15 replies to this topic

[junosama]

Recently came across this vintage lure collection and was wondering if any of them were worth anything, rare, etc. I am new to fishing and collecting and not sure how to look these up. A lot are unmarked some say Japan and few other names. Thanks!

[Daniel My Brother]

For years I've been reading "What's it Worth?" in Bassmaster. I'm continually surprised at how little most vintage tackle is worth.

I may be wrong, but I'm gonna guess that their real value is on the end of your line catching fish.

[junosama]

Yeah well many many vintage lures sell for a lot of money on ebay, they are highly collectible so you never know which vintage lures could be worth a lot. People pay hundreds of dollars every day for old tackle boxes with lures, ive seen dozens of individual lures go for $200 + in just a few weeks. I know people who have sold vintage lures for $2,000 just for one lure so better to ask =) I buy em whenever i see them if they are cheap now, guess i should get a few books.

[Daniel My Brother]

I hope you're right. Best of luck.

[Hooligan]

It takes a pretty special piece, though, to be worth a lot. You have some old Bombers in there that might be worth investigating, there are a couple of old minnow baits in there, too. Most, though, are as stated- they're worth the most at the end of your line catching fish.

[junosama]

Thanks for the info

[tomustang]

If you're collecting/asking what they're worth, get some collectors books before you buy them

[Avalonjohn44]

I agree with Hooligan. Those bombers may be worth looking into.
The Heddon Sonics (the little rattle traps with the oversized fins) might be worth quite a few bucks if you list them as a 'lot'.
If the jitterbug is a wooden one then you should be able to get around $10-20 for it on ebay.
Let us know how you do.

[bigbill]

Are you sure you want to sell them?? I got into collecting old fishing lures and tackle. Its a good fun hobby i can do with the misses while going to tag sales and flea markets. You have a good head start there already....


That heddon fish thats yellow with the lightening z on it was the very first lure i caught a bass on one sping.

Checkout ebay to see what some are worth.

[craww]

Anyone know what the rattlebait is in the upper left? The eyes look smithwick like, might be worth something to smithwick collectors.

The wigglewart could fetch you a few bucks for sure. I'd keep them on display if it were me, worth $ or not. Old baits look cool.

[junosama]

Yeah i decided to keep them for now I only paid $50 for the entire lot plus got a ton of other free stuff in the deal. Seems like some of them might be worth some money based on what you guys said and from some recent research I did. Im going to use some of the newer/less valuable ones to fish and display the rest in old/vintage tackle boxes i find.

It is def fun hunting around for old fishing stuff. I almost always buy any tackle boxes i find, i take out the good stuff and then i resell the tackle boxes as starter fishing kits or just the empty tackle boxes and make a lot of my money back, sometimes a profit. Good way to fund my hobby!

[James Yalem]

I have no idea what these lures are worth. OTOH, I can tell you that I used most of them earlier in my life. I have no idea how many bass I caught on a Heddon Sonic. Then I caught many on a Cordell Spot which is still made. I never caught much on a flatfish, but did catch quite a few on a bomber and some on a Hellbender. Jitterbugs are still made, but I caught more on black than yellow. Devilshorse is still made and I caught lots on that lure in the Spring. In 1971, I caught my first 4lb bass using baitcasting reel (Abu Garcia 5000) on a LIttle George.

So these lures are now vintage antiques. I guess at 57, I'm getting up there, but these lures worked very well in the late 1960's and early 1970's. I have fairly recently used some like the Devilshorse and Spot.

[AFoster]

it looks like there is around 50 baits there, if you only spent 50 dollars on them you could easily double or triple your money.
you cant buy a used, new, or antique lure for less than 2 dollars on ebay. not to mention some have got to be worth 5-10 dollars a piece.
sell them and make 2-3 times your money back, or keep them and just admire them.
search google for tackle collecting forums, i followed one for awhile but slowly got out of that hobby. the forums will help you a lot in how to determine prices, condition, if they are real or not, etc etc.

[briansnat]

My dad gave me his old tackle box and there area a lot of lures in it that are nearly identical to the ones pictured, only with some color variations. I never considered that they may be valuable. They only go back to the 70's and 80's. I was about to sell the whole lot along with the tackle box on Craigslist for $20. Maybe I should hang on to it.

I always assumed valuable lures would be wooden ones that are 5+ years old.

[Blue Streak]

Those old Bombers and Hellbenders are good bass cathing lures and that is worth a lot. Looks like you might have some Hot Spots also.