Tackle box treasures

Some old lures are worth big money; the rest are nice mementos

Modern anglers can have thousands of dollars wrapped up in a tackle box -- lures and tackle designed to catch fishermen as well as fish.

But way back in an attic, garage or shed may be a dusty box containing a single lure worth more than a boat.

The possibility is intriguing.

My foray into antique lures began at a family reunion last year. An uncle, Ronnie Campbell of Sanford, summoned me to his truck. Once out of earshot, he reached into the cab and pulled out two small boxes.

"Your granddad gave me these years ago," he said, "and I put them away and forgot about them. I figured they'd be of interest to you, given your job and all."

In my family, you never know what the walk to the truck will bring. In my case, it sparked a research mission and a little introspection.

Each box contained a big wooden lure -- a Heddon King Basser and a Martin 5KS-12 -- each with two treble hooks on detachable hook harnesses, glass eyes and metal lips. Made about 1950 by the Heddon Lure Co. and the Martin Fish Lure Co., respectively, they were a far cry from today's molded plastic baits.

My first thought? Another thoughtful gesture by a man who always has been full of them.

My second? I wonder what my grandfather was doing with these.

Third? I wonder what they're worth.

That thought has kept me occupied for months.

Lures can fetch hundreds and thousands of dollars -- the world record is $101,200 for a Haskell Minnow made around 1859 by Riley Haskell of Painesville, Ohio.

With any luck, my lures would be a part of that market.

Antique lure and tackle collecting has a small but fervent following, Jim Fleming of Nashville, Tenn., said via phone on Monday.

Fleming is a member of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club and edits the club's publications, including a quarterly newsletter and a twice-yearly magazine.

"We have about 4,700 members," he said, "and there are probably 5,000 to 6,000 what we call 'closet collectors.' "

Fleming had just returned from the club's annual convention, which was held July 12-14 in Louisville, Ky. He said the event had 600 exhibit tables.

About 15 regional shows also are held each year, Fleming said, with millions of dollars passing among collectors.

The research begins

On the advice of fellow N&O writer Javier Serna, a veteran of Midwest fishing, my first call went to Dan Basore of Warrenville, Ill.

Basore inherited his grandfather's fishing gear, sparking his in collecting, and he has built a collection he estimates is worth "seven figures." He also administers the Honorary Member Program for the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club and often fields calls from folks like me.

"All the time," he said, "and I'm happy to do it. That's how I get to see certain things."

Basore shared a story about acquiring one prized lure.

One day he got a call at home from a man who was having a moving sale. He said he had tackle that was too old to fish with but might be collectible. He wanted $400.

"He had a very recent Plano tackle box," Basore said. "I opened it, and, lo and behold, there was a Haskell Minnow. It was like finding the Hope Diamond in a Cracker Jack box."

Haskell Minnows, hollow-bodied copper minnow imitations, start about $30,000 with collectors.

Basore had my attention. I had e-mailed him digital photos of my lures and their original boxes and eagerly waited to learn the total of my newfound riches.

"The Heddon is worth $75 to $80, and the Martin $20 to $25," Basore said.

So it wasn't a fortune, but it still was nice appreciation for lures that cost less than $2 new.