Makinen lures were first produced commercially in 1940 when William Makinen started the Makinen Tackle Company in his basement in Kaleva, Michigan.

The Makinen lures were such a success that by 1946 the company had over 100 employees and was making lures out of a 34' x 200' factory.

In 1947 Heddon contracted to have Makinen finish most of their lures. The bodies were made by Heddon but the painting, hardware attachment and boxing of the lures was all done by Makinen.

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Heddon paid Makinen a fixed amount per lure and a $5,000 bonus for every 100,000 lures they made. By 1951 over two million lures had been made for Heddon.

Heddon bought the Makinen Tackle Company when they realized how much they were paying in bonus money.