When our seven-year-old was still going strong at midnight, Grandpa Jon resorted to blackmail with a promise to take him fishing in the morning if he would just go to bed. I am thinking it was around 1:30 a.m. when my head finally hit the pillow, so you can imaging how thrilled I was at 5:30 a.m. to hear a sweet little voice calling my name. There he stood at the crack of dawn, fully dressed with his fishing pole in his hand asking, “It’s morning Grandma, isn’t Grandpa gonna to take me fishing!”
Avid anglers come in all shapes and sizes, always have, and mostly likely always will. A passion for the sport of fishing is often passed from generation to generation and along with it many of the tools of the sport. Lures, bamboo rods, nets, reels, and books about fishing that have survived the test of time are growing in popularity as a collectible. So, it’s time to get in the garage, pull out those old poles and tackle boxes and let’s see what you’ve got.
Wooden lures, also called plugs, have been around since the late 1800s, but the very early ones are hard to find. As a result, most collectors watch for lures from 1915-1955. The key to buying here is to find “mint condition.” On average, 6 out of every 10 lures will have been repaired, so look very closely before laying down your money as broken lures have very little or no value. Lures are collected by categories such as manufacturer, color and design. As with many collectibles, the presence of the original box can add to the value. In fact, the wonderful graphics on the packaging sometimes makes the box itself worth more than the lure! Names to watch for include Heddon, Paw Paw and Pflueger. Metal spoons and spinners from the early 1900s are also of interest.
Unlike lures, which are widely collected, fine antique reels are limited to those with deep pockets. Early fly and casting reels by Hardy, Conroy, Milam and Von Hofe will fall at the top of the pricing range, with Pfleuger, Shakespeare, South Bend and Bronson being collectible, but considerably less expensive. Collectors watch for single action and multiplying reels but tend to steer away from those that are automatic. Of special interest are the “Kentucky” reels which are seeing a steady increase in value.
Fly rods are highly sought by collectors, especially the early examples from Europe. These rods, made from different types of wood spliced together, will normally be 18 feet in length, with tips made of greenheart or whale baleen. Split bamboo rods produced in the U.S. by Young, Dickerson, Phillipson and Leonard in the late 1800s are also a good find. These American-made rods will be much shorter, measuring 6-8 1/2 feet. Close inspection is imperative to avoid a “miss-buy.” Breakage is common with bamboo rods so examine length and straightness and also check to make certain that all three pieces of the rod are the same length. If you are buying with an eye for investment, fiberglass rods, split bamboo casting and spinning rods have started to spark the interest of collectors. Having the original rod bag and tube will enhance the value.
As with lures, fishing badges, used from 1910-1940 are an affordable collectible. Watch for badges from the Carolina’s Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida. Paper fishing licenses from 1900-1920 are of some value if they are in mint condition, as are some pre-1940 fishing books. Until next time………Linda
Irvington resident Linda Kennett is a professional liquidation consultant specializing in down-sizing for seniors and the liquidation and valuation of estates and may be reached at 317-429-7887 or lkennett@indy.rr.com