Re: America’s Oldest Fishing Lures

[JoeW]

Answers to questions: The 1852/56 Buel I actually found here in WNY in an old wooden tackle box, along with several other "oldies" from the 1880's! The "winged Buels" were called "Arrowhead" spoons because of their shape. They were actually a hollow plated brass, cigar shaped body soldered to brass "wings". The brass tarnishes over the years to a brownish copper color.
Fishing lines in the mid-1800's could have been of braided or twisted cotton or linen, or silk. Remember, they didn't have to be long because the lure or bait was simply "lobbed" out or trolled. All of these had to be carefully dried and treated after each use to prevent rotting! Interestingly, a book dated 1496, gives directions for making a tapered fishing line from knotted and braided lengths of hair from a horses tail! The book

[fatworm]

One word- WOW! How did you get your hands on a lure that old? 1856?!! *Whistles* That's the royal treasure right there.

Great pic! A very simple but unique design. Are those fins made of copper in the second picture, fourth on the right?

[RAK]

Those are some Cool Lures!! I bet those are not cheap and not easy to find nowadays.

What did they use for their fishing line back then?

[JoeW]

Fishing lines in the mid-1800's could have been of braided or twisted cotton or linen, or silk. Remember, they didn't have to be long because the lure or bait was simply "lobbed" out or trolled. All of these had to be carefully dried and treated after each use to prevent rotting! Interestingly, a book dated 1496, gives directions for making a tapered fishing line from knotted and braided lengths of hair from a horses tail! The book mentions to try and use horsehair that was free of lice and fleas!
For you reel guys, I have in my collection a hand made brass and copper reel, with click and drag, with the click made from an American large cent made in the 1825 era. The reel likely dates to pre- 1850.
I'm running out today to pick up a vintage 1920's reel and split bamboo rod. Going to find some old braided line, hook up to an old Bass-Oreno, and take it out to a local pond and see what the Bass think!
Any more questions: ask away! I'll answer with what I know or can find out! Best---- JoeW

[RAK]

Joe, I would love to see some pics of rods and reels. Was fishing with lures for rich people back then?

[JoeW]

Yep--- right on the nose! Quick history lesson on reels, if you don't mind. Prior to early 1800's, reels were used only to hold line for when trolling or when a big fish would run out line! Strictly single action and often made from thread spools. Minnows were most often used for bait- metal lures were for trolling, and there were no casting plugs as we knew them. Minnows (live or "sewn" onto a hook) were just "lobbed out". Then in the arly 1800's the likes of Snyder, Meek, Milam, and a few others came up with multiplying reels that actually let you cast the baits out (still no casting lures, though!). A single action reel just cannot be used for "casting"-- try casting a lure from your fly reel some time! These makers were jewelers and watchmakers (who knew about gearing!), and all the reels were handmade individually. As you suspected, they were affordable only by those with deep pockets! The common man still fished with a willow pole, hunk of sewing thread, and a bent pin. But when the Industrial Revolution finally caught up to fishing for sport ( roughly 1860's), machine made reels became affordable for most! Hendryx in Connecticut made and sold millions of reels, some costing less than a dime! They were the forerunners of todays baitcasters! But until the late 1890's bait fishing, or trolling the metal Spoons behind an oar-driven boat were still the only ways of catching fish. Several people, quite independently of each other in the late 1890's then discovered that wooden, or heavier lures made from metal, could actually be cast with the new reels and they would catch fish! Hence the artificial "plug" or lure. Thus came Shakespeare, Rhodes, Heddon, Creek Chub, Pflueger, and all the others. With a few improvements in rods (mainly shortening them and making them stronger), and lines, by 1925 the American Lure Making Business was firmly established!

This is part of the History of Fishing Tackle that I find so enjoyable. Hope you did also. Best---- JoeW

As I always say: "Before there were plastic lures, there were wooden ones. And before the wooden ones were the metal lures, and before that there was bait. Before that, there were a lot of happy fish swimming around!"

And PS: I warned you, I do not know how to make a long story short!

[RAK]

Thanks for the interesting history Joe.

I appreciate it.

[lip ripper]

Those are really old. The one on the right looks like a space ship.

[dugger]

tHANKS JOE W

[dbarnett1]

Great history story Joe. Thanks. By the way, no need to shorten a good story!

[JoeW]

I got this in the mail Monday from a collector friend in Wisconsin. He's an avid collector and a couple months ago he purchased the actual documented work table that JT Buel used to make his metal lures! The trouble is... the work table is 8 feet long and weighs several hundred pounds, and.... it's in upstate New York! He's trying to figure out how to get it from NY to Wisconsin!

At any rate, the seller of the work table sent him a bundle of advertising material that was in the table drawer, and he sent me this! This heavy cardboard card likely had some of his lures attached to it and was given out to his best customers as a gift. I've included one of his lures in the first pic.

It speaks a lot of Buel's "modesty"--- notice the Merry Christmas greeting and the advertisement below it! Evidently "truth in advertising" did not apply back then!

Granted, JT Buel has the earliest found PATENT for an artificial lure (1852), but it is far from being the "first artificial lure ever made"! LOL! That claim probably belongs a century or more earlier to the English, and that's NOT including artificial flies! Many collectors think Buel's "trolling spoons" were really just copies of the earlier English lures, but patented here. There's a lot of legend as to the origin of Buel's baits! And actually, the use of "artificial lures" can date back to prehistoric times. Not to belittle, Buel, but I think he might have wanted to edit that advertisement to say something a little less all inclusive. Boy, must have been a tough business! Hope you enjoyed this story! Best---- JoeW

[bass or bass?]

JoeW, I have a friend who's business is interstate hauling of motorcycles, golf carts, quads, etc. I'll bet he could haul this work table. If interested, let me know and I'll contact him and put him in touch with whomever needs be. My two cents

I want him to take a trip across interstate 80 anyhow to pick up some very fragile antique clocks in at my mom's house in Clarington Pennsylvania that she wants me to have so this trip would help me as well.

[sharps4590]

As Solomon said, "there is nothing new under the sun".

Interesting Joe!! I enjoyed the post!

[JoeW]

borb--- Thanks for the offer! I Pm'd you and will talk to Dave about the hauling! I think he learned a little about purchasing something cross-country before figuring out the logistics for getting it to him! And oh yea--- he's in Minnesota, not Wisconsin! LOL!

And Sharps! Solomon said that! I wondered because... yep story-time.

I made a post about that Moonlight bait Co "Bug"? Well, the Moonlight Bait company came from a group of working class fishermen in Michigan. They worked all day and only could fish at night. They formed a club called "The Moonlight Bass Fishing Club". They designed a cigar shaped floating plug, painted in Luminous paint that glowed at night. Called it the Moonlight "Floating Bait"- that's original! Well, it worked so well, that a couple of them started making and selling them, then sometime in the 1910's formed the "Moonlight Bait Co."! They needed a "motto" for their advertising and since they made a night-fishing bait, came up with "There is nothing new under the sun... but strange things happen at night"! Ads must have worked, as they went on to become the Paw Paw Bait Company- one of the top five lure producers in the country! Always liked that story! Best---- JoeW

[Mustache]

Great Thread it brings a nrw light to the vintage tackle I never thought about it before now it's got me a little curious about some of the old stuff that my Dad got stashed away in the basement

[JoeW]

Thanks stash! That old tackle IS amazing! I've been collecting it for 35 years and never get tired of it, or knowing the "stories" it has to tell.

If you dig any up, post it here, a pic is good, and we'll see what stories they have to tell you. Best---- JoeW

[Palerydr]

Interesting post.. thanks !

[crappypappy]

Thanks Joe. We can always count on you to make us aware of and appreciate those that came before us.