and renamed in 1978, Blue Fox is dedicated to developing innovative fishing lures and accessories that enhance an angler’s time on the water, while providing great value. Blue Fox is recognized for such popular-selling lures as the Vibrax Spinner, the Pixee Spoon, the Foxee Jig and Dr. Juice fish scents.

Reflecting on the past 25 years, we're comfortable with the position Blue Fox has established in the fishing tackle industry – not the largest, but one of the best. "Smart Like A Fox" are the words we live by.

We understand the intricacies and nuances of sportfishing and develop innovative, niche products best in their categories. In fact, several Blue Fox products are designed for specific applications–spinnerbaits for bass, jigs, for crappies, bucktails, for musky and spoons for salmon.

Bomber
The Bomber Bait Company is the outgrowth of the fishing experiences of two Texas fishin buddies Ike Walker and C.S. Turbeville.

These enterprising anglers began to create and field test lure shapes they carved from discarded cedar power poles, given to them by the local power company. Walker and Turbeville crafted their lures’ metal parts from discarded tobacco cans. Hooks were taken from old lures, sharpened and mounted on their latest models. During WWII such materials were not readily available, thus they had to be creative in their pursuit of the “perfect lure.”

By 1946, these anglers-turned-lure-designers founded the Bomber Bait Company. Their modest production facility was headquartered in Turbeville’s garage. During the early years, the only lure made and sold was the now famous Bomber. In the early 1960’s, they began to design and produce other styles of lures.

Finlandia Ustin
Finlandia Ustin. (Finlandia Lures Ltd.), the Company behind the two world-renowned lure brand-names Nils Master and Bete, has its factory in Kalkkinen, not far from Helsinki.

Here the owners, brothers Hannu & Kalevi Kangas, have been designing, making, tank-testing, and fishing with their range of lures for over 40 years. Their range of lures is broadly divided into plugs under the Nils Master brand, and spoons & spinners under the Bete brand-name.