Do you have an 1859 “Giant” Haskell minnow in your tacklebox? If so, the 10-inch, hollow body, copper lure could line your pockets. In 2003, one auctioned in Boxborough, Massachusetts fetched a staggering $101,200 US —roughly $221,000 Canadian today. Most of us don’t own vintage lures worth that much, but we do tend to hang on to hand-me-down tackle. I’m no exception. My collection includes some gear passed on by my late grandfather, a Second World War navy veteran. His scratched, dented, and rusting tackle proved how much he loved being on the water.
My dad’s 1964 nickel-silver Shakespeare Marhoff reel isn’t worth much on the open market, I learned, but that doesn’t matter. Its beauty is in its simplicity, utility, and connection to his memory. That’s why it sits on a shelf where I can see it every day. There is something about the look of old lures, too. They can be utterly simplistic and artful. Others are impractical and impossibly ugly. Some would argue that’s part of their charm.
Take, for instance, James Heddon’s hand-carved frogs. With only eight known to exist, the first arrived at auction in December 2024 with an estimate of $30,000- $60,000 US, though some said the price could exceed $100,000. Heddon was a honey manufacturer who gifted these frogs made from broomstick handles to potential distributors of his product in the 1890s. Today, they are considered the first wooden artificial fishing lures and an invaluable contribution to the history of angling. They’re not quite priceless, but certainly pricey.
Slightly less expensive is what Lang’s Auction deemed to be the “single most historic and important wooden minnow to ever come to auction” at $42,560 US in 2006. Hand-carved and painted, its provenance is something of a mystery, having been found in an old tackle box by an Ohio fisherman. Then there’s the 1908 copper Chautauqua Minnow manufactured by Krantz & Smith of New York. Advertised as one of the first weedless trolling lures, it didn’t live up to the hype and was soon discontinued. Only 13 to 17 exist. One of these sold for $37,400 US. Importantly, it came with its original box.
On the other hand, my retro Canadian Wiggler might fetch $10, according to eBay auctions. I guess I’ll have to put off buying that Ferrari. For now.
The trade of vintage tackle can be a big investment. But there are sharks in these waters, as with all business, so it’s important to do your research. The quickest way to gauge the market is online through e-commerce websites such as eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace. In Ontario, ontariolures.com is a useful source of information that includes a buy/sell/trade section. There are also many online communities dedicated to identifying and appraising lures. This includes the Facebook group “Fishing Lure Identification & Value Help! Antique, Vintage and contemporary,” which contains a supportive network of more than 12,000 members. There, if you overvalue your stock, you’re likely to hear about it.
In Canada, you can join the Canadian Antique Fishing Tackle Association (CAFTA), a non-profit organisation committed to the “growth, development and promotion of collecting and preserving our angling heritage.” CAFTA also holds regular events and shows for members and non-members, including the Show and Sale that took place this past June in Owen Sound.
From what I’ve been told, the best advice to someone starting out in the vintage tackle game is to talk to people, ask questions, listen carefully, build relationships, attend events, gather data, and then make informed choices. It’s more common sense than rocket science.
Ultimately, I think we must consider what value really means here. Is vintage tackle worth more than the sentiments attached to it? In some cases, maybe. But that Shakespeare Marhoff would just be another old reel if it weren’t for my grandpa. It could be worth something someday but what is the price of a memory?
Originally published in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ Fishing Annual 2025
