There were 3 models of the oreno:
- 1/4 oz: spin-oreno - great smallmouth lure; even caught very large bluegills with this size
- 3/8 oz: bass-oreno - everything
- 5/8 oz: babe-oreno - large pike, musky, stripers
All were made of wood (pine I think) and came in about 8 different color schemes. I always had the best luck with the basic red/white. I have 2 left and I'm not using them for Anything until someone produces them again.
Luhr-Jehnsen bought the rights to it and produced some into the early 90-s. They made them of plastic though and they didn't have the same action. I think they sold the rights to someone else but I don't have that company's name.
There are other sites which have the exact dimensions of the bass-model. You will need a lathe (with a duplicator tool if you have an oreno), a drill press, some dowels and most importantly those hook straps with the tiny screws as well as the large eye screw. Remember that the tail hardware is different than the belly hardware. None if this makes any sense to try if you can't get the hardware.
I'm sure South Bend had the turning equipment but it's long gone by now. You make a pair of lures at a time:
- cut a length of dowel a bit longer than twice as long as one lure.
- start in the exact center and work out to each end, tapering as you go.
- in the exact center, using a drill press, drill a 60 degree angle through the wood with the right diameter bit (matches the lip diameter). I sense SB might have had a drill-type grinder or sander for this step.
- you may have to cut the two apart at the hole but you'll have 2 lures at once.
- cut the tail ends to size.
- sand them down, prime them, paint them and put the hooks & eye screw on.
Simple, right?
lol
