Fishing is a favored pastime of many. Oftentimes fishing was done simply to put food on the table, but it also evolved into a secondary craft…Collecting the rods, reels, and lures. Throughout history, many common fishing items were manufactured at different levels of sturdiness and beauty. Rods and reels fall into this category. Reels have been made, that, while suitable for fishing, you would not want to display them, but many others have been crafted with designs and illustrations. Of these, many of them deserve to be displayed and not tossed into the back of a closet. Others, while not particularly beautiful to the casual observer, were crafted with such precision and care, that many a true collector will choose these over some of the more decorative rods and reels. Keep in mind the best examples will be useful not only as a decorative item, but for its original intended purpose.
A partial list of manufacturer names to keep an eye out for as you peruse antique shops and yard sales are Orvis, Abercrombie & Fitch Co., R.L. Winston, Paul Young, Heddon, Shakespeare, J.C. Higgins, Dickerson, Winchester, Leonard, Payne, Divine, and many more. As you build a collection, you will learn through close inspection and handling, along with personal likes and dislikes, what you will covet for your own personal collection.
If you are an angler at heart, you know that the accoutrements of fishing are as varied as the person casting the line. Fly-fishing is but one type of fishing, but also one of the most collected. This in turn makes it one of the most challenging markets, as sometimes it seems the whole world is in competition for that rod and reel you have been looking for. Knowledge goes a long way towards narrowing down your search and making sure that when you find the ultimate find, it is exactly what you were looking for. Read up on the fishing style that interests you. Learn not only the names of the tools, but of the top anglers. Discover what they fished with past and present. Quality will be uppermost in what you discover.
Condition of items can play a big part in market value. Fishing reels and rods were manufactured to be in damp, wet surroundings, but with many of the older rods care needed to be taken in storage. If not, damage could be a problem, especially with bamboo rods and similar items. A careful examination before purchase can go a long way towards satisfaction after the purchase.
Once you know what you are in search of, where do you look? Many of the same places that you can discover other collectibles, plus a few not often thought of. Some of the more common avenues to shop for fishing collectibles include EBay, flea markets, antique and collectible shops, along with garage and estate sales. Private collectors though can be an overlooked source. Search for them via the Internet and local papers. Fishing magazines will often have classifieds pertaining to fishing related collectibles, as will hunting and other outdoor related magazines. Farm sales and auctions can also be a great source. Knowing where good fishing occurs can lead you to shops that sell new and ‘used’ gear. Remember that what may be a treasure to a collector could be nothing more than trash from the back of someone’s closet. Do you know someone whose father or Grandfather was the fishing type? Ask them if they have any old gear. Oftentimes if someone else is willing to clear out a closet or attic, the owner is willing to give, or at the least, give a good deal on any finds.
