Heddon 150 Dowagiac 5 Hook Lure

Collecting old and antique lures and fishing tackle is a great hobby. Antique fishing tackle has a have everlasting appeal. They take us to a simple time, where smaller scale lure making was the way things were done. There was plenty of room for innovation, and the diversity of tackle and and abundant nostalgia make this a very gratifying hobby.

Any angler who found an tackle box full of old will know the wonderful feeling that comes from collecting old, antique, vintage fishing lures and fishing tackle. Although the lures may be dirty and rusted, they are work of art of a simpler and quieter period in history.

During the late 20th century, the little lure manufacturers conquered the industry. There were a few national lure brands but they were not marketed the same way as how things are mass marketed now. Most lure were regional innovations that worked well in the locations they were made for.

Many antique lures are larger than life, very big compared to some of the lures that we use today, generally designed for top water or shallow water use.

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The weight was need to prevent backlash on lines, but as fishing reels and lines progress the need for larger lures diminished.

The main lures that are collectible belong to the main lure companies of the time, Heddon, Paw Paw, South Bend, Creek Chub, Pflueger, Arbogast and Shakespeare.

South Bend Fly-oreno

South Bend Fly-oreno

The South Bend Fly-oreno Lure has its roots in the South Bend Bait Company, a renowned fishing tackle manufacturer founded in 1906 in South Bend, Indiana. The company was established by Frank G. Worden and quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality fishing...

Shakespeare Midget Spinner

Shakespeare Midget Spinner

Hey there, fellow angler! Today, we're going to take a trip back in time and dive into the captivating world of the Shakespeare Midget Spinner Lure. This classic fishing lure has been enchanting fishermen for over a century, and its appeal is still going strong. So,...

Heddon Pumpkinseed

Heddon Pumpkinseed

The Heddon Pumpkinseed is a highly collectible and sought-after vintage fishing lure produced by the Heddon Company. It was first introduced in the 1930s and was produced in various forms and color patterns until the 1970s. The Pumpkinseed lure is characterized by its...

Heddon Zig Wag

Heddon Zig Wag

The Heddon Model 8300 Zig Wag is a vintage fishing lure that was produced by the Heddon Company in the 1950s and 1960s. It is a topwater bait that is designed to imitate the movement of a wounded or struggling fish, which can attract predatory fish. The lure features...

South Bend Two – Oreno

South Bend Two – Oreno

South Bend had a lot of lures that shared numbers over time, including the South Bend Two Oreno Lure, which was a series model number 975 and for some reason shared a model number with a King Andy and a Pike Oreno. That would actually explain the Two Oreno since they...

Egyptian Wobbler Lure By Shakespeare

Egyptian Wobbler Lure By Shakespeare

The Shakespeare Egyptian Wobbler Lure is a vintage fishing lure with a long history that dates back to the early 1900s. The Shakespeare Company, which was founded in 1897 and became a leading manufacturer of fishing tackle and other outdoor gear, was the first to...

Heddon Meadow Mouse

Heddon Meadow Mouse

James Heddon & Sons initially released the Heddon Meadow Mouse Lure, a well-known fishing lure, in 1929. Many freshwater game fish prefer mice as a source of food, hence it was made to look and move like a mouse. The Heddon Meadow Mouse Lure was offered in a...

Heddon 150

Heddon 150

An iconic fishing lure that has been a favourite of fisherman for more than a century is the Heddon 150. The Heddon 150 was one of the Heddon firm's most popular lures as soon as it started being produced in the early 1900s. James Heddon founded the company in 1894....

Creek Chub Plunker Wood Fishing Lure

Creek Chub Plunker Wood Fishing Lure

The Creek Chub Plunker is a vintage fishing lure that was first introduced in the 1920s by the Creek Chub Bait Company. The lure was made of wood and was designed to create a loud popping sound on the surface of the water, imitating the sounds made by feeding fish....

Creek Chub Striper Strike

Creek Chub Striper Strike

The Creek Chub Striper Strike is a vintage fishing lure that was first introduced in the late 1950s by the Creek Chub Bait Company. The lure was made of plastic and designed to target saltwater game fish such as striped bass, bluefish, and redfish. The Striper Strike...