A quest for classics ends in a score that will be tough to top!
As a fisherman in the Northeast, we’re all far too familiar with the offseason. Some guys enjoy the downtime, some clean and prep their tackle. Many, like myself, build lures, others switch to hunting. I too, switch to hunting but it’s not bucks, or ducks, its lures! Vintage saltwater lures. Upon stumbling across the Saltwater Lure Collectors Club (SWLCC) a decade ago, I’ve been hooked. It was at that time I began my collection, ranging from common flea market finds, to rare folk art, I finally had to hone my craft and decided to go all in on anything I could find from local Rhode Island and Massachusetts legend, Charlie Murat.
Admittedly, I’m still riding the high from my last big score: a Murat Mureel Jr. in a rare white box. Field finds like that come once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. Or do they?
I was sound asleep between double shifts when my phone started to ring — and ring — and ring again. Exhausted, I rolled over, but then came the follow-up text, “Check your messenger ASAP.”
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I figured I was dreaming. The photo showed a Murat swimmer, goldish in color with old school eyes. Not a completely unusual sight — until I noticed something strange, no lip. A blank Murat? Now that was interesting. Then, half-awake, I spotted it — the treble was rigged backwards. My pulse jumped. Could this be… a squid plug? A Murat squid plug?!
I reached out to the seller immediately and set up a meeting. All I had to go on was one picture — and 24 long hours to stare at what might be something incredible. The longer I looked, the more my mind played tricks on me. By morning, I’d convinced myself it was probably nothing special.
Finally, the moment came. I walked in to meet the seller, Murats in one hand for comparison, cash in the other, and a glimmer of hope in my back pocket. That hope came from one detail, the seller was from Woonsocket. For those who know, Murat’s Tackle was a fixture just over the line in North Smithfield. Back in the ’60s through the ’80s, Northern Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts were hotbeds for striped bass anglers. Murat’s was the shop.
There it was — and it didn’t disappoint. Not only was this backward-rigged plug possibly a Murat squid, but it had something I hadn’t noticed in the photo, a third treble hook. Top, bottom, and rear. Unique, wild, and full of character.
The second I held it, I knew it was real — it matched the look and feel of every Murat swimmer I’d ever seen. The age showed in the warm patina of the finish, hints of gold and pale pink striping down the body, capped off with those classic yellow eyes and a touch of black shading that screamed “I’m a squid” to any unsuspecting striper.
“I’m not sure what brand this is — any ideas?” the seller asked, standing beside a lineup of old Creek Chubs, Atoms, and other classics.
I told him, “In my opinion, it looks like something out of Murat’s — up on Route 146 in Rhode Island.”
He nodded. “Oh, that makes sense. My father worked there!”
Mind blown. What more proof could I ask for?
He went on to tell me his father’s name was Bob Landry, a rod builder at Murat’s from the ’60s through the ’70s. Bob wrapped mostly fly rods, with the occasional surf stick. Once a week, after closing time, the crew would hang around, play cards, and toss five bucks each into the pot.
“Whenever he won,” his son said, “he’d just grab a plug or two off the shelf instead of taking the cash.”
I can picture it now — a smoky back room full of laughter, pull-tab beers, shop talk, and local legends swapping fish stories. Oh, to be a fly on that wall!
As collectors, we don’t always get the full story behind the plugs we treasure. Sometimes all we have are educated guesses, a bit of history, and a whole lot of passion. But this time, I think I might’ve stumbled onto something truly special — maybe one of the coolest Murats out there. I’d love to hear your thoughts or opinions on this piece of history. You can count on it being front and center in my Murat collection at this year’s SWLCC Show. Can’t wait to see you all there — stop by and check it out for yourself.
