Around 1917 C.C. Roberts noticed a musky chasing a salamander in the shallows of the Rib River in central Wisconsin, and shortly thereafter introduced the Mud Puppy, the first tail-spinning topwater musky lure. The phenomenal bait, which has inspired dozens of similar lures over the years, has produced muskies up to 52 pounds.
When C.C. Roberts died, his tackle company was willed to Jim Rheinschmidt Sr., who had worked for Roberts as a youth, Today, Rheinschmidt's son, Jim Rheinschmidt Jr., carries on the tradition of manufacturng one of musky fishing's most innovative lures.