Antique Fishing Lures

So where doe you start. Well, like I did, I looked through the old tackle box that was pushed to the back of the shelf in the garage. You know the one, behind the more modern segmented and fully stocked multicolored injection molded one from the likes of Flambeau. Yes that's the one, from your childhood. Take a look inside. You may find one like the Heddon's Dowagiac pictured here.

Oh, there are plenty of books that will help you if you decide to collect more aggressively, I collect because they remind me of my youth, or I think they are interesting in their design.

Well, maybe not if your looking to catch fish, but remember, these were state of the art for people who wanted to put fish on the table.
Many lures were hand carved and painted. Local carvers created what they thought would work. If it did, the word spread. Some where fisherman who then became lure makers due to demand.

In many ways these are works of art that now lay sometimes forgotten due to more flashy color and more efficient processes. Some were created for friend and family and had a personal touch to them, others, made out of necessity due to the cost of buying lures. All have a story if the lure could talk to us. Until then, enjoy them and let your memories be shared with your family and friends.