Last weekend Iron Mike stopped by after going to the Flyfishing Show in Marlboro, MA - he picked up several books to add to his impressive colection, among which was Al Reinfelder's book "The Alou Bait Tail" published in 1969.

He was wondering if anyone had any info on the Bait Tail - I did a Google search and managed to find an old post for him on another site that said Ultimus had the patent and the molds, but I think Ultimus is out of business now.

Anybody know anything about the Bait Tail or the old Alou Eel? I told the Iron Man I'd check it out for him, since I'm sort of his...uhh...Internet interpreter.

Geez, ya know, we really gotta get the Iron Man online - maybe the world might be ready for him at last. :eek:

Never heard of the thing, but if you find any I need a dozen :D


Doesn't the Iron Man have a computer his brother gave him or something? Sounds like a road trip to his house.

Chuck, wear baggy clothes;)

The Alou company was formed by Al Rheinfleder and Lou Palma about 35 years ago. They made the Alou Eel and the Baittail.

The ALou Eel was a rigged rubber eel with a lead swim plate on it. It came in several sizes and a few colors.

The Baittail was a lead jig which used the hind 5 or 6" of a rubber eel. It was similarly to a jig and Sluggo.

I still have a few Alou Eels kicking around. They worked OK. I would say that a rigged real eel would outfish them most of the time.

The company pretty much dissolved after Mr. Rheinfleder tragically drowned while fishing in his canoe in the Delaware River with his son. His son who was wearing a lifejacket suurvived. Al who was not wearing a lifejacket did not. At least thats the way I remember the story.