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Kicktail Fishing Lures Article

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The Appeal of Heddon Fishing Lures

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Heddon fishing lures are among some of the most collected and sought after of the antique fishing lures. The Heddon factory first started producing hand made fishing lures over a hundred years ago with James Heddon being the original founder of the company. His two sons, Charles and William continued to expand on the company catalogue and market new and innovative types of bait lures, one of the most famous which was the Heddon Dowagiac Perfect Casting Bait, still highly prized among collectors today.

One of the most famous of the coloring patterns used on various types of Heddon fishing lures was the frog scale color. The color pattern is typically a burnt orange or greenish-yellow body on a lure with a highly variable greenish brown to almost black hexagonal shaped scale pattern across the back and the sides of the lure, leaving the belly the background color. This painting is incredibly detailed and these frog scale colored lures are considered some of the rarest and most treasured of the Heddon fishing lures. Some of the plugs that bear the famous coloration also have a bright red head end, making them idea for freshwater fishing even in cloudy or murky water conditions.

The Heddon fishing lures minnow collection featured many unique and creative designs. One such design is the green or perch colored minnows that featured amazing detail in their patterned bodies, glass eyes, and an ornate looking cup rig. In addition these lures had three separate single or treble hooks, two out of each side almost in the middle of the lure and one at the tail end of the lure. This hook structure helped to balance the lure in the water providing an authentic looking presentation and balance.

Another aspect of Heddon fishing lures that make them highly collectable is the boxes that they were sold in. While the lure itself is valuable, the lure plus the original box makes a true collectors heart beat faster. The boxes are all individually marked on the ends with the name of the lure, the color scale designation, the patent information and the serial number. The boxes are also distinguished by the artwork found on the box or the type of print the information on the box is in.

Collecting and trading Heddon fishing lures is an exciting and interesting hobby, but is also a serious activity for many individuals. There are many catalogues and books published on Heddon fishing lures and their identification, evaluation and assessment and current market value. Consider joining a collecting club or group to learn about this interesting aspect of angling history.