Vintage South Bend Fishing Tackle

F.G. Worden of South Bend, Indiana started making lures at home about 1894, and within a few years had made the South Bend Bait Company into a prosperous venture. Worden is said to have invented the 'bucktail' lure, a minnow-shaped lure with a feathery tail. But the company's most famous product was the Oreno, a minnow-shaped lure with bass and trout sizes, which can be dated by looking at the eyes. Those from the 1920s have no eyes, those from the 30's have glass eyes, and those from the 40's and onward have painted-on eyes. South Bend was sold in 1958, but continued to produce and sell reels, rods, and lures.

Interviews & Articles

The Fun and Artistry of Antique Fishing Lures

I grew up fishing. And I always had a few old lures – several came from my grandfather – and I just decided one day that they were… [more]

Trends in Fishing Tackle Collecting

I’ve been a collector of antique fishing tackle for over 20 years, and have been selling antique tackle in my shop since 1990. I c… [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Joes Old Lures

Joes Old Lures

Joe Yates' website is a great showcase for hundreds of old fishing lures, providing high resolution photos and in m… [read review or visit site]

Mrlurebox.com

Mrlurebox.com

Take a big bite - you won't want to just nibble at Robbie Pavey's gallery of over 300 antique fishing lures, many w… [read review or visit site]

AntiqueLures.com

AntiqueLures.com

This extensive site features over 500 pages of information on pre-1940 wood fishing lures and lure boxes. Start wit… [read review or visit site]

Bob Vermillion's Fishing Tackle Web Site

Bob Vermillion's Fishing Tackle Web Site

Bob Vermillion started collecting lures at age 16, and has created a site dedicated to his love for Frank Knill 'Ve… [read review or visit site]

Oldfishinglure.com

Oldfishinglure.com

This site is sure to snag you with its great collection of fishing lures from the early 1900s. Includes lures from … [read review or visit site]

TackleCollecting.com

TackleCollecting.com

Larry Nicholson's site dedicated to vintage fishing lures. Features beautiful images of lures and boxes from Fred A… [read review or visit site]



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