Author Topic: What Is The Oldest.......... (Read 1124 times)

Lawdog · « **on:** August 30, 2004, 10:14:50 AM »

What is the oldest bass lure you have in your tackle box that you still use? Mine has got to be an old red head Bomber. I have re-painted this old wood lure so many times I lost count. A close second would be my frog colored Hula Popper. Both of these lures are over 40 years old and still catching bass. Lawdog

1911crazy · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2004, 02:07:59 PM »

Since I started collecting old fishing lures and tackle too I put anything away thats old. Recently at a flea market i purchased some old plastic lures they must be the very first plastic lures made for $3 each and while on vacation in Vermont i seen one of them selling for $45?? So even the old plastic onesare worth something too. I have a DAM Quick spinning reels from the 70's with rods and i seen the reels worth $70 too now. Maybe you shouldn't be fishing with that old wood stuff it may be worth more $$$?? All the older wood stuff is worth big bucks too from what i saw too.

BigBill

Lawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** September 01, 2004, 08:33:52 AM »

BigBill,

I've got a number of old fishing gear that I have no idea what it may be worth. Like two old Shakespeare bait casting reels with matching rods(stainless steel?) that belonged to my grandfather. Got no idea when they were made but both are in excellent shape. Also have a Bomber(Christmas Tree color) still in it's original box with all the paperwork that came with it(also belonged to my grandfather) that has never been in the water. Got a number of other items so how or where can a guy go to get an idea of what they are worth? Lawdog

1911crazy · « **Reply #3 on:** September 02, 2004, 04:06:58 AM »

There are books on collecting and the value of old fishing lures and tackle. You can search the internet too for prices on the old stuff too. Some of this stuff isn't listed too. I have old tackle that has steel rods with ingraved side plates on the baitcasters that I still can't find the value on but that doesn't mean its not worth anything too. The old very first plastic lures aren't listed too but yet i see them in antique shops going for big bucks. My view of all this is all this old stuff is worth something so i collect anything thats old and save it in a big box. Flea markets seem to be the best places to look. BigBill

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2004, 11:22:54 AM »

BigBill,

Have you ever heard of a lure called a "South Bend Optic"(name is printed on the bottom of the lure)? Kind of looks like an old Bayou Boogie. Clear plastic with a holographic black and white insert that makes the black lines dance on the sides when rocked or retrieved. I got this lure 47 years ago and never used it. I can find nothing about it on the Internet and no mention of it in any books I have seen either. It weights 3/8 oz. and has two sets of treble hooks. I tried to scan it to show you what it looks like but it wouldnt scan. I will try to get a picture and post it. Any ideas? Lawdog

1911crazy · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2004, 02:30:31 AM »

Quote from: Lawdog

BigBill,

Have you ever heard of a lure called a "South Bend Optic"(name is printed on the bottom of the lure)? Kind of looks like an old Bayou Boogie. Clear plastic with a holographic black and white insert that makes the black lines dance on the sides when rocked or retrieved. I got this lure 47 years ago and never used it. I can find nothing about it on the Internet and no mention of it in any books I have seen either. It weights 3/8 oz. and has two sets of treble hooks. I tried to scan it to show you what it looks like but it wouldnt scan. I will try to get a picture and post it. Any ideas? Lawdog

Do a search for; "south bend optic fishing lure" or "south bend optic lure" a lot of info comes up on it. BigBill

Lawdog · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2004, 02:48:16 PM »

BigBill,

I see my problem. I didn't add the words Optic Fishing Lures or Optic Lure to my search. Even so the ones I found, while looks like mine(the following are NOT pictures of my lure just ones I got off Ebay to show as an example - this guy wants $15.00 for a starting bid and it's used),

are not the same. Mine has a pastboard box with a clear plastic cover and has never been used. I got a second one that I have used so I know they do work when fished right. Does the difference in the box make any difference in it's value? Lawdog

Skipper · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2004, 03:12:58 PM »

When dad bought his house several years ago, the previous owner had a oodlin of old baits in the attic that dad ended up with. Many are in the original boxes with the papers and all. Some are unused, and most in excellent shape. There are probably 3 or 4 dozen dowiagic minnows and a hord of assorted Lucky 13's and others. There are some old reels, but most don't look too valuable to me.

If you looked at my tackle to find the oldest bait I have still in use, it would probably be my old Rebel Double Deeps. Pee on Rapala I say. I don't care what the lawsuit said, those baits aren't the same thing as a shad rap. The are plastic, shad raps are balsa, the rattle, shad raps don't, they run deeper than shad raps, and by jacks, they catch more fish. You can't buy one anymore off the shelf, but I still have 8 or 10 of them and generally carry a few of them. I've got some old jitterbugs and chuggers that I carry sometimes as well. Some of those may be older than the double deeps.

I don't carry anything exceptionally old although I've got some old favorites. I do have an old red ABU 5000 that belonged to grandpa that I carry from time to time. It's one fine old reel. I've also got a Mitchell 330 from the 40's that I retired a few years ago, but it still runs reasonably well. I chipped a gear on the bail return and can't find a replacement.

Skipper

Lawdog · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2004, 11:34:54 AM »

Back in 1992 while Bass fishing down below Stockton I came across a Mom and Pop sporting goods store that was going out of business. Stopped in to see what they had left and found a large selection of Hawaiian Wigglers on their counter. Asked the owner what he wanted for them and the guy said if I would buy the whole lot I could have them for $.50 each. He had 77 in assorted sizes, colors and styles. Needless to say they all came home with me as I am a confirmed in-line user/builder. I havent fished any of them as I use them for ideas in making my own in-lines. After finding out what these are going for to collectors Ill be keeping these unused too. Lawdog

Skipper · « **Reply #9 on:** September 13, 2004, 02:54:29 AM »

We used to use inlines a lot fishing for smallmouth in the river. The old Mepps and Roostertail baits worked wonders in the shoals.

Skipper

Lawdog · « **Reply #10 on:** September 13, 2004, 12:13:57 PM »

Skipper,

Ever tried one of the Hawaiian Wigglers? Lawdog

pinduck · « **Reply #11 on:** September 13, 2004, 12:36:12 PM »

Heddon River Runt shallow runner, I caught my first bass on this lure in1950 and have had one in my tackle box ever since. Always seems to work when nothing else will. I some times wonder whether it is the effectiveness of the lure or simply my confidence in believing it will do the job. Whatever it is I will continue to always have one in the box and will always try it as the last resort before giving up and going home.

rockbilly · « **Reply #12 on:** September 13, 2004, 04:31:48 PM »

I think I have one of every River Runt made (notice I said, "I think") I started Bass fishing back in the early 50s, at that time, my grandfather gave me a tackle box that was full of old lures. I lost a bunch of them fishing, but was wise enough to "put em up" when I discovered the old H & H Spinner bait and old Creame worms in the late 50s. It was smart to retire the old wood lured and preserve them when I did.