Vintage Fishing Lures

Fishing lures have been around for centuries, with Native Americans and other explorers designing and creating their own fishing lures out of bone. While anglers have advanced greatly from using a hand held piece of fishing line to elaborate rod and reels, it wasn’t until the early 1900’s that fishing lures were sold commercially. Up until the beginning of the 20^th century, fishing lures were designed and created by craftsman and sold directly to customers on a per-order basis. It’s these vintage fishing lures that many anglers now want to get their hands on so they can own a piece of fishing history.

What Makes a Fishing Lure Vintage?

Some people think that the word vintage is just another term to describe something old. However, vintage items are those that are hard to find and also hold a piece of history. A vintage lure is one that originated in the early 20^th century or earlier. There were only a few manufacturers of fishing lures back then, so it’s not uncommon to find antique lures from the same manufacturer at pawn and antique shops. Some of the more well-known manufacturers are Heddon, Shakespeare, Creek Chub, and Pfleuger.

Another way to tell if a fishing lure is vintage is if it appears to be handcrafted, including hand painted designs and attention to detail. The hooks may also look different than modern fishing lures, with a larger number of hooks or a more barbaric look to the fish hooks. Most antique dealers and pawn shops will categorize vintage lures by manufacturer or design.

Collecting and Selling Vintage Lures

As with most other collectable pieces, lures have their own guidelines when it comes to buying or selling an antique lure. The condition of the lure is the most important aspect when choosing whether or not to buy, and it can greatly affect the amount you’d get if you were selling the lure. You need to take into consideration the age of the lure when buying or selling.

While some people do consider lures from the 1980s and 90s as vintage, it’s the lures from the early 1900s and before that can run $100 or more.

Selling vintage fishing lures can earn you some extra money, especially if you have lures in mint condition. Whether cleaning out your own collection or just selling off someone else’s collection you happened to pick up cheap, you can sell vintage lures to antique dealers, pawn shops, or individual buyers. The vintage lure boxes are also big sellers for collectors. Whether you buy or sell vintage lures, it’s always neat to own a piece of history.