Review: Bob Guist's Guide to McGinty and Phantom Minnows

Well, it's been a couple of months since Whitefish Press rolled out a new book, so it is really nice to announce that Bob Guist's long-awaited book on McGinty's and Devons is ready to ship.


The American McGinty and Devon Minnow: Identification and Price Guide covers these misunderstood lures in tremendous detail. Bob Guist, author of a well-reviewed book on Phantom minnows, helps to shed light on these confusing lures, from its origins in the wake of World War I to the the heyday of the Michigan "River Rats." Working on this book, I was surprised how many varieties of McGintys there were, as well as the number of companies--big and small--that made them. Just a few of the names include Pflueger, Eppinger, Horrocks-Ibbotson, Paw Paw Bait Company, Abbey & Imbrie, AL&W, John Popplecheck, Ed & Delores Miller, Chuck Hayes, and Steve Oravec. Better yet, the book covers in appendices the related Bellhops, Whammys, Wobblers, and Jumping Jacks used by the river anglers alongside the better known McGintys and Devons.


The book is full size 8.5" x 11" softcover, 100 pages in full color, with many, many lures never before pictured in print before. As the cost of printing in color is astronomical (and recently went up AGAIN), I don't know if I'll reprint this book in color again after this initial run of 100 sells out. So if you are wavering, don't. The book is available for sale only by clicking here. Get yours and introduce yourself to the world of McGintys, Devons, Bellhops, Whammys, Wobblers, and Jumping Jacks.

-- Dr. Todd