Fishing Texas Today and Antique Fishing Lures

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When we think of antique fishing lures, we often imagine the tools that our forfathers must have used for fishing. Yet, some people collect antique fishing lures and even use them from time to time. What distinguishes new models from older ones is that modern lures have a sleekness and a luster that make them a lot more similar to live bait. In fact the word that best describes antique fishing lures is stiffness. They also try to replicate a partial look of the insects used in fishing.

There are interesting stories to tell about some of the antique fishing lures you use or collect. Normally, classic lures will work for almost any type of fish, with some exceptions due to variation, species and habitat. There is rather little information on antique fishing lures, given the fact that new models receive most of the attention.

Although a different terminology is used for antique fishing lures, classic or old models are still available with some stores. Internet sites and some auction houses may be the right places to visit for such acquisitions. The models, the prices and the availability vary from store to store, but if you are keen on finding precisely an older model, you may get it after a persistent search. Sometimes you can get certain antique models in modern shops together with recent designs, either for comparison or just for the sake of diversity. You can also get the information about the places where such lures can be bought from other hobbists.

If you search the Internet for antique fishing lures, you may also come across some very interesting materials on the history of fishing, the evolution of fishing gear and the tradition of the manufacturers. You can also find books and guides, collectors’ information as well as specialized publications such as fishing magazines.

Some antique fishing lures are sold for small fortunes, but there are buyers for them despite the very high costs. These lures are the ones that have been carefully put to rest for far more than eighty years in mature collections and are just now seeing the light of day. These lures are really expensive, somewhere in the area of $1,000 to $5,000. They usually end up in the possession of passionate collectors who belong to exclusive groups. From time to time such select groups receive new members in the forms of collectors with experience and something to share with the rest.

If you are looking for more Fishing Tips

Fishing Lures

By: Harry Liddic

Go into any well-stocked fishing store and the array of fishing lures can be taunting. Many lures are designed to catch fishermen rather than fish. Each lure comes with a fish story. Often the simplest lure is the best. What makes a lure work? That depends on what species of fish you are fishing for. Some lures work on a wide variety of fish. Others work on just one species or one type of terrain. Your tackle box is only so big and decisions have to be made.

A lure can work in five ways imitation, action, noise, color and flash. Some lures work in a combination of these five facets others work using all. Take the simple looking Kastmaster lures. These small lures imitate a swimming minnow, the spoon-like action is very close to a darting minnow, the rotation of the lure creates noise, their color is the equivalent of a shiner and the bright metal offers the flash. Many large trout and bass have been caught by these simple lures.

Far and away the majority of lures seek imitation to the detriment of the other four facets. If a spot-on imitation is presented to a bass but does not have the proper action, the bass sees it as another piece of wood passing by. Granted you can give the lure some action by the way you retrieve the lure but in tight corners like tree stumps you will catch more stumps than bass. Now take two imitators that do work. Rapala and Yo-Zuri. The Rapala with its jointed body gives action plus imitation. A Rapala on a slow retrieve gives off the appearance of a minnow just waiting to be swallowed. The Yo-Zuri Painted Shad crankbait imitates shad better than any lure on the market. It has that one thing that I have found gets more bass strikes than anything else, a touch of red. In my experience in bass fishing little red to bass is just like a red flag is to a bull. They seem to take it on instinct that here is wounded bait. Yo-Zuri depth options made it possible to fish any kind of cover. Their shallow lure gives of a wide wake attracting even the deepest bass to come up and strike the lure.

As for trout lures the same traits for a good lure apply, imitation, action, noise, color and flash. Two similar lures, Panther Martin and Mepps, fill these criteria. They have been around for a long time and that should tell you something. I personally like the Mepps over the Panther Martin because the generally have more flash. On a quick retrieve they give off the appearance of a minnow getting away that triggers the trout’s instinct to strike. Slow the retrieve down the last third of the cast in what is often the case a trout has followed the lure in. Give it an opportunity to strike. For trout and bass use a fluorocarbon leader to give line-shy fish a chance to take the lure.

Size is important depending on what you are fishing for. Smaller lures work better with rainbows, where medium-large lures work better with browns and bass. Kastmasters work well in streams for rainbow and on lakes for crappie. Rapalas seem to work better on lakes than on streams. Yo-Zuri works well on lakes and rivers for salmon. Both Rapalas and Yo-Zuri make excellent trolling lures. If I was going out today to fish for browns and maybe a summer-run steelhead in the Trinity River and I could pick only one of my many fishing lures, I would chose a 3/8 oz. Mepps in white or yellow body with a gold spinner and I am sure I would have a good time. As a matter of fact, I am going to slip into the waders right now and create a whole new fish tale. Harry Liddic can be reached at harryliddic@gmail.com.

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