Vintage Fly Reel

Posted by admin on June 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Vintage Fly Reel

Big 5 Vintage Fishing Lure companies

One of the first things a person new to the world of vintage fishing lure collecting will hear about are the so called “Big 5″ companies that dominate the news about the pastime. Knowing who these companies are (or were) and a little bit about them will go a long way towards alleviating any fears of someone new to the hobby who is feeling intimidated by all of the information available online.

The Heddon Company

The Heddon Company was created by James Heddon, the man who is given credit for the invention of the first artificial wood fishing lures in 1894. The often repeated story is that he had his light bulb moment when he tossed a hand carved wood plug into the waters of the Dowagiac, Michigan mill pond and watched as a bass struck it. With this insight an industry was born. The original lures were frogs hand carved from broomsticks by Heddon himself. The lures were originally made by hand in the Heddon family kitchen located in Dowagiac, Michigan, but by 1910 there was a new factory in Dowagiac and expanding sales.

The Lucky 13, Punkinseed, River Runt, and the Meadow Mouse are a few examples of this classic brand.

Creek Chub

Creek Chub was founded in 1910 by three friends in Garrett, Indiana. The company is named after the creek chub, which is a small fish commonly used for live bait by fishermen.

Henry Dills created Creek Chub’s first lure, The Wiggler, which had a metal lip that caused the lure to wiggle in the water leading more fish to strike it. Another early lure was the Pikie minnow. This bullet-shaped lure had more than one variation available, allowing for choices on the amount of movement in the water desired. The Open Mouth Weedless, later renamed the Open Mouth Shiner is another early lure. These lures were designed to be weed proof and featured long-shanked double hooks facing backwards so they would drag over snags without hanging on them. Open Mouth Weedless lures are a hard to find vintage fishing lure and all three of these are great examples of Creek Chub vintage fishing lures and collector’s items.

One of Creek Chub’s most important innovations in the lure industry was the process of spray painting lures by spraying the paint through netting. Paint applied to this netting (originally from ladies’ hats!) was used to create the now common scale patterns on Creek Chub lures. Creek Chub was a very innovative company in other areas as well. Their early adoption of the use of glass eyes on lures and the invention of the weedless bait mentioned above are great examples of this spirit of innovation. Creek Chub also held numerous other patents related to lure improvements.

Pflueger

Ernest F. Pflueger founded the Enterprise Manufacturing Company in 1881 making fish hooks. When his son took over the business in 1906, it changed names to the E.A. Pflueger Company. During this time, Pflueger was the first company to open up commercial production of wooden fishing lures. The company would also grow from being only a hook maker to all areas of fishing gear. As competition in the industry became more fierce the company began to focus more on reels than lures.

Two of the lures that the company started with were the Flying Helgramite and the Luminous Crystal Minnow lure. These are two very vintage fishing lures from Pflueger that incorporate the founding E. Pflueger’s invention of a luminous lure paint.

Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, Jr. founded his company in 1897 with a first product that wasn’t a fishing lure. He started out with reels before expanding into the lure market. Shakespeare began making fishing lures around 1900 and the first catalog was issued shortly after that containing only four lures: the Revolution, Bucktail, Evolution and a Frog. The Shakespeare Revolution is one of the most collectible of the Shakespeare vintage fishing lures. Many of Shakespeare’s early products were rubber lures, including rubber frogs that mimicked real life motions of a frog when in the water. A very rare collector’s item is the Shakespeare Tournament Casting Frog, which is a prize find for any vintage Shakespeare fishing lure enthusiast.

South Bend Bait Company

South Bend was founded in the early 1900’s by F.G. Worden of South Bend, Indiana.

Worden had already been selling his Bucktail baits since 1894 prior to the official company founding. These bucktail baits were wooden minnow shaped lures that were invented and popularized by Worden. The South Bend Bait Company also made the famous Oreno fishing lures. The Oreno was also a minnow shaped lure and would become a popular long term seller for South Bend. The Bass Oreno, which started production around 1915 and was still in production into the mid 1960’s, was the most popular South Bend bait. Another popular vintage South Bend lure is The Vacuum Bait which can be quite hard to find and is a nice collector’s item.

Use this information

Now that you know more information about the “Big 5″ go and start using this knowledge to build your collection. Try going to a local fishing tackle show or event and with this starter information you will feel capable of holding your own in an initial conversation and start the network that will help you build your collection. Or if you want to go online to browse around for more information or to find out how to find items online, visit the website in the author box below.

About the Author

Vintage Fishing Lures is the resource for information related to collecting vintage fishing lures including how to start and build a collection and how to maintain it. Visit Vintage Fishing Lures for more information.

Hardy reel maintainence and conversion. Perfect Series

FIELD & STREAM: April 1943 by J. Karl / FIELD & STREAM Magazine 11.00X17.00 Framed with Black Metal Frame

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FIELD & STREAM: April 1943 by J. Karl / FIELD & STREAM Magazine 11.00X17.00 Framed with Black Wood Frame

FIELD & STREAM: April 1943, framed black wood, white matte. Beautiful Highest Quality Frame, Solid Finish, LOW SHIPPING!!! Price includes price of print Poster. Framing includes dry mounting, acrylic glazing. Comes ready to hang. and is a better quality then your local framing store Guaranteed….

FIELD & STREAM: April 1943 by J. Karl / FIELD & STREAM Magazine 8.25X12.75 Framed with Black Metal Frame

Hardy Lightweight Fly Reel

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Fly Rod & Reel

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plated and sealed fly fishing reel shaped pull

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plated and sealed fly fishing reel shaped pull

Fly Reel Birdhouse

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Great detail on this Fly Reel Birdhouse. Includes ventilation and drainage holes, deep nesting chambers, clean-out doors and do not include predator perches. Made of hand painted resin, it can either be hung or wall mounted

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Readers will discover the most effective, most original, and most historic flies published in the 30-year history of Fly Rod & Reel magazine. The book is filled with fly-tying tips and fly-pattern designs straight from Fly Rod & Reel, contributors such as Darrel Martin, A.K. Best, Ted Leeson and many others; all make this a must-have or perfect gift for a fly tier of any skill level.

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On The Fly

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Sisters on the Fly

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The members of Sisters on the Fly love fishing, camping, road trips, food, fun, love, and of course, caravanning around the country from the Shenandoah Valley to the Oregon Coast in vintage trailers they have bought, restored, and decorated on their own. The book is illustrated with over 100 full-color photos and includes stories about buying and restoring the trailers, trailer lifestyle and decor, fly fishing, camping and campsites, campfire storytelling, cowgirl college, campfire cooking and recipes, caravan trips, and much, much, more about living large in small spaces.

Fly Tape For Barns/Stables/Kennels

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The Huge Fly Tape is a non-toxic fly control system for stables, farms, dairy barns, kennels, and more. Replaces Empty Reel On System.Size:  8 x 8 x 3.75

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Vintage Loungewear Lightweight 100 cotton woven pant with vintage motocross inspired graphics Printed elastic waistband with drawstring closure and relaxed fit Functional single button fly machine washable Sizing Information: Medium 30-32 Large 34-36 X-Large 38-40

Vintage Boxers

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Vintage Boxers Lightweight 100 cotton woven boxer with vintage motocross inspired graphics Printed elastic waistband with a full roomy relaxed fit Functional single button fly machine washable Sizing Information: Medium 30-32 Large 34-36 X-Large 38-40

Guided Fly Fishing

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Guided Fly Fishing for 2

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Basic Essentials Fly Fishing

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Teaches basic casting, reading the water, knots and rigging, selecting flies, and presentation. In Basic Essentials: Fly-Fishing learn how to buy the right equipment, including rod, reel and line; cast without tangles; tie the essential fly-fishing knots; fish with dry flies, wet flies, and streamers; find fish by ‘reading the water’; catch and release

The Complete Book of Fly Fishing

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