Old fishing lures have timeless appeal. They take one back to a simpler time, where small craft product production was the norm. Innovation, variety and nostalgia make this hobby rewarding.
If you are a fisherman who has come across and old tackle box full of lures, you know the magic that comes from collecting old vintage fishing lures and tackle. Although the old lures may be dusty, even a little rusted, they are artifacts of a simpler time in America.
Innovation Of The Small-Scale Entrepreneur
During the golden age of fishing tackle, the late 20th century, small lure manufacturers dominated the industry. The few national brands that did exist were not really mass-marketed in the sense that we know today. Most lures were regional contraptions, made in some hardy soul’s garage or basement.
Without having to please mass-market discount stores, the small lure maker could truly innovate. Strange and quirky designs made their way onto shelves of hardware stores and tackle shops.
Heavy Lures Were The Norm
Most antique lures are large - huge, in fact by today’s standards. They were designed to be cast with the crude level-wind reels and stiff rods of the time, and were generally heavy, and ran in shallow water, or were fished topwater.
It was not until the advent of modern lines and backlash-free reels that the smaller lures we know today began to dominate.
Lures To Look Out For
When going through the old tackle box, look for wooden plugs with these names stenciled on them: Heddon, Arbogast, South Bend and Creek Chub.
Although you’ll find lures by these companies produced now, look for older, larger wood models. Lures with the original box and paperwork are considered more valuable to collectors.
Lure Materials
Old fishing plugs are made from a variety of woods, including red and white cedar, basswood and balsa, although most any hardwood could be used.
Hook technology was not as advanced as today, and you’ll most likely find rust on the hooks of older lures, unless they were kept dry.
Paint And Finish
Most vintage lures were painted with a combination of colored lacquer, followed by a coat of clear. One of the most enjoyable aspects of collecting the older lures is the variety and ingenuity of the paint patters.
Old plugs might have intricate airbrushed scale and color patterns, applied by expert craftsmen. While still attractive, this old finish probably would not survive being used regularly, so it’s better not the use these lures, but keep them for enjoyment off the water.
Revolution In Tackle Industry
In the 1970’s we saw the explosion of fishing from a cottage industry to a full-blown mass market. Bass tournaments, large catalog houses and mass market retailers have made lure manufacturing strictly a made-overseas proposition.
With the advent of the Internet, some small batch lure companies can get enough of a market to survive.
Modern Lures Aren’t As Much Fun
Although modern lures have better paint, sharper hooks and run truer in the water, they lack to romance of their older counterparts.
No mass-produced product can equal the mystique and nostalgia of the small-batch, custom made lures of the mid-to-late 20th Century.
These lures will always be popular with collectors, and are steadily increasing in value as the years go by.
I hope this article helps everyone understand the magic of antique lure collecting, a hobby that has fascinated anglers for many years.
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