Heddon Bass Bug Spook The Heddon Bass Bug Spook was first introduced in 1939 and lasted until 1953. This antique fly fishing lure was made by Heddon of Dowagiac, Michigan. Coming in two different distinct sizes, the fly lures were given model 974 for the Trout size and 975 for the larger Bass size. The […]
Category Archives: Fly Rod Lures
Antique Lure and Reel Ads, Antique Lures, Fly Rod Lures
Jamison Coaxer Floating Trout Fly Ad May 1909
Jamison Coaxer Floating Trout Fly Ad May 1909 Here we have a Jamison Coaxer Floating Trout Fly Ad May 1909 field and Stream article. A Live Artificial Bait This is what JW Jamison of Coaxer bait fame calls the little Coaxer Floating Trout Fly in his catalog. Mr Jamison says that all trout must prefer live flies […]
Heddon Widget Fly Lure This Heddon Widget Fly Lure was first introduced in 1952. This antique fly lure was given model series number 300. This fly lure measures 1 1/4″ in length and has a #10 size treble hook. The lure has a small split shot ring attached to the front line tie on the […]
Heddon Punkie Spook Lure The Heddon Punkie Spook Fly lure was made no doubt due to the popularity of the now famous Heddon Punkinseed lure. This antique fly lure was a series 980, and shown in Heddon’s White Shore Finish Color Code XS and XRW. The lure was made in the in roughly a half […]
Antique Lures, Fly Fishing, Fly Rod Lures, Miscellaneous Lure Makers
Tropical Bait Stormy Petrel Lure
Tropical Bait Stormy Petrel Lure The Tropical Bait Stormy Petrel Lure has always been a favorite with collectors. Ned Danforth of Indianapolis, Indiana was the Owner and inventor of the Stormy Petrel. Ned began making his now famous fishing lures as early as 1935. The Stormy Petrel as it is referred to some as the […]
Creek Chub Fly Fishing Lure Pikie The Creek Chub Fly Fishing Lure Pikie was fist introduced in 1924, born in Garrett Indiana. This now almost 100 year old fly rod sized version of the classic Pikie minnow fishing lure, came in both a bass and a trout size as so many of the Creek Chub […]
Heddon River Runtie Spook Lure The Heddon River Runtie Spook Lure was first introduced in 1937 and was assigned a model 950. This second coming of this Heddon from Dowagiac Michigan fly lure was like many of the other period lures made from plastic. Although first introduced in a wood variation it wouldnt take Heddon […]
Shakespeare Midget Oregon Fly Lure The Shakespeare Midget Oregon Fly lure was first introduced in the 1934 Shakespeare. A copy of the lure catalog ad by the Shakespeare Bait Company from Kalamazoo Michigan is shown below. I apologize for the quality but it was the best I could present. This small wooden antique fly lure […]
Heddon Wilder Dilg Bob Davis Fly Lure We’ve come to know the Heddon Wilder Dilg Bob Davis Fly Lure as Yellow Head Yellow Hackle fly. But, do we know who Bob Davis the American Editor and photographer is? Why is this a face on the cover of the intro Heddon Fly rod antique lure box. […]
Heddon Wilder Dilg Spook Fly Lure The Heddon Wilder Dilg Spook Fly Lure was a transition from its very popular Cork Bodied fly lures over to plastic, or spook bodied lures. The Wilder Dilg itself came to be 16 years prior to this culmination. The spook bodies began production in 1939 and were in the […]
Heddon Wood River Runtie Fly Lure The Heddon Wood River Runtie Fly Lure was first introduced in 1937. Made by Heddon in Dowagiac Michigan this antique fly rod lure was given a series 750. The 1930’s was a time of transition for the America, and the fishing lure industry. In the early part of the […]
Shakespeare Fly Rod Mouse Lure Shakespeare Fly Rod Mouse Lure, or the Swimming Mouse as its referred to sometimes was introduced around the late 1930’s or early 1940’s. The Shakespeare Company of Kalamazoo Michigan labeled it as new in the 1940 antique lure catalog, but Ive learned that sometimes print doesn’t change from year to […]
South Bend Callmac Fly Bug The South Bend Callmac Fly Bug was a series model number 860. The South Bend Bait Company of South Bend Indiana made this Antique Fly Rod Lure was made for over two decades. The lure was first produced beginning in 1921 and ending in or around 1942, you’ll note that […]
Messinger Fly Bucktail Hair Frog Collection We had a historic Messinger Fly Bucktail Hair Frog Collection in on Consignment a year or so ago. Over 40 Messinger Frog’s, no 2 exactly the same a life collection of a fellow NFLCC antique fishing tackle club member. We’ve been given an opportunity to not only help sell […]
Antique Lures, Fishing For History, Fly Fishing, Fly Rod Lures
The Strange History of the Fizgig and Wibble Wabble
The Strange History of the Fizgig and Wibble Wabble Chicago’s Wartime Fly Rod Lures By Dr. Todd E.A. Larson The Summer of 1942 would seem by just about any measure to be the worst time to launch a new business concern. But considering the state of affairs concerning the outdoor world, it might be considered […]
Heddon Tiny Teaz Fly Lure The Heddon Tiny Teaz Fly Lure was first introduced in 1930. This pint sized Heddon lure, made in Dowagiac Michigan was very short lived. While introduced in 1930 this lure would disappear into obscurity by 1934 and not even make the lure line up catalog that year. This tiny little […]
Heddon Bubbling Bug Fly The Heddon Bubbling Bug fly rod minnow lure is Heddon’s Series number 90. The fly rod fishing lure is not your A Typical small trout Fly one thinks of, as you can see in the gallery against a ruler this fly measures 1 3/4″ in length. This antique Heddon fly rod […]
Antique Lures, Collectible Fishing Empherma (Books, Catalogs, Photos, Etc), Fly Fishing, Fly Rod Lures
John Betts Synthetic Flies- Flies with an Edited Hackle – Catch the Hatch
Book Overview 118 pages • handwritten and illustrated • 11″ x 8.5″ • softcover • printed in the USA To Purchase this book visit our sister site Whitefish Press: John Betts Synthetic Flies- Flies with an Edited Hackle – Catch the Hatch BOOK DESCRIPTION This is a wonderful book from the great John Betts containing three […]
Rush Tango Trout Tango Lure 6 Pack The Rush Tango Trout Tango Lure is the smallest of the Tango line up. The old saying is it takes 2 two Tango, well in this case it takes 6! The Rush Tango Trout Tango lure was a fly rod lure measuring 1 3/4″ in length and having […]
Creek Chub Pop It Lure The Creek Chub Pop It Lure was first introduced in 1927. This Fly made by the Creek Chub Bait Company of Garrett, Indiana was made for almost a half of a century coming in just shy at 47 years. That is quite a run for any lure made by any […]
Fly Rod Dingbat Lure The Fly Rod Dingbat Lure Bass size was a series F1400. This antique fly lure was first introduced by the Creek Chub Bait Company of Garrett Indiana in 1937. It would last less than a decade and be gone from the catalogs by 1946. This wooden lure mimics in shape its […]
Paw Paw Indian Sign Fly Lure Box This Paw Paw Indian Sign Fly Lure Box is a great example of a antique fly lure box. Collecting the lures themselves is just one piece of the Antique lure puzzle, or paradigm the boxes which house them and the paperwork inserts is another. Here is a classic […]
Creek Chub Fly Rod Crawdad Lure The Creek Chub Fly Rod Crawdad Lure was a series model number F50 and F51. This antique fly rod lure was first introduced in to fly fisherman in 1924. The fly lure was a success for fisherman and for the Creek Chub Bait company out of Garrett Indiana. Fashioned […]
Jacobs Polly Frog Lure The Jacobs Polly Frog Lure was patented in 1942, and as stated on its box “Being a lure for all game fish”. From the already famous maker of the Jacobs Hoss or Horse Fly lure, we see a new offering. The Polly Frog antique fly lure was available in 4 […]