Pflueger Pal O Mine Lure 2T The Pflueger Pal O Mine Lure 2T was first introduced in 1925. This Pflueger lure made in Akron Ohio was given the model series number 5000. This smaller 2T or two treble version measures 3 1/4″ in length although it carries the same model number as the larger version. […]
Category Archives: Antique Lures
Heddon Tiny Prey Fish Lure This Heddon Tiny Prey Fish Lure was given a model series number 550. The lure was first introduced in 1982 and was not present after 1983. This plastic shiner minnow was two inches in length and weighed 1/4 oz. The fishing lure was only cataloged in five different colors. The […]
Heddon Flap Tail Junior Lure The Heddon Flap Tail Junior Lure was first introduced in around 1935. Heddon of Dowagiac Michigan assigned it a model series number 7110. The Flap Tail was a close cousin to the successful Heddon Vamp lure. The lure had a very similar tapered cigar shape for its boday. This version […]
Bill Crowder Flash Minnow The Bill Crowder Flash Minnow was introduced in 1958. Bill Crowder lures being made in Newark, NJ all carried a similar motif and style. This solid metal antique fishing lure features a life like fish pattern compete with scales, eyes and even the ridge marks on the tail. This antique fishing […]
Steel Wiggle Frog Lure This Steel Wiggle Frog Lure dates to 1949. Inventor Frank Steel of Wilmette, Illinois Created this 2 1/4″ plastic lure and was granted a patent in 1952. The lure is constructed on a wire harness and has a large clear plastic lip attached to the mouth that has the single forward […]
Pachner Koehler Spinning Minnie Lure The Pachner Koehler Spinning Minnie Lure was first introduced in 1946. The Pachner and Koehler or P&K company was located out of Momence, Illinois. The Spinning Minnie lure measures 2 3/4 inches in length and was also made in a smaller fly rod size that measure 1″ in length. The […]
Shakespeare Antique Lure Ad 1906 This Shakespeare Antique lure Ad 1906 was taken from “The Evening Star” newspaper and shows us the New addition of the Rhodes Mechanical Swimming Frog to its Artificial bait arsenal. The ad illustrates the Shakespeare Revolution, The Shakespeare Wooden Minnow and the Rhodes Mechanical Swimming Frog. Shakespeare Antique Lure Ad 1906 […]
Pflueger Archive Frog Lure This Pflueger Archive Frog Lure is neat little unit. The only reference for fly eaters (Don Wheeler’s Frog Collectors Guide Book) has and shows a few versions of this Pflueger Archives frog. This Metal lure is comprised of two concave halves affixed together at the rings on both the nose and […]
Shakespeare Sure Lure The Shakespeare Sure Lure was one of the companies first and primary baits. The Sure lure was introduced in 1902. This antique fishing lure was comprised of a molded rubber composite. The antique lure made by the Shakespeare Bait Company from Kalamazoo, Michigan measures 2 3/4 in length. This antique fishing lure […]
Bonafide Minnow Antique Lure The Bonafide Minnow Antique Lure is timeless classic. The Bonafide lure made by its namesake the Bonafide Manufacturing Company was located out of Plymouth, Michigan. The patent for this metal minnow lure was given on January 15th, of 1907. The patent was divided equally between both Mr. Hiram Passage and Mr. […]
Heddon Salt Water Torpedo Lure The Heddon Salt Water Torpedo Lure was given a model series number 30XWB. The lure made by Heddon of Dowagiac, Michigan in and around 1946-47. This lure wooden antique fishing lure measures 4 1/8″ in length and features a front screw eye for line tie. The antique lure has no […]
Creek Chub Toad Van Houton Wiggler Lure The Creek Chub Toad Van Houton Wiggler Lure is really a series 200 Baby Wiggler. This model number antique lure made by the Creek Chub Bait Company of Garrett Indiana had been in existence since 1917 and lasted almost a half a century. For close to 50 years […]
Jacks Tackle Pogo Spinner Lure This Jacks Tackle Pogo Spinner Lure was introduced in 1955. Jack’s Tackle Manufacturing Company was located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Jack’s made a small assortment of plastic and wooden lures in the mid 1950’s. This Pogo Spinner is a Smaller version of the Pogo Stick Lure, that you can actually […]
19th Century Fishing Lures, Antique Lures, Antique Reels, Collectible Fishing Empherma (Books, Catalogs, Photos, Etc), Fly Fishing
Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Fishing Catalog
Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Fishing Catalog This Hibbard Spencer Bartlett Fishing Catalog is from 1893. Its one of my favorite antique fishing lure and reel catalogs. The company playing a major role in the outdoor sporting fields both hunting, fishing, and fly fishing for many decades. Acting as a major jobber and distributor of fishing tackle […]
Collectible Fishing Empherma (Books, Catalogs, Photos, Etc), Shakespeare Lures
Shakespeare Bait Company Service Ring
Shakespeare Bait Company Service Ring This Shakespeare Bait Company Service Ring is a great example of one of those add on pieces we can all add to our collection. The fringe pieces that say have no reel (bad Pun) place on any shelf but can add depth and novelty to your antique lure or reel […]
Shakespeare Rhodes Torpedo Lure This Shakespeare Rhodes Torpedo Lure was first introduced in 1934. This antique fishing lure made by the Shakespeare Bait Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan. They assigned it a model series number 6540. This wooden pressed eye lure is essentially as Shakespeare 33 underwater minnow lure. This wooden fishing lure measures 3″ in […]
Siren Minnow Antique Lure The Siren Minnow Antique Lure dates to around 1947. This lure was made by the Siren Life Action Lure Company out of Los Angeles, California. The Siren Minnow lure itself measure 2 1/4″ inches in length and came in two different sizes. The lures were sold in tubes, kid of like […]
Shakespeare Musky Trolling Minnow Lure The Shakespeare Musky Trolling Minnow Lure was first introduced around 1924. This model 972 made by the Shakespeare Bait Company, of Kalamazoo, Michigan measures 5″ in length. This antique spinning lure came with a front fluted spinner attached to the shaft of the rig. The lure has the traditional red […]
Moonlight Floating Weedless Lure The Moonlight Floating Weedless Lure was another in a series of the early Moonlight lure. This version of the self glowing bait red headed bait dates to the early teens. Moonlight, of Paw Paw Michigan used these yellow boxes for a while even though they stated in the early ads that […]
Shakespeare Worden Bucktail Yellow Spot The Shakespeare Worden Bucktail Yellow Spot lure is quite a beauty. I did a post prior on the earliest version of Worden Bucktail Spinner lures, however I thought Id add this asa well to show a different version. This version of the antique lure is a later one. You’ll notice the more […]
Moonlight Zig Zag Lure The Moonlight Zig Zag lure was first introduced around 1913. This early simple top water antique lure made by the Moonlight Bait Company of Paw Paw Michigan was given a model Number Six. This wooden fishing lure with its front sloped face holds the forward line tie. The lure has three treble […]
Smithwick Wood Chug Fishing Lure The Smithwick Wood Chug Fishing Lure was first introduced around 1965. This wooden antique fishing lure was made by the Smithwick Bait Company, of Shreveport Louisiana. The antique lure was given a series C-2200. The lure is in a black and white shore color, color code #24. The ure is […]
Antique Lure and Reel Ads, Antique Lures, Miscellaneous Lure Makers
Nifty Minnie Minnow Tube Lure Ads
Nifty Minnie Minnow Tube Lure Ads These Nifty Minnie Minnow Tube Lure Ads, come from both 1914, and 1915. These ads reveale the lures intended appeal. To try and keep the minnow alive longer. Combining both the qualities of a minnow tube and a 5 hook underwater minnow the Nifty Minne claimed to do both. I […]
Outing Pikey Getum Lure The Outing Pikey Getum Lure was another in the series of Get-Um lures produced in and around 1926. The lure was a hollowed metal lure just like the Bassy and Floater Get-um’s. This lure measures 5/8″ inches in length, and is painted to look like a Northern Pike. The antique lure has […]
Martin Injured Minnow Lure The Martin Injured Minnow Lure in Circa late 1930’s. Martin is a name synonymous with the Salmon Fishing tackle world. Thier standard plugs being great fish catchers for decades. This is a bit of a deviation for the company but this Injured Minnow lure was trying to capitalize on the successful […]
John Mann Tandem Improved Trolling Spoon The John Mann Tandem Improved Trolling Spoon is an early Pre 1900’s or 19th Century fishing Lure. The John H Mann Company of Syracuse NY is one of the most successful grocery, sundries, dry good and fishing tackle store central New York would ever have. Most don’t know Mr. […]
19th Century Fishing Lures, Antique Lure and Reel Ads, Antique Lures, Collectible Fishing Empherma (Books, Catalogs, Photos, Etc)
Izaak Walton Colored Print
Izaak Walton Colored Print This Izaak Walton Colored Print is one of my favorites. I posted the other week a Currier and Ives Colored Trout photo and got good reception, so I thought another piece of art was apropos. This dates to the mid 1800’s and was published by Dean and Company. There are as […]
Heddon Bottle Nose Tadpolly Lure The Heddon Bottle Nose Tadpolly Lure is a really cool rendition of what the Tadpolly lure would become. The lure itself was marketed by the Diamond Submarine Bait Company out of St. Louis Missouri. The lure is a true Heddon made lure but it was called the Diamond Submarine Lure and […]
Fincheroo Antique Lure The Fincheroo Antique Lure is Circa 1972. This lure has a distinguishing hole in the center front of the lure. The lure was made by Robfin of Scottsdale, Arizona. This plastic lure measure 3 1/2″ inches in length has two treble hooks the center of which is held on by a surface […]
Shakespeare Sardinia Salt Water Minnow Lure The Shakespeare Sardinia Salt Water Minnow Lure was first introduced in 1925. This antique fishing lure made by the Shakespeare Bait Company of Kalamazoo Michigan was a series number 721. This wooden minnow was another in Shakespeare’s attempts to create a Salt Water bait casting minnow. The lure was […]
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 […]
Shakespeare Kazoo Minnow Lure The Shakespeare Kazoo Minnow Lure was introduced around the mid 00’s. The lure appears in the 1907 Shakespeare Antique Fishing Lure catalog. The lure was given a series number 33 as it was for most of its standard 3 hook minnow lures. The Kazoo, is one of my favorite lures and […]
South Bend Zane Grey Teaser Lure The South Bend Zane Grey Teaser Lure is a giant antique fishing lure. This monstrous wooden lure was given a model series number 981. This huge salt water teaser lure measures 11″ in length. Originally introduced in 1928 it was in the South Bend antique lure line up for […]
South Bend Plunk Oreno Lure The South Bend Plunk Oreno Lure was a short lived antique fishing lure beginning in 1929 and only lasting 3 years in this form. The lure was given a model series number 929, by the South Bend Bait Company. This antique wooden lure measures 3 3/4″ in length with a […]
Harkauf Jacob Mick Rotary Head Lure This Harkauf Jacob Mick Rotary Head Lure is a lure I thought I’d share due to some of the great input and responses I got from the Manhattan post. I had also received some great info from Terry Oxley, author and collector of Rotary Head Lures. Looking through Terry’s […]
Wilson Grass Widow Antique Lure The Wilson Grass Widow Antique Lure was first introduced in 1919. This wooden chunk bait antique fishing lure measure 2 1/4″ in length and was rather plain in appearance. The lure features a single forward screw eye line tie at the nose of the lure. Having only one double hook […]
Weezle Bopper Antique Lure The Weezle Bopper Antique Lure was introduced around 1946. This wooden model appears to be a featherless version of the it’s brethren the Sparrow. Manufactured by it’s namesake The Weezle Bait Company out of Cincinatti, Ohio. The lure had a single forward line tie that was attached in the center of […]
Shakespeare Musky Revolution Lure The Shakespeare Musky Revolution Lure is part of the foundation of the antique fishing lure company. This lure was available in 1902 and was advertised in the early Shakespeare of Kalamazoo catalogs such as “The Art of Bait Casting”, “How to Catch Bass”, and “Finer Points of Fishing Tackle”. This hollow […]
Smithwick Butterfly Fishing Lure The Smithwick Butterfly Fishing Lure was Jack Smithwick’s fist plastic Fishing Lure. This lure a series A900 and was introduced close to or during 1968. This Plastic, Fish Shaped fishing lure was first made with the tail section shown giving it a length of 2 7/8″. During production in Shreveport Lousiana […]
Zinc Screwtail Antique Lure The Zinc Screwtail Antique Lure was introduced around 1946. This odd shaped antique lure was made by the Zinc Artificial Bait Company out of Dixon, Illinois. This wooden cork screw shaped lure measures 2 1/2″ in length. The lure has painted eyes and a two section body. The front line tie […]
Heddon Tadpolly Runt Lure The Heddon Tadpolly Runt Lure was a short run lure by most standards and was first introduced around 1938. The antique lure was gone by about 1941. The model number Heddon of Dowagiac Michigan assigned to it was the Model Number 5100. This wooden fishing lure measure 3″ in length, and […]
Heddon Wee Tad Lure The Heddon Wee Tad Lure was made around 1980. This Fishing lure only made it a few years in the James Heddon Fishing lure line up and was gone by 1983 and came in the green diamond two piece slide top lure box. This is one of the later lures Ive […]
Shakespeare Jim Dandy Spoonbill Wobbler Lure The Shakespeare Jim Dandy Spoonbill Wobbler Lure was introduced around 1930. This antique fishing lure was Shakespeare’s lower end line up which was labeled under the Jim Dandy name. The Spoonbill Wobbler fishing lure used a large wooden lip instead of a traditional metal dive plane. The lure featured […]
Harlow Casting Spoon Lure The Harlow Casting Spoon Lure was patented in 1888. This Pre 1900’s fishing lure was made by John H Harlow, of auburn New York. The patent was for the use of the retractable hook and spoon. There isn’t very much info out there about Harlow.There are lures out there stamped with […]
John Mann Trolling Spoons This John Mann Trolling Spoons Ad dates to 1883. American Angler magazine gives us some great ads and stories. Im pretty partial to John Mann as I’ve collected his lures and miscellaneous items like tea tins from his general store, personal artifacts, and business items such as trade cards for over […]
Heddon Musky Surfusser Lure The Heddon Musky Surfusser Lure was first introduced in 1937. This antique lure of Heddon of Dowagiac Michigan, was given a model series number 350. The antique lure made of wood measured 4″ in length. The lure had glass eyed a forward line tine and a forward and rear inscribed propellers. […]
Pflueger Fish Scaler This Pflueger Fish Scaler ad comes from 1892. The Chicago Journal of Commerce printed or show cased this new to market Pflueger Enterprise Manufacturing Company item. Many people think Pflueger’s reach ended at lures and reels, however Pflueger was trying to create a end to end fishing tackle company that could provide […]
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 […]
Shakespeare Striped Bass Wobbler Lure The Shakespeare Striped Bass Wobbler Lure was first introduced in 1940. The lure was very short lived, and from what I can see never was actually in the Shakespeare Reel and Fishing Lure Catalog. This wooden antique fishing lure measures in at 6″ in length. The lure features the same […]
Scooter Pooper Lure The Scooter Pooper Lure was first made in 1948 and kind of falls into the novelty fishing lure category. This antique fishing lure was made by the Scooterpooper Sales Inc company of Columbia, South Carolina. As far as I know, this was the only lure and the only size ever made. This […]