In the 1940's, a lure called the Michigan Fin-Wing was being made in Traverse City, Michigan. It had been designed by Ernest Bullock and was being sold exclusively at the Bilmar Tackle Shop by his son in law William Brown.

Mr. Bullock passed away in the early 1950's and William Brown moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida around 1951. Thinking that the lure might generate some retirement income, Brown ordered the parts and pieces from the original Michigan suppliers and painted and assembled some lures with the new Florida Fin-Wing name. He operated as Florida Lakes Tackle Company. The lures were sold for only a few years to local tackle shops and fishermen that Brown knew.

There is no way to tell by looking whether a lure was made in Michigan or in Florida. The cardboard box is the only way to know. Only a few Florida Fin-Wing lure boxes have been seen, and they are quite rare. Both of the boxes shown here have the lure model stamped on the end panel.