One of the fishing industry's biggest companies has purchased a longtime legacy brand and jumped full steam into the crappie market.

Pradco Outdoor Brands has acquired Gene Larew Lures, which manufactures and sells fishing lures under its Gene Larew, Bobby Garland and Crappie Pro brands. All three are known among crappie anglers for a variety of lures. Bass anglers are familiar with the Biffle Bug, among others for bass, in the Gene Larew stable.

"We've added two more legendary names - Larew and Garland - to our already historic lineup of fishing brands," said Pradco's Bruce Stanton, Vice President and General Manager of the fishing division. "In addition to growing our bass offerings with Larew and jumping right to the top of the crappie bait category with Garland, we're also getting a wealth of manufacturing experience, industry knowledge and fishing expertise that fully complement the things we do that put us at the top in this industry."

Gene Larew and Bobby Garland were two early pioneers of the soft plastic lure industry. Larew became famous for adding salt into baits with his Salt Craw. Garland was first known for his bass lure creations, one being the Gitzit, and then later for his crappie designs, including today's top selling soft-plastic crappie bait, the Baby Shad.

"Only a couple hours up the road from Ft. Smith (Arkansas), we know PRADCO, Bruce and many of his team, so I'm elated to be passing along my company to them because I know it'll be in great hands," said Gene Larew Lures owner Chris Lindenberg. "They have proven themselves to be a great caretaker of the brands that I grew up fishing with, and I wanted Larew and Garland to have a permanent next home in such a prominent place. I couldn't be any happier than having Pradco be the ones to take our efforts to the next level and beyond." 

Lindenberg brought the two names under one roof soon after he bought the Gene Larew brand and formed Gene Larew Lures in 2006. He added the Crappie Pro brand, a product line of premium jigheads, in 2015.

"The last 13 years have been an amazing ride, and I can't thank our Larew family enough for their hard work and many contributions in helping grow the business to where it is today," he said. "Employees, pro staff, customers and consumers have been great partners throughout this period of accomplishments, and my sincere 'thank you' goes to all."

Lindenberg will remain involved with the Gene Larew Lures operation throughout the transition, and thereafter, for as long as he wishes. He will also continue to run his other businesses in Tulsa, with Western Filter Co. requiring much of his attention in serving the active midstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

Other Larew personnel, including Eli Smith, George Toalson and Gary Dollahon, will continue their roles with the Larew, Garland and Crappie Pro brands under the guidance of Pradco.

"We're a stalwart in the bass market, and we're going to be that way in crappie now, too," Stanton said. "We do have experience with that category since a lot of our Thill bobbers and Bandit crankbaits go in to crappie anglers' tackle boxes, but obviously Garland's presence puts a whole new emphasis on the species for us. But that's good."

Pradco Fishing's product development, marketing, accounting, manufacturing and purchasing functions are managed at the fishing division headquarters in Fort Smith. For now, the manufacturing of Larew and Garland products will remain in Tulsa. 

PRADCO Outdoor Brands is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala. It operates fishing brands such as Booyah, Yum, Rebel, Lindy, Norman, Bandit, Arbogast, Cotton Cordell, Heddon, Thill, War Eagle and Bomber, and hunting brands such as Moultrie, Summit, Whitetail Institute, Texas Hunter and Code Blue.