COLLECTING VINTAGE FISHING LURES
The collecting of vintage fishing equipment, such as antique lures, fishing tackle, rods, reels, ice decoys and other pieces of angling history and memorabilia has become very popular. The hobby of collecting antique lures is filled with as much history as any other hobby or collectable out there. Starting an antique fishing lures collection can be a very fun hobby and a rewarding investment. Not only is it fun to track down these vintage lures, but understanding the value of your collection can be even more gratifying. Vintage fishing lures, produced by such proud makers as Heddon, Creek Chub, and Shakespeare, have become highly collectible in recent years.
James Heddon created one of the earliest artificial fishing lures in the 1890’s, carving a tiny frog out of a piece of wood and attaching it to a hook. Soon he was making them for friends, and by 1910, he and his sons had a large factory in Dowagiac, Michigan. Their first big breakthrough was The Heddon Underwater Minnow 150, a basic minnow with painted eyes and gills, now regarded as one of the most valuable collectible lures. The company continued to innovate with bass lures, fly lures, and better rod technology, and by the time it was sold in 1951, was producing as many as 15,000 lures a day. Famous Heddon models include the Dowagiac, the Zig-Wag, the Frog Scale, and the Lucky 13.
The first wooden lures were made in the late 1800s, and their golden age was from about 1915 to the 1950s. Condition is very important, and certain colors of paint, or designs, are considered rarer than others. Lures that have been repainted or lost their paint have little or no value, and the box a lure came in may be worth as much as the lure itself (for example the early sliding top, box jointed, and wooden boxes). When plastics first came out in the early part of the last century, it revolutionized the making of lures. Wood lures didn’t hold up well over time, and lost thier paint and appeal after catching several fish, whereas plastics held their colors and condition. Therefore, do not rule out plastic lures in your quest for old collectibles, even though the lures may look newer than the wooden choices available. Do keep an eye out for lures that look warped or bulged out, as a plastic lure will do that when left in a hot vehicle over time.
To begin with, one should collect the lures you like. You will run across numerous antique lures while searching for collectible pieces. Flea markets and on-line auctions are excellent sources of finding a variety of vintage fishing lures. If one wishes to become a serious collector of vintage lures, consider joining the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club (NFLCC). This organization has more than 50,000 members worldwide. It draws awareness to fishing tackle collecting as a hobby and assists members in finding, identifying and trading vintage fishing equipment. It also allows you the opportunity to meet other collectors and attend conferences on the subject.
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Before beginning to collect, it is wise to research the subject and learn as much about collecting vintage fishing lures as you possible can. The incredible number of lures available for sale will be confusing to the beginner, and researching the subject will allow you to have a better understanding of what you are collecting and how to make money with your collection if you choose to. Books such as “Fishing Lure Collectibles: An Encyclopedia of the Modern Era, 1940 To Present” (Fishing Lure Collectibles) and “Old Fishing Lures and Tackle: Identification and Value Guide” (Old Fishing Lures and Tackle) will help you tremendously with your collection. Carl F. Luckey, Russell E. Lewis and Harold E. Smith have put out some fine publications on the subject, to name a few.
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