Area Rule Engineering Lures
Area Rule Engineering lures are legendary, scientifically developed offshore trolling baits created by California aerospace engineer Brooks Morris in the 1980s. Morris applied aeronautical fluid dynamics and the transonic "area rule" concept—used to decrease wave drag on supersonic aircraft—to create highly stable, high-performance big game trolling heads.
Iconic Models & Variations
- Doorknob: The "Doorknob": The most famous model features a distinct hourglass shape. Designed using airflow technology, its unique head architecture allows it to track smoothly at extreme high-speed trolling runs up to 20 knots without tumbling, spinning, or blowing out.[1, 2, 3]
- The "S. Softie" Series: Highly sought-after vintage 4.75-inch semi-soft heads poured in California during the 1980s. These semi-soft heads were engineered so that when a billfish strikes, the texture feels natural rather than hard resin, encouraging a solid hold. [1]
- Trolling Bubbler: The "Trolling Bubbler": Heavy-duty 12-inch variations featuring an integrated internal bubbler chamber within the doorknob head, producing a massive, continuous smoke trail to trigger aggressive strikes from marlin, wahoo, and tuna. [1]
- Fish Skin Flyer: The "Fish Skin Flyer": A rare, collectible variant showcasing authentic fish-skin inserts beneath the head, mimicking a flying fish. [1]
The Legacy
The brand cemented its place in sportfishing history during the 1980s when an Area Rule Doorknob was used to land a 1,062-pound blue marlin (a "grander") at the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT). Because the original molds are no longer in production, authentic vintage heads are highly prized collector's items on markets like eBay. [1, 2, 3]
Are you looking for an original Brooks Morris vintage head for a collection, or are you looking for tips on skirting and rigging a Doorknob for high-speed wahoo and marlin trolling?
