History of the Banjo Minnow: The greatest AS SEEN ON TV fishing lure of all time? 

This is such a great episode. You obviously researched this one to the hilt. The only thing missing is an on-the-water segment, which I assume is in the works. Man, this is almost better than the original info-mercial, because I think - heck, I know, I'm more excited about the Banjo Minnow now than I was back in the day! I love how they've updated the packaging and have improved the overall design. Ken Kerry, Babe Winkleman, Bill Dance...with spokemen like that in the history of the company this lure was custom made for Retro Bassin'. I checked out the website: the Banjo Frog is an interesting addition, but strangely enough there seems to be no place to actually purchase it (at least I couldn't find it with ease). Constructive criticism: I think the website needs to be updated to a more modern look and feel (like the packaging you showed, which is fantastic). But that's just my opinion. The video spots on the website and on Amazon are great, very compelling. So cool to see you highlight this piece of fishing history. Can't wait to see you take the Banjo Minnow out on the water. Super episode and well worth the wait!

I never caught anything on the banjo minnow. Most people here probably dont even remember them but in that kit the banjo frog came with the minnow for free. That thing crushed big bass. I won 3 tournaments in the 90s on the banjo frog alone. That lure in itself was worth the price. Thanks retro

I fished, almost exclusively, the original banjo minnow for like 5 seasons and caught more fish those years than any other. When mentioning to some 'serious' bass fishermen that I used the BM, I was laughed at. Seriously though I know I had the last laugh because boy oh boy do these lures produce fish. Killer.

I loved the og banjo minnow from the 90's. Caught a lot of bass on them. Such nostalgia

I remember all of this. I was 13 years old when all this happened. It was epic!

I had the original kit which my parents got for my birthday. It didn't last long. The northern pike absolutely demolished the lures, and broke/cut lines repeatedly. There wasn't enough hardware in the kit, and once the spring holders were gone i was left with a bunch of useless plastic minnows. I held on to them for years, but it was many more years before you could buy spring holders at the tackle store.

Wayne Hockmeyer. I’ll never forget the name. That funny accent and his ridiculous pitch. Best as seen on TV lure in history. 😂

Great memories here. I remember as a young boy, numerous sleepy eyed, late nights on the couch, captivated by this informercial for the Banjo Miinnow. I watched it so many times I could recite it as I watched. I would take my own lures out to the pool to run my own tank tests. A true classic.

YEAAAAH BUDDY! Birthday is coming up, this is going on my list! Wanted this when I was in my "yout", but Dad said it was a gimmick...they starved those fish in private ponds...what does he know? If he were still able to fish, he'd still be using yellow Stren!!!!

The banjo works. We know first hand …Great one Chris

I was working way too much when these lures were hot to remember the commercials but I do remember the customers asking about them. With the proper editing anything can be sold to a willing audience. Good show.

My dad was obsessed with the banjo minnow baits growing up. First memories are fishing with him 30 years ago. God do I appreciate the summers circling the lakes fishing shore all day long. I'd start at one spot and circle the entire lake. It'd take me 5 hours to circle 1 lake fishing peoples docks.

Looks awesome to me! I use a sluggo which has that erratic action and I crush fish every time I go out. Whopper plopper for topwater is deadly too

I remember as a kid seeing those original infomercials. Saturday morning fishing shows were my weekend priority. I finally was able to convince my dad to call and order. When it arrived I was pumped. I rode my bike down to my friend's house beside the park, grabbed him, and over to the park pond we went. It was the only thing really within bike riding distance for us so that's what we always fished. It would get some real clumpy grass growth so it was hard for us unknowledged kids to fish. So we're back and forth with our one rod, and my friend starts twitching it through the grass and out from the depths comes this gigantic fish snaking its way right behind the BM! It inhales the thing and I don't remember how but somehow it broke off or missed. We were so bummed. We couldn't believe the size of this thing, unlike anything we had ever seen in that basically uncared for pond. Eventually I broke all the rubber bands and had most of the plastics tear. If I knew how to fish then like I do now I bet I would've slayed bass. Maybe I need to give the new version a try? Anyway great video, and Realistic Fishing brought me here.

I still catch fish on these today! When I got a little low after they went off TV, I scored a giant amount of them online - not gonna make a lure company any money to promote them today... but they still work so well!

Yup, I totally got the banjo minnow in the 1990's. And found some more nose screws and supplies when the local bait shop had their going out of business sale. It looked like those parts were sitting in the back for about a decade

When I was a kid I put one of the original kits on layaway at this new store in our town called "Wal Mart". Took me a few weeks to pay off the $30 price tag and take it home. I never even fished them, they got thrown away in 2012 when we were cleaning out the basement. Now that I've gotten back into fishing, I regret throwing them away.

Man this takes me back. I remember getting the entire banjo minnow fishing kit along with the vhs tape for Christmas when I was 5.

I purchased hundreds of the original Banjo Minnow back in the day. I've caught everything on them, From Largemouth, Tarpon, Snook and Peacock Bass on them. At first I thought they were a gimmick until my fishing buddy out fished me 10-1 and I was using wild shiners. The originals had some special liquid scent on them that the fish would just keep coming back for them until they inhaled them. I still have a few hundred in the originals in the original packaging and double wrapped in Ziploc bags.

this was awesome man! thankyou for this episode! As an angler from Maine, I had no idea about the history of this lure! great stuff! thankyou :)

This is an important piece of fishing history... Really great doc.

Great video! Grew up watching those infomercials

I always wanted to try this system. Maybe this spring is the time!! Thanks for the content.

Man oh man I am so glad they are making these lures again. I just placed an order the other day. This video is awesome! I caught some nice fish on the banjo when I was younger. Also happy to see your channel growing, and happy fishing sir!

Still have my set from 20 years ago and works awesome. Love the banjo minnow

When banjo was first introduced I had my brother buy a set and man do they catch fish like the commercial loved it

I loved them! All us brothers got them for Christmas, my oldest brother put a 9.14 pound pb in the ol pontoon boat.

I never had the chance as a kid to fish these but always wanted to! Totally buying some!!!

Awesome episode! Might have to bust out a few I still have buried away 😂

Great video!! Man I'm 39. And I remember hammering large mouth with the white banjo minnow. In the early 2000s. The medium sized one. That's how I found your video. Trying to see if they were still available. I fished a lot of flukes and such Baits over the years, And still do trying to recapture that banjo bite. Man I'm glad I found them again. Can't wait to get them and get them back on the water

I remember the first time I went out to go fishing by myself for the first time without my dad and I caught my first bass by myself and it was a blast! Love the Banjo it’s making me want to go get some more!!

I was hooked in the early 90’s! It straight up caught fish, but didn’t hold up for long. Definitely a “as seen on tv” favorite of mine

That was an excellent video. Nice work especially putting together all that old footage. That took some work to make this one. Thx for sharing it.

A truly great bait! I caught many bass and pike with the BM. I ran across a brand new kit looking for an old reel today. Time to put it back in action!

I was featured on the newest Banjo Minnow informercial because I was praising the lure on Instagram...I have been fishing it since the 90s. This lure is incredible and I have caught the largest fish and the most amount of fish..Bass, trout, catfish, crappie, bluegill hit it but never large enough to inhale it...the BANJO MINNOW works and it's not a bunch of crap..IT WORKS!!!!

I bought the Banjo for my kids mostly! I teased them saying the banjo minnow sux lol singing it and my middle son proceeded to pluck a 4 pounder right from under the dock lol ! Still have a few ! All my kids caught fish on them !

I didn’t know the back story before. Awesome video. A friend and I bought these off an infomercial back in 03 I believe. We smoked bass and pike that summer. We were 15/16. I’m going to buy a new set and give it to him. It would make his week.

006 was so good haha the original was awesome. I caught so many fish on both. Absolutely fantastic lure. Even cause a 17 in brookie on one

You can get all that stuff and make your own... as an old school pro myself, we were making these decades ago. We would make our own molds and melt plastic worms to make the minnows.

I rememb my friends and I pitched in for the kit and after finding out all the components we would go to the tackle store and buy them all separately and make our own kits with all different brands of soft jerk bait , the concept was definitely a fish catcher👍

I remember watching the infomercial as a kid and fell for these, and got some for a birthday present. Never caught more fish that I did that summer. I remember wondering why I never saw these in stores... now I know! Glad to see these baits coming back!

Awesome history lesson ! Love hearing how these baits come into being . Great stuff as always Retro !

I did lots of yard work to buy these suckers back in the day! They worked great.

Nicely done video. I love videos like this on old school stuff. I remember the banjo minno but for some reason I never pulled the trigger and purchased a set. I did purchase. Roland Martin's helicopter lure that's a whole other story haha. Enjoy the content so much. I joined your channel.

Just ordered a set, thanks! I used these when I was a kid and caught tons of fish but couldn’t find them anymore (now I know why). We also skipped them across Lily pads and caught a ton bullfrogs with them.

Love it. You sold this Banjo to me all over again. Keep up the efforts please.

Great video brother and I can't stress enough how much I love the theme song you use

Caught some nice Bass fishing with it and yes it was all the craze in Bass Fishing,Loved it

Ha-Ha.. I was just talking about these and the Helicopter Lures with a friend when this popped up on my feel..😳😳..I swear RU-vid is stalking me sometimes..🤣🤣..Great video brother!! I caught a ton of bass on both in the 90’s.. keep up the great work, liked and subscribed!!

Great episod ! thanks a lot for sharing, very interesting.

Great video Chris. So well put together and informative.

One of my favorite lures by far especially in the river

I wanted the Banjo Minnow so badly as a kid because of the commercials. Finally got a kit and proceeded to not catch one fish on it. This video, and it's comments, has me wondering if I should try rigging something up like it again. I wonder how a small 3" paddle tail swimbait would do rigged up like a Banjo Minnow.

I bought a kit full of these things. I LOVED them. Caught to a of fish.

Loved the banjo frog too.

Oh boy, I remember the banjo was the only infomercial I would actually watch. I also remember begging my parents to grab me a set when I was a kid. I still use them every now and again, they also are being sold again. Happy hooking y’all! 🍻

I was cleaning out my Greg yesterday and found my original Flying Lure kit I bought as a kid in the 90s lol. I put it on the bot to try it again hahaha

I remember taking a guided trip on the Susquehanna River my friend and I told the guide he could fish we were catching with tubes , plugs , top waters , etc I can't recall what possessed me to tie the banjo minnow on my ultralight ( The Flea ) but it was magic Smallmouth after Smallmouth between 18 & 22 inches my friend said give me one of those then the guide said give me one so I handed him my Flea and it was hard to get him to give it back I offered to make him one but he didn't return my calls it was one of those days Thanks for the memories

Great video! I bought some of the original Banjo Minnows back in the mid-90s.

That was amazing info and history! I love the original footage! What a great story of a great bait!! Thank you for sharing my friend!

I always enjoyed Wayne’s thick, upper east-coast accent.

I used to watch this infomercial and beg my parents to buy me the Banjo Minnow, but they never did - definitely contributed to me not getting into bass fishing until adulthood. I mastered bluegill and catfish angling, and even mastered creek fishing landing two trophy sized steelheads, before I ever got into bass fishing. Now, I can't get enough! Definitely gonna pick up a pack or two!

i got some of the original minnos , picked from garage sales back in the early 2000s, also got some of the ones you showed from "06" that my grandfather bought back then

Just before I watched this video, I was cleaning out my ultra light box and found my "As seen on TV" flying lure. Still use this lure and still catches fish. Thanks for the info on this lure!

I really enjoyed this episode. Very informative and has never interested in picking one up. Its like the drop shot but actually usable.

I think I got the first pack in the UK 1996 and it caught wherever I used it. I've still got it - some lures and screws .

I still have a brand new 90's banjo minnow kit. Found it in grandpa's old tackle box.

I can't tell you how many fish I've caught on the original kit. This lure actually helped me become a better fisherman (spinning reels), and I still have some original baits I'm still using to this day. The 006 minnow color choices hurt the bait imo, and if you actually watched the DVD that came with the kit, Wayne shared a secret with the eyes to make the bait swim similar to the original bait. I obviously purchased the new kit and I expect it to catch fish just like the original. Excellent video!🎉

Man I've gotta order some. I didn't know they still made them. I remember wanting them when I was a kid after seeing them on TV but they just disappeared over the years. Nice video!

The banjo frog was the best part, only bait I used fishing farm ponds for basically my entire childhood lol I can remember ordering the kit online when it first appeared and then getting the smaller kits at meijer when that kit was used up. Great bait wish I could still find them

Awesome video! I wonder what the results would be if you substituted a small (4" or smaller) soft plastic (I am thinking ribbon tail worm) or even a Gulp minnow for the included minnow. Might be worth a try! Looking forward to seeing your fishing video test on the Banjo minnow. I see it is out, but haven't had the opportunity to watch it yet! Keep these great videos coming!

I legit still have the ones from the 90’s. One of my parents bought them when I was a kid.

Just got my new kit in this week. Alas the weather didn’t cooperate. Can’t wait to try it out all over again.

i remember when the Banjo minnow was big. its been forever since i fished one and didn't know they started making them again. i might have to get me a pack since they aren't that expensive. would love to see you do a vid on Beetle Spins. they were my go to lure as a teen since they were great at catching multiple species and were dirt cheap. (i have caught everything from bluegill to Bass and even the odd Catfish on them.) i have a whole tray in my tackle bag just for beetle spin stuff (hooks, the little spinners, and tons of grubs of all colors and sizes as well as some appropriately sized curly tails) as far as As-Seen-n-TV lures go my father was a really big fan of the "Flying Lures" (i still have some of the special weighted hooks floating around in "spare crap" tackle box. Also watching some of you vids it seems you are using an old Garcia Mitchell spinning reel, i have one myself and they are fantastic (found mine in the woods at the lake on a busted rod someone just tossed aside.)

Great video as always. Back in the day I was one who picked up some of those. I did not catch any bass .But I had fun

I remember these infomercials on TV back in the 90's!! Had no idea they were still available. Now that buying online is so easy, I will have to get some!

I was cleaning my garage and found my old banjo lure kit in a box lol I never had luck with it.

Wow, this was so interesting!!! We had fun fishing this one with you, even though you out fished me😂. Thank you for sharing this info!!

Ha! This brought back some memories. I caught a lot of nice fish on the original Banjo Minnow! Still have some in a box in the basement.

Cool channel. Glad I found it. Tight lines brotha.

I remember my ex-girlfriend bought me this when it first came out. I caught a couple of fish on it. I've been pouring/shooting plastic since 1994. I have a Silverside Minnow that i designed and had cut. The nose hook technique definitely works. It's great for drop shot, ned rigging, and of course as a nose hooked fluke.

I still use them today.. they work pretty well!

1993 just married and living at lake California. My wife bought me the 110 PC set. In the dead of winter Temps in the lower 20s. A friend and I took my canoe out. I cough a dormant large mouth! Banjo Minnows worked for sure. That was the first and last fish I ever caught with a banjo minnow. See not long after my catch we swamped the canoe in the middle of the lake. It was too cold to do anything but swim to shore. I retreaved the canoe the next day. All else was gone. That's my banjo minnow story.

I used to know the infomercial word for word. My mom was so excited to buy it for me because I was so excited.

I remember telling my dad about this when i was a kid in the 90s watching late night tv. Man i wish i could try it.

I was at a Home Depot in stafford virginia , about 5-7 miles from aquia creek and some other Potomac River bass fishing spots. I look down and there’s a box w old tools, old playboys from the 90s and the whole old banjo minnow set w the vhs. I got it in the garage. Had a $29.95 sticker on it

Just watching this made me want to buy them again!

This is honestly still a great bait to this day. I literally ordered some more of them about a month ago. Although I change out the hooks to something much better lol typically go with owner or gamagatsu. And these things still work

I had good luck on them in neighborhood ponds when I was a teenager. I remember they were a complete pain to rig and that stupid screw would pull out after a fish or two.

I caught tons of fish on the banjo minnow. I was like 8 or something when they first came out. I would go to work with my dad building houses. There was a lake right there. I slayed the bass.

I let it die I let it die I let it die. Still remember those infomercials from back in the day.

Wow! I thought about the Banjo Minnow a couple months ago and wondered what happened to it. I remember being about 10 or 11 years old and begging my parents to buy it for me so I could catch more and bigger fish. Well they finally gave in and ordered it for me and I was so excited to go fishing. And it didn't take long. LITERALLY only 4 casts in, I caught a 3lb'r. And that was only the first of several fish that day and many over the time I used them. I absolutely loved this bait and SO GLAD they're remaking them. Thanks for the video!

A great lesson into the old school world of the banjo minnow.

This is my new favorite channel

I've still got a bunch of these an "uncle" gave me. Idk how good of condition they're in because I haven't used them in about 5 years but I remember them being pretty good

My fishing buddy actually had some of these back in the day. He said it was the only tv lure that worked. Great vid retro!

this brings back some good memories!

Came back to view again this is awesome dude good job

I rig up my inshore fluke style baits banjo minnow style, the legacy lives on!

It's amazing how the lure technology has evolved over the years, by the way retro bassi can you do a video on eagle claw fishing rods?