Fact-checked by A source of sustenance as well as a beloved leisure activity, fishing has long evoked memories of slow days outdoors waiting for the line to catch. As the pastime has evolved over the centuries, so too has the gear associated with the sport. Today, vintage fishing memorabilia can bring in a pretty penny, so it’s best to think twice before clearing it out of Grandpa’s garage. From antique fishing lures to woven fishing creels, here’s how much the most popular vintage fishing collectibles are worth today.
WOODEN FISH DECOYS
In the Great Lakes region, spearfishing has long been a beloved pastime come colder weather. To lure in larger sturgeon and pike, which can grow to six feet, wooden fish decoys are lowered through a hole in the ice. These hand-crafted pieces have become works of art in their own right, and, today, the values of midcentury decoys cast a wide net.
How much are vintage fish decoys worth?
Unsigned, minimally adorned fish decoys can be picked up for $50. Marked decoys crafted by known artisans, such as Michigan’s Ervin Veihl (pink belly at top), can climb well over $300.
Where to find vintage fish decoys:
A Green Cottage Shop and Genesee River generously loaned the decoys pictured here.
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FISHING CREELS
With a concave side that rests on a fisherman’s back and an angled, slotted lid to insert his catches, creels have been documented as far back as the Middle Ages but fell out of everyday use once catch-and-release laws were introduced in the 1950s. Handwoven from split willow and reinforced with leather by Oregon tanneries, these portable baskets often pop up today in lake house decor.
How much are vintage fishing creels worth?
Baskets from the 1880s through 1930s can fetch close to $3,000 when associated with known leatherworkers such as A.E. Nelson (top right). Simpler creels from later decades don’t skimp on charm, though, and can be found for between $50 and $300 each.
Where to find vintage fishing creels:
Head to Weston Table, Genesee River, and Wyrembelski’s Vintage to shop for pieces similar to the ones shown here.
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FISHING LICENSE BADGES
In a true case of “they don’t make ’em like they used to,” recreational fishing licenses were often distributed with brightly colored badges in the first half of the 1900s. (The easier to spot at the end of a long dock, no doubt.) For some badges, an angler’s paper license was folded and inserted in back, with the ID info shown through a clear slot.
How much are vintage fishing license badges worth?
Valued between $20 and $100, pin backs from areas along the Eastern Seaboard (particularly Pennsylvania) tend to dominate the vintage market today, but rare finds from the Southern states can be worth upward of $500.
Where to find vintage fishing license badges:
Though plentiful on eBay, the licenses shown here were generously shared by Mike and Eddie Nogay of the Old Reel Collectors Association.
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MINNOW BUCKETS
A natural part of the fish food chain, live minnows have helped orchestrate the perfect catch for centuries. The containers used to corral them became factory produced during the Industrial Revolution, and two-piece galvanized metal styles were de rigueur by the 1920s. To gauge age, look for painted graphics and a wood handle grip. Also good to know: Higher-value buckets of European origin are often identified by a squat oval shape.
How much are vintage minnow buckets worth?
Buckets made in the 1940s through ’60s by brands such as Mit-Shel and Lucky Waters fetch between $50 and $100, depending on condition and rarity of design.
Where to find vintage minnow buckets:
The minnow buckets pictured here were sourced at A Green Cottage Shop, PSSnG, Jen Ornquist Erickson, Wyrembelski’s Vintage, Gray Garden Decor, Old Fangled Finds, and Karen’s Chic N Shabby.
FISHING LAW BOOKLETS
Typically compiled by a state’s conservation department, fishing law digests explain open seasons as well as possession regulations for the pursuit. An oft over-looked treasure trove of public art, booklets from the 1930s through ’70s feature illustrated covers by wildlife artists such as Charles Schafer (Michigan, bottom right) and make for an eye-catching state-themed assemblage.
How much are vintage fishing law booklets worth?
Available for as little as $5 on eBay, older pamphlets with unique covers occasionally reach $40.
Where to find vintage fishing law booklets:
eBay is a great resource for pamphlets at all price points.
TROUT PLATES
Perhaps the most popular freshwater sporting fish, trout are sought out by anglers coast to coast because they thrive in a variety of cold-water environs and put up a sporting fight when hooked on a line. (It also doesn’t hurt that certain species—particularly rainbow trout and brook trout—make the “catch” portion of “catch-and-release” a beautifully speckled spectacle.) Enshrined through transferware on porcelain plates, their likeness makes for a unique filter on kitchen collectibles.
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How much are vintage trout plates worth?
These plates typically fetch between $15 and $50 each depending on age, size, and maker, but serving platters and hand-painted pieces (center right) can ring up more than $100.
Where to find vintage trout plates:
Replacements, Ltd. is our go-to resource for all things tabletop, including trout plates. We also found a gem at Ace Vintage Revival Co.
FISHING LURES
As fishing lore goes, James Heddon invented the first wooden fishing lure in the late 1890s when a small flint of wood broke off a larger piece he was whittling by a pond. It dropped in the water and was gobbled up by an unfortunate bass, which inspired him to add a hook and manufacture the design for other anglers. Today, vintage lures appeal in equal measure to both fish and those who catch them. Lures from the 1940s onward are in particular abundance on the vintage market, as a post WWII-boom in leisure fishing upped the demand for different lure styles.
How much are antique fishing lures worth?
These collectibles can reel in anywhere from $5 to as much as $100,000 for a rare find, such as the metal Giant Haskell Minnow (not shown). The circa 1906 Heddon find (blue and white, upper middle), dubbed the Slopenose due to its angled head, commands $500. The Little Wonder, a wooden bait (red and yellow, upper right) made by Clinton Wilt Mfg. Co. in 1913, goes for $800 thanks to still-intact barbershop-style stripes and working spinner. Arthur J. Kumm created the Fish Spotter (green and yellow, middle left) in 1933, and the wooden version is now valued at $100.
FISHING REELS
Used to wind and store fishing line when mounted on a rod, the earliest fishing reels date all the way back to China’s Song dynasty. Known as the Kentucky Reel, the first American-made design is credited to Kentucky watchmaker and silversmith George W. Snyder in 1810, but because he failed to secure a patent on the design, it was quickly copied by manufacturers in the Northeast. Today, collectors seek out vintage reels for a variety of reasons, and quality, scarcity, size, and age all factor into the value of a piece.
How much are vintage fishing reels worth?
In 1917, Heddon developed a line of high-end fishing reels to compete with gear made by Meek. The No. 30, seen at top right, was the most costly, priced at up to $60 at the time. Complete with leather case and original box (not pictured), this reel fetches around $500 today. Often mistaken for a fly-fishing reel due to its large diameter, this 1930s find (large circle, upper right) by Go-Ite of Kokomo, Indiana, is worth $300. The petite brass reel (brass, middle right) made for trout fishing by Hendryx of New Haven, Connecticut, dates back to the 1890s—before the company was acquired by Winchester. Still functioning, it's valued at $150.
MORE VINTAGE FISHING GEAR
- VINTAGE LAKE SIGNS. Despite the fact that they don’t hold an especially high value, vintage lake signs from any era can be hard to find. This 1970s road marker, which once led visitors to Kansas’s popular Waconda Lake, was scooped up on eBay for only $40.
- VINTAGE LANTERNS. Kerosene lanterns have been lighting things up since the 1800s, and this 1970s Coleman model in working order goes for about $60 ($15 if not). More seasoned collectors hunt for old railroad lanterns with colored glass by Dietz or Embury.
- VINTAGE COOLERS. Portable ice chests were introduced in the 1930s. Made of metal, they rusted easily and often didn’t last more than a few summers. This 1950s model by Thermos is valued at $90, while the ’50s Coca-Cola Co. cooler nabs $110-$185.
- VINTAGE DRINK CADDY. Originally introduced in 1923, this six-pack carrier was an innovation by the Coca-Cola Co. When furnished with vintage glass bottles, this ’50s-era aluminum caddy sells for up to $100, depending on condition.
- VINTAGE COOLER JUG. Pelican made drinking jugs in a variety of prints and colors in the 1950s, but preppy plaids tend to be worth the most green. In addition to Pelican, plaid vessels by Thermos and Stanley can be worth $30 to $100, depending on the condition.
Special thanks to collectors Matt Lollman and Mark Ward of Old & Antique Fishing Lure, Architectural Anarchy, and South Porch Antiques for loaning many of the lures, creels, and additional fishing gear you see in this story.
Sarah Zlotnick is the Lifestyle Director at Country Living, where she covers a little bit of everything—small towns, life in the country, and, her favorite, antiques. A research buff at heart, she loves a deep dive into the history of vintage finds and uncovering the reasons behind old-as-time traditions.
Laurren Welch is a freelance editor, writer, and creative who covers lifestyle, interiors, entertaining, fashion, and more. When she’s not under deadline, you can find her styling blooms over at Garden Party L.A., scouring thrift and antique stores for hidden gems, and reminding her boxer pup, Monster, that he’s a very good boy.
Stephanie Gibson Lepore is the Copy/Research Editor of Country Living. She enjoys writing about a range of topics and making sure the facts are accurate. When she's not checking out the latest Instagram post from Merriam-Webster, you can find her hunting home decor at an antiques shop, reading WWII fiction in a sunny spot, cheering (loudly) for her football team, or planning her daughter's next birthday party (themes forever!).
