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Fishing Lures

Collecting fishing lures is a lot like fishing itself: you never know what you might come across. It’s this intrigue that has sparked one of the largest followings among all fishing collectibles. You could almost say that lures are the baseball cards of the fishing world.

Although fishing hooks of bone and bronze were used by the Chinese and Egyptians more than 2,000 years ago, fishing lures weren’t manufactured widely until the 20th century. Julio T. Buel is considered the founding father of early U.S. lures, earning five patents for his spoons and spinners in the late 1800s. James Heddon produced the first commercially-made lures, starting the first U.S. lure company from his kitchen in 1902. Soon after, Shakespeare, Pflueger, South Bend, and Creek Chub joined the market as commercial lure makers, among many others. By the '60s and '70s, mass-produced plastic lures began to dominate the tackle industry, and the era of great demand for fine-crafted fishing lures drew to a close.

Lure collecting has been popular since the '60s, and values of particular lures are largely determined by scarcity, condition, and demand. Pieces produced in limited quantities tend to accrue value, as well as pieces still in their original box or case. Some lure collectors choose to collect by manufacturer, region, or geography, however, some base acquisitions on what aesthetically appeals to them.


Quick Facts

  • Bassmaster maintains a list of the "35 Most Valuable Antique Lures"
  • The most valuable lure in the world is considered to be the one-of-a-kind 1853 Giant Haskell Minnow. It sold at auction for a world-record price of $101,200
  • Only eight Heddon frog lures are known to exist. James Heddon hand carved these pieces in 1897

Recommended Items at Auction

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Group of Assorted Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Group of Assorted Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $20- $50
$203 Bids
Heddon Zara Sook X9255 Giant Lure
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Heddon Zara Sook X9255 Giant Lure
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$302 Bids
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(4) Lures & (1) Crazy Crawler
Feb 18, 10:00 AM EST
(4) Lures & (1) Crazy Crawler
by Apple Tree Auction Center
Est: $0- $0
$152 Bids
Fishing Lures, Cork and Wood Bobbers
Feb 22, 9:30 AM EST
Fishing Lures, Cork and Wood Bobbers
by Old Barn Auction
Est: $40- $1,000
$602 Bids
Vintage Group of Assorted Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Vintage Group of Assorted Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $20- $50
$152 Bids
Group of Assorted Salt Water Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Group of Assorted Salt Water Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $20- $50
$101 Bid
Tackle Box Full of Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Tackle Box Full of Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $20- $50
$101 Bid
2 TACKLE BOX LOT EACH FULL VINTAGE FISHING LURES
Feb 19, 9:00 AM EST
2 TACKLE BOX LOT EACH FULL VINTAGE FISHING LURES
by Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC
Est: $200- $350
$501 Bid
LOT OF UNSEARCHED VINTAGE & ANTIQUE FISHING LURES
Feb 19, 9:00 AM EST
LOT OF UNSEARCHED VINTAGE & ANTIQUE FISHING LURES
by Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC
Est: $200- $350
$501 Bid
Large Group of 10 Assorted Boxes of Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Large Group of 10 Assorted Boxes of Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$251 Bid
Large Group of Assorted Fishing Lures, Hooks and Tackle
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Large Group of Assorted Fishing Lures, Hooks and Tackle
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$251 Bid
Large Group of Assorted Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Large Group of Assorted Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$251 Bid
Large Group of Assorted Fishing Tackle and Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Large Group of Assorted Fishing Tackle and Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$251 Bid
Group of Assorted Salt Water Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Group of Assorted Salt Water Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$251 Bid
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Fisherman's Paradise PC CIB Complete In Box Fresh Never Used
Feb 21, 9:30 AM EST
Fisherman's Paradise PC CIB Complete In Box Fresh Never Used
by Figlio Designs LLC
Est: $50- $100
$80 Bids
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Antique Shorebird tin decoy or Tinnie folding metal Yellowlegs lure c1900, origi
Feb 21, 9:30 AM EST
Antique Shorebird tin decoy or Tinnie folding metal Yellowlegs lure c1900, origi
by Figlio Designs LLC
Est: $200- $400
$1050 Bids
COLLECTION OF SEVEN VINTAGE FISHING LURES IOB
Feb 22, 10:00 AM EST
COLLECTION OF SEVEN VINTAGE FISHING LURES IOB
by Antique Arena Inc
Est: $100- $150
$500 Bids
Group of Assorted Salt Water Fishing Lures
Feb 20, 10:00 AM EST
Group of Assorted Salt Water Fishing Lures
by Nye & Company
Est: $50- $500
$250 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Fishing Lures


Nye & Company

Nye & Company

Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC

Affiliated Auctions & Realty LLC

Figlio Designs LLC

Figlio Designs LLC

Ripley Auctions

Ripley Auctions