Antique Fishing Tackle

Posted by Brenda Layman Oct 22, 2009

Not least among the fascinations of fishing is tackle. From the first long-ago fisherman who attached a bit of bait to a line and dangled it into the water in hopes of catching a meal, to today's top-of-the line rods, reels, and lures, the innovative nature of the angler shines through. Forget building better mousetraps. We keep building better fishing tackle.

The new stuff is exciting, but the history of fishing tackle is particularly interesting. A reader recently wrote to ask for help in identifying an old rod and reel. No one he knows has ever seen tackle quite like it. For readers who are trying to identify old tackle, the two best sources I've found are the internet and The National Fishing Lure Collector's Club.

Searching terms like, "old fishing rods," "vintage fishing tackle," and "antique fishing tackle" will yield a good number of information sites that can help the novice collector get an idea about the age and origin of the piece. Digging deeper on more specific terms that are uncovered during the search can help narrow it down even more.

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are surprisingly good places to connect with other fishermen and collectors. Posting a photo of the mystery tackle, then asking other anglers and collectors to share the photo, will get that unidentified rod and reel before hundreds, even thousands, of people, and one of them just might recognize it.

Novice collectors can get in touch with the real antique tackle fanatics by contacting the N.F.L.C.C. . They publish a quarterly magazine, The N.F.L.C.C. Gazette, where members can submit photos of unidentified tackle and ask for help in identifying it. Bryan Parker is N.F.L.C.C. President, and the the organization's address is:

NFLCC

P.O. Box 509

Mansfield, TX 76063

I have a few old lures and flies inherited from my dad, and I display them along with my collection of fishing books. Last year I found an early 20th century steel rod and antique reel, still filled with old linen fishing line, at a flea market. The owners were asking $25 for it, which I readily paid, knowing that the pair were worth at least $60 to a collector. However, I don't intend to sell them. They look too good leaning against my fishing bookcase with one of my dad's old wooden lures dangling from the line.