Shane Knight, a steadfast collector of Hoosier baits, met with Jackie Neukam, the daughter of Joeseph Neukam, maker of Joe's Doodlebug. Jackie provided Shane with a bait box from Joe's own tackle. The box is labled "Top Water, Indianapolis Bait and Boat Company, 1039 South Keystone Indianapolis Indiana."

The coincidence of Neukam's having a box for a lure made in Indianapolis may be insignificant, but there is a possible connection between the Indianapolis Bait and Boat Co. and the Homarth Co.

As the map above indicates, the locations for the Indianapolis Bait and Boat Co. and the Homarth Co. were just a half a block apart. The connection between the Homarth bug bait and Joe's DoodlBug strengthens the possibility of a connection.

Here the story ends with some questions:

• Was there a connection between the Homarth Company
  and the Indianapolis Bait and Boat Company? If so, what was it?

  THE - HOMARTH - CO. KEYSTONE AT PROSPECT INDIANAPOLIS, IND. ------------------- TOP-WATER AND NEAR-SURFACE BAITS "LURES REAL FISHERMEN USE"

• What was the relationship between the Homarth Company
  and Joseph Neukam, maker of the DoodleBug?

  

• Is there really a connection between the Homarth Near Surface Bait
  and the Shur-Strike Big Mouth Plunker?

If you know more about the history of Homarth baits, please write to lurz@hoosierfishinglure.info

Thank you to Shane Knight, Dan Basore, and Rob Pavey, eminent tackle collectors who provided materials and information for this inquiry.