Antique Fishing Tackle Dates Back To The Spear

You do not have to be an antique yourself to appreciate antique fishing tackle and what it represents to today’s sport. The technological advances made with the modern rods, reels and lures could not have been possible without the experience, and experimentation of the makers of antique fishing tackle over a period of years. Possibly the oldest fishing equipment was nothing more than a spear used in shallow water, in which a fish could be seen and taken.

Going back to the turn of the 20th century, lure making was not a huge market and fishing with artificial antique fishing tackle had not yet caught on as a passionate lifestyle. From the days of fishing out of necessity through today’s fishing for money, there have been numerous changes in the manufacture of antique fishing tackle. Prior to the 1900’s, four companies reigned with Henry Loftie, Riley Haskell, John Mann and William Chapman leading a charge in the use of artificial baits.

Later on, several companies dominated the antique fishing tackle market as using artificial lures gained acceptance including Shakespeare, Heddon, Creek Club, Pflueger and Keeling, among others. Since anglers began collecting antique fishing tackle, that manufactured by Heddon is arguably the most sought after.

Rods And Reels Changed With The Lures

When Shakespeare received the patent on his level wind reel it progressed artificial lures to a new level. It is credited with increasing the interest in fishing from a must-do-it-to-eat sport to the level of being a way to relax, often unencumbered by the company of females and children. However, dedicated antique fishing tackle collectors also see Shakespeare as being more interested in fishing for the sake of fishing, with a nonchalant interest in the fishing tackle industry itself.

Many of the makers of antique fishing tackle, lures, rods and reels did not originally begin a business planning on getting into the market. Most had other manufacturing aspirations such as jewelry, printing presses and parts or even in the banking industry. Their interest in the sport as well their individual resources allowed them to slowly enter this new market and help build it from the ground up.

Heddon, for example started as a beekeeper saw the lure industry as ready for a change and with the help of inventors working with him designed lures to closely resemble natural baits and helped revolutionize the market. Unique paint patterns and hand-carved designs brought the use of “store-bought” lures into the mainstream and placed his company on top of the collector’s list.

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Antique Fishing Tackle Dates Back To The Spear

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