Tag Archives: fishing

Antique Fishing Photo Sam Wallace CDV

Antique Fishing Photo

Antique Fishing Photo Sam Wallace CDV This a great Antique Fishing Photo Sam Wallace CDV. CDV or Carte De Viste is a photography format or medium like we a few have discussed before with Samuel Tisdale the Black bass Man. The Carte De Viste CDV was invented and patented by France by photographer André Adolphe […]

Shakespeare Fly Rod Mouse Lure

Shakespeare Fly Rod Mouse Lure

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 […]

Ultra Casting Lines Lures & Reels

Tight Lines Tuesday Ultra Casting

Ultra Casting Lines Lures & Reels Ultra Casting Lines Lures & Reels; The fancy cursive script font of the ULTRA CASTING brand is from the first quarter of the 20th century and is both distinctive and a highly sought after brand name by collectors of antique fishing tackle. The ULTRA CASTING brand was introduced about […]

Dunks Chipmunk Antique Lure

Dunks Chipmunk Antique Lure

Dunks Chipmunk Antique Lure The Dunks Chipmunk Antique Lure comes from a company whose lure history dates back into the early 1920’s. The Dunks Chipmunk lure lands on the opposite side of the time line dating to the late 1930’s early 1940’s. We’ve seen many lure makers over time try to mimic that what nature […]

Heddon Waltonian No31 AB Reel

HEDDON WALTONIAN NO31 AB Reel

Heddon Waltonian No31 AB Reel The Heddon Waltonian No31 AB Reel was first introduced around 1927. Made in Dowagiac Michigan by James Heddons Sons, the Heddon NO.31 AB “WALTONIAN” Casting reel was produced. The level wind reel themselves made are of lightweight aluminum. The casting reels were first introduced by James Heddon’s Sons in their […]

Shur Strike Pike Antique Fishing Lure

Creek Chub Shur Strike Pike Lure

Shur Strike Pike Lure This version Shur Strike Pike Lure was first introduced around 1933 – 1936. This antique lure creation a extension of the Creek Chub Bait Company under the Shur Strike name. The Pike was essentially a similar design of the Creek Chub Pikie minnow that had gained worldwide popularity by this point. […]

Creek Chub Castrola Lure

Creek Chub Castrolla Antique Lure

Creek Chub Castrola Lure The Creek Chub Castrola Lure is a lure that I’ve always wondered its namesake origin. The lure was given a model series number 3100 by the Creek Chub Bait Company of Garrett Indiana. I’ve never figured out why and when looking it up it appears it may be a surname or […]

South Bend Callmac Fly Bug

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 […]

Heddon Water Wave River Runt Lure

Heddon Water Wave River Runt Spook Sinker Antique Lure

Heddon Water Wave River Runt Lure The Heddon Water Wave River Runt Lure was introduced in 1938. This antique Heddon lure made in Dowagiac, Michigan was given a Model E9400 for the Floater and a E9110 for the Sinker. Sown below are both version of the iconic Heddon lure. This lure was born of an […]

Clinton Little Wonder Lure

Clinton Little Wonder Lure

Clinton Little Wonder Lure The Clinton Little Wonder Lure is one of my favorites. This “Barber Pole” style lure was made by The Clinton Wilt Manufacturing Company out of Springfield Missouri. While patented in 1913, I believe the antique lure to have been around a few years preceding it based on the magazine articles available. […]

Tempter Frog Antique Lure

Tempter Frog Antique Lure

Tempter Frog Antique Lure The Tempter Frog Antique Lure is always a fun lure to find. The antique fly eater was made around 1930 and comes from a place we don’t see a lot of lure manufacturers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its namesake being the name of the company, The Tempter Bait Company located at 707 Forbes […]

Donaly Redfin Minnow Lure

Donaly Redfin Minnow Lure

Donaly Redfin Minnow Lure The Donaly Redfin Minnow Lure is one of those pre 1920’s lures that’s a treasure to hold or own. The lure was made in 1911 with some indications that it may have been earlier. That makes this wooden glass eyed antique lure over a century old. I only hope I can […]

Heddon Giant River Runt Lure

Heddon Giant River Runt Lure Yellow Shore

Heddon Giant River Runt Lure The Heddon Giant River Runt Lure was made for Salmon, Musky and Pike. The shape is what appears to have been just the front end of Giant Vamp is now a Heddon of Dowagiac Michigan Series number 7510. The antique lure was first found around 1939, as Heddon seemed to […]

Pflueger May Bug Spinner Lure

Pflueger May Bug Lure

Pflueger May Bug Lure The Pflueger May Bug Lure was introduced in the late 1880’s. The May Bug is one of the early quintessential Pflueger, or Enterprise Manufacturing Company Lure made in Akron Ohio.  The lure was produced for around 3 decades or thirty years until 1916. The May Bug was made to be fished […]

Pflueger 4 Brother Brand Leaders on Card

Pflueger 4 Brother Brand Leaders on Card

Pflueger 4 Brother Brand Leaders on Card Pflueger 4 Brother Brand Leaders on Card; The brand name “4 Brothers” was apparently conceived as a goodwill gesture to mark the reconciliation of E. A. Pflueger (who had departed the Enterprise Mfg. Co. to form his own company in 1906) and his reuniting with his three brothers […]

Ball Minnow Trap

Ball Minnow Trap

Ball Minnow Trap The Ball Minnow Trap is really a great piece of angling history. Let me first add by saying yes, this is the same maker as the famous Ball jar line. For those that may not know here is a piece borrowed from the Society of Historical Archaeology Inc. Although its roots go […]

Mr. Shakespeare Goes to Washington

William Shakespeare Jr Portrait 1932

Mr. Shakespeare Goes to Washington Mr. Shakespeare Goes to Washington; When your name is William Shakespeare, you are definitely in for a lot of grief. Certainly this was true for William Shakespeare Jr. of Kalamazoo, Michigan—if he had a nickel for every time someone made a pun using his name, it is certain he would […]

Donaly Redfin Weedless Lure

Donaly Redfin Weedless Lure

Donaly Redfin Weedless Lure This Donaly Redfin Weedless Lure dates to the mid to early teens. Jim Donaly would bestow his creations on the American fishing tackle company through the 1920’s. While he would cease to produce lures in the 1930’s his antique lures would live on through James Heddon for decades to come.The weedless […]

Muk-Choc-Ko-Frog Antique Lure

Muk-Choc-Ko-Frog Antique Lure

Muk-Choc-Ko-Frog Antique Lure The Muk-Choc-Ko-Frog Antique Lure has always garnered the eye of lots of collectors. Shown below is a group lot or set of 5 Muk-Choc-Ko-Frog antique lures. The lures were a series of wooden, frog shaped, painted eye, weedless lineup made by the Hub Bait Company of Beaverdam, Wisconsin. The lure could be […]

Creek Chub Midget Darter

Creek Chub Midget Darter

Creek Chub Midget Darter The Creek Chub Midget Darter was given a model series 8000. This Jr version of the widely popular full size Creek Chub Bait Company Darter, the model series 2000, was first introduced in 1938. The lure like its top water brethren would span decades and last until 1978. This painted eye […]

Tuway Bait Company Wobbler

Tuway Bait Company Wobbler

Tuway Bait Company Wobbler The Tuway Bait Company Wobbler antique fishing lure dates to the late 1940’s early 1950’s. The Tuway fishing tackle company was located in Berkeley California at 1479 10th Street. Applying for a trademark application for the Tuway name in 1949, they claim to have been in business or doing business since […]

Wonder State Bug R Bird Lure

Wonder State Bug R Bird Lure

Wonder State Bug R Bird Lure The Wonder State Bug R Bird Lure is a great miscellaneous antique fishing lure. The lure was made in Helena Arkansas, Circa 1948. The lure is pretty scarce to find and the box even more so, as the company was in business for only a single year. The box […]

Jim Donaly Redfin Floater

Jim Donaly Redfin Floater

Jim Donaly Redfin Floater Minnow Antique Lure The Jim Donaly Redfin Floater Minnow Antique Lure is a collector favorite. Jim Donaly patented his first lure in the early mid teens, coincidentally with lure that went by the same name. We see this later on with lure makers, as they use the same names or model […]

Intro Heddon Crab Wiggler Paper

Intro Heddon Crab Wiggler Paper

Intro Heddon Crab Wiggler Paper The Intro Heddon Crab Wiggler Paper dates to the 1916. This is the large size Wiggler papers vs the more common found smaller format used inside Baby Crab Wiggler boxes. Baby Crab Wiggler Heddon’s Dowagiac Floating Diving Wiggling Minnow The above illustrates our new “Baby Crab Wiggler”, a smaller pattern […]

Messinger Fly Bucktail Hair Frog

Messinger Frog Fly Lure

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 […]

Paw Paw Woggle Bug Lure

Paw Paw Woggle Bug Lure

Paw Paw Woggle Bug Lure The Paw Paw Woggle Bug Lure was first introduced in 1963. The Woggle Bug series WB-900 shown with a lip, bears a striking similarity to the 20 year young Fred Arbogast Jitterbug Circa 1942, even the name is very similar to Jitterbug. The wooden, pressed and painted eye, antique fishing […]

Spiral Lure Minnow in Correct Box

Spiral Lure and Box

Spiral Lure The Spiral Lure was originally introduced in 1935. This antique lure was made in Detroit, Michigan a mecca or home for many many fishing tackle manufactures, not to mention the auto industry. This antique fishing lure has a single forward line tie which acts as a dual purpose wire through frame when retrieved […]

Heddon Big Mary Lure Salt Water Special

Heddon Big Mary Series 800

Heddon Big Mary The Heddon Big Mary Lure is another antique lure in the Salt Water Special series lure line up. The antique lure shown is series 800, and the color code is a letter P for Shiner Scale. The lure would have been housed in a red border up leaping bass box marked 809P. The lure […]

John Dineen Spinning Minnow

John Dineen Spinning Minnow

John Dineen Spinning Minnow The John Dineen Spinning Minnow has always been a favorite antique fishing lure of mine. I must admit I’m pretty partial to metal minnows though. This scarce John Dineen 1911 Spinning Minnow Lure was born in Wisconsin later calling Chicago his home. John’s first crack at the fishing world was stringers, […]

Moderne Brand Gladding Silk Fishing Line Spool

Moderne Brand Gladding Silk Fishing Line Spool

Moderne Brand Gladding Silk Fishing Line Spool The very rare 1931 Moderne Brand Gladding Silk Fishing Line Spool was made for that one year only by the B. F. Gladding Line Company of South Otselic, New York (est. 1816). The brand name “Moderne”, sometimes termed Art Moderne, is a late type of the Art Deco […]

Vintage Oriental Gladding Japan Silk Line Spool

Vintage Oriental Gladding Japan Silk Line Spool

Vintage Oriental Gladding Japan Silk Line Spool This 1910 – 1934 Vintage Oriental Gladding Japan Silk Line Spool was sold by the wholesale hardware distributor Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett, & Company of Chicago (1882 – 1962) under their “house brand” name REV-O-NOC. This line was manufactured by the B. F. Gladding Line Company of South Otselic, […]

Howes Vacuum Bait Lure

Howes Vacuum Bait Lure

Howes Vacuum Bait Lure The Howes Vacuum Bait Lure is one of the quintessential antique fishing lures. This classic fishing lure was born in North Manchester, Indiana by Francis Howe Circa 1909. Easily one of the most identifiable vintage fishing lures with its triangular wooden chunk shape. This wooden lure measures roughly 2 1/4″ in […]

Cormorant Gladding Cuttyhunk Casting Fishing Line Spool

Cormorant Gladding Cuttyhunk Casting Fishing Line Spool

Cormorant Gladding Cuttyhunk Casting Fishing Line Spool This 1930s era Cormorant Gladding Cuttyhunk Casting Fishing Line Spool was a strong fishing line made from the Hemp plant that was also grown to make rope. Manufactured by the Gladding Line Company (est. 1816) of South Otselic, New York, this line featured a gold foil paper label […]

Brandel Double B Antique Lure

Brandel Double B Antique Lure

Brandel Double B Antique Lure The Brandel Double B Antique Lure is a neat classic fishing apparatus. Circa 1948 this lure seems to have an identity crisis, it cant figure out which way it wants to spell its name. Certainly the premise of the lure is derived from past attempts from lure makers to increase […]

Whopper Stopper Lizard Lure

Gasque Crawler Antique Fishing Lure

Whopper Stopper Lizard Lure This is a super Whopper Stopper Lizard Lure dealer sheet introducing this new and unique lure. The sheet exclaims its a new lure, and is stamped, Nov 3 1953. This plastic jointed lure a really a unique piece and would be fun to collect a complete color set. We have a […]

Jamison Struggling Mouse Lure

Jamison Struggling Mouse Lure

Jamison Struggling Mouse Lure The Jamison Struggling Mouse Antique Fishing Lure was first introduced around 1917. This great little Jamison lure wooden antique fishing lure measures 2 1/4″ in length. The cool little unit has both an upper and a lower line tie. The smallish lure features an upturned diving wing on each side of […]

H&C Surprise Minnow

H&C Surprise Minnow

H&C Surprise Minnow This H&C Surprise Minnow is a great and historically significant, over a century old antique fishing lure that has class and character. This classic antique fishing lure was originally introduced in 1913 and is the Intro variation created by Florian Clarkson & Oscar Hummon of Lipsic, Ohio. These were labeled as the […]

Jamison Barbless Hooks

Jamison Barbless Hooks How Smiling Bill Jamison Made His Barbless Jamison Barbless Hooks; It must not be supposed that it was an easy thing to design this simple hook. “Bill,” like thousands of others, had an exaggerated idea of the power of a fish to throw a hook. He thought it would take some unusual […]

Black Beauty Montgomery Ward Line Spool

Black Beauty Montgomery Ward Line Spool

Black Beauty Montgomery Ward Line Spool The story behind the Black Beauty Montgomery Ward Line Spool. The 1877 best selling book BLACK BEAUTY by Anna Sewell was honored in 1930 by the Montgomery Ward mail order and department store retailer of Chicago, Illinois when they introduced this Japan silk casting line under the BLACK BEAUTY […]

Saxon Gladding Cuttyhunk Line Spool

Saxon Gladding Cuttyhunk Line Spool

Saxon Gladding Cuttyhunk Line Spool This Saxon Gladding Cuttyhunk Line Spool special thread linen Cuttyhunk surf casting line was introduced in 1912 and was manufactured until 1934 with this particular label variation by the B. F. Gladding Line Company (est. 1816) of South Otselic, New York. The SAXON brand was continued with a different label […]

Hoef-TE-Doo Vintage Lure

Hoef-TE-Doo Vintage Lure

Hoef-TE-Doo Vintage Lure The Hoef-TE-Doo Vintage Lure is circa late 1930’s early 1940’s and was created by Leroy C Hoefer. Hoefer lures we made in Minneapolis, Minnesota the land of 10000 Lakes as its sometimes referred to. This classic inline spinning rig was meant to catch Bass, Northern Muskie, Pike, Lake Trout. Measuring 6 1/2″ […]

Naughty Nymph Fishing Lure

Naughty Nymph Fishing Lure

Naughty Nymph Fishing Lure The Naughty Nymph Fishing Lure is over a half a century old and dates to 1950. Its creator and patent holder Norman Mellot was from Moundsville West Virginia. The lure came in 4 different distinct sizes and weights. 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz, 5/8 oz & 1/2″ oz with lengths between 2 […]

Sonic Live Action Lure

Sonic Live Action Lure

Sonic Live Action Lure The Sonic Live Action Lure is a classic antique fishing lure. This lure falls into the rotary head category as when the bait is retrieved through the water it turns the head with the metal blades. The lure itself is comprised of a hollow plastic body with a partition through the […]

Trenton Mad Mouse Lure

Trenton Mad Mouse Vintage Lure

Trenton Mad Mouse Lure The Trenton Mad Mouse Lure was first introduced in 1947. The Trenton Manufacturing Company was located in Covington Kentucky. The antique fishing lure used the eyes not only to adorn the lure. They were painted screws which secured the lire top the body. The mouse lure was roughly 2″ in length […]

Maniac Brand Gladding Line Spool

Maniac Brand Gladding Line Spool

Maniac Brand Gladding Line Spool The History of the Maniac Brand Gladding Line Spool. The MANIAC brand extra hard braided Japan silk minnow casting line was introduced in 1910 with the early two fish trade mark by the manufacturer B. F. Gladding Line Company (est. 1816) of South Otselic, New York and produced from 1912 […]

Shakespeare Waukazoo Surface Lure

Shakespeare Waukazoo Surface Lure The Shakespeare Waukazoo Surface Lure was released somewhere in the late 1920’s. This unique bulbous or light bulb shaped wooden antique fishing lure was a model number 6555. Shakespeare of Kalamazoo Michigan only made this fishing lure for less than a half a dozen years and it was gone in the […]

Pflueger Pelican 1020 Vintage Spinning Reel

Pflueger Pelican 1020 Vintage Spinning Reel

Pflueger Pelican 1020 Vintage Spinning Reel This pristine Pflueger Pelican 1020 Vintage Spinning Reel beauty can be displayed in the box with the insert. The satin chrome finish to the reel makes it a real nice display reel. Unique to this Pflueger Pelican is that the “foot” or cross plate mount is a separate cast […]

Liberty Brand Cortline Wooden Line Spool

Liberty Brand Cortline Wooden Line Spool

Liberty Brand Cortline Wooden Line Spool Here is a great fishing item, a Liberty Brand Cortline Wooden Line Spool. This 1933 – 1934 era LIBERTY brand medium hard braided Japan silk casting line was manufactured for the wholesale hardware and sporting goods firm of W. (William) Bingham Company (est. 1841) of Cleveland, Ohio by the […]

Voices from the Past: Scarf Joint Fly Rods 1838

Voices from the Past Fishing for History

The following excerpt is from the article “Fly-Fishing” published in the American Turf Register for June 1838. It argues the best fly rods are those made with a “scare” joint — a scarf joint in today’s lexicon. There are some who still subscribe to this theory, and a few makers, like Bob Clay, are manufacturing […]