About Us

The History of Z-Ray Lures

Z-Ray Lures have been a proud piece of the Arizona fishing community for more than 50 years. They were developed with a keen and modest design that offer quality and efficiency; a combination that remains the same even today.

Z-Ray Lures were first developed by Joe Wittmann of Tucson, Arizona in 1960. At the time, Wittmann worked as a tool and die maker for Hughes Aircraft. Being so familiar with metalworking, he began bending small pieces of steel until he had just right dimensions. The following year Wittmann Lures was born and featured the one of a kind Z-Ray Lure. Early accounts of those lucky enough to meet Joe Wittmann recall him passing out cigar boxes full of Z-Ray Lures and Wittmann Lure business cards to eager fishermen. They were quickly passed around and widely revered across several states. Z-Ray Lures become a popular trout lure for avid fishing enthusiasts over the decades that followed. Wittmann Lures changed hands in 1990 when they were acquired by E&L Becker Associates, Inc. Also of Tucson Arizona, Elmo Becker and his daughter Lorraine continued the tradition of quality that came to be expected of Z-Ray Lures for another 20 years until they closed shop in 2011.

On behalf of Zona Lures LLC, it gives us great pride and pleasure to once again offer Z-Ray Lures fishermen in Arizona and surrounding states.