This place is like ICAST for OLD SCHOOL lures! (Part 2 - NFLCC ‘22)

This place is like ICAST for OLD SCHOOL lures! This year ol' Retro attended the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club (NFLCC) National Meeting in Springfield, Illinois. This even draws antique fishing tackle enthusiasts from around the country, and is a great place to meet fellow collectors, see priceless tackle collections, and get some great deals on vintage fishing lures and tackle.
In the second instalment of this two-part episode, Retro goes picking for vintage lures at the convention center hosting the NFLCC show. There we get a look at some old school gold, including epic collections of Heddon Dowagiac Underwater Minnow, Florida Famous Lures Superstrike Shrimp, Creek Chub Wiggler, and Heddon Multiple Metal Minnow. Retro also checks out some rare novelty lures like the Mercury Minnow and the Powerpak Shad. We also check out a neat dealer display of pre-Rapala Wiggle Warts. This place is packed with old school lures for bass, and some collections probably cost more than Retro's bass boat!
If you are an antique tackle collector or just like to bass fish with vintage rods, reels, lures, or equipment, the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club shows are worth a visit...and tell 'em Retro sent ya!
The National Fishing Lure Collectors Club (NFLCC) is a non-profit, educational, international organization founded in 1976. The primary objectives of the NFLCC are to foster an awareness of fishing tackle collecting as a hobby and to assist members in the location, identification, and trading of vintage fishing-related equipment.
NATIONAL FISHING LURE COLLECTORS CLUB
NFLCC.org
SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook - / retrobassinproductions
Instagram - / retrobassin

[@BassFishingArchives]

They're spybaits but from 1910. When the "spybait" came out in 2014 I asked to interview the "inventor" at ICAST and when they found out what I wanted to talk to them about I was immediately refused the interview. Nothing is new in bass fishing....

[@RetroBassin]

What a story! I would love to see a reissue of the original Underwater Minnow. The entire time I kept thinking how neat those would be to fish with.

[@griffinfishinthemitten305]

I was born in Dowagiac. Grew up on Magician Lake there, and the Mill Pond in town has a James Heddon park where it explains how he had the idea to make lures sitting there on the bank whittling wood. My first bass as a kid came on a Heddon topwater. I'm still in Dowagiac often, I know exactly where James Heddon is buried at the cemetery there. Just a tiny little stone in a family plot

[@txhuntsman]

It is amazing how many baits have been made over the years. I see some old school baits there long forgotten that look like some of the "new" stuff.

[@RetroBassin]

That Heddon Underwater Minnow is totally a spybait!

[@AlfonsoPreciadoGonzalez-yq3nt]

Wonderfull lures Made in balsawood😊😊❤Ilove it

[@thegolfcartshop]

that dudes wife at 16:00 was giving you the evil eye

[@RetroBassin]

Good thing I didn’t break the Mercury Minnow!

[@bicalijd_pierfishing9652]

Hello my friend good morning happy fishing Saturday 👍🏼🎣 always enjoying your Fishing luers 👍🏼

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks for tuning in, good buddy!

[@bicalijd_pierfishing9652]

@@RetroBassin hello your very welcome I'm a big fan of yours 🎣👍🏼✌🏼

[@shadowwolf9329]

The statement about the multiple hooks makes sense

[@Stumpjack]

Super fun walk-thru. I think you made out really well with your purchases...some beautiful baits. That frog patterned popper is boss! This - fishing lures - has got to be one of the most fun things to collect because 1) there's just so much and 2) how many collections also allow you to get out in nature and catch a wild animal using part of your collection? Excellent video series, Chris!

[@RetroBassin]

Can you believe that was just a few short hours in the convention center!? Next time I need to go for a week…

[@Stumpjack]

@@RetroBassin and bring extra batteries and/or camera - maybe someone could go with you to film in conjunction with you, just for another visual angle (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). I think you'd get enough material from one of these shows to have a whole series.

[@PunchFishing]

Love this video series.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Punch! This one had been on my bucket list for some time, so I’m milking it for all it’s worth!

[@dougharlow6037]

I had one like the one at 6:45. I believe it was a Heddon Dowagiac Underwater Minnow, 2 prop, 5 hooks, crackleback with NO information on either prop (mint). I had a friend that had books and books on antique/ventage fishing and was very knowledgeable and he said he had never heard or seen this before. He suggested we take to a antique fishing show and sale in Roseville ca. We talked to a few dealers, and they were very excited. I told them at this time I wanted only information. I was surprised to see the interest. That was on a Saturday and there was a much large antique fishing show and sale on Sunday in Santa Rosa Ca. This show was huge. After I showed the lure to a few dealers I had dealers following me around and they were Hounding me to sell it. My friend knew the person who wrote a book on antique fishing tackle. He introduced me and I showed him the lure and he said the same thing, he never saw one like this before, His explanation was it must have been a Dowagiac Underwater Minnow PROPTOTYPE. When the word spread, I now had a large group following us begging me to sell it. Well not being satisfied I finally gave in and sold it for around $200. That was a long time ago and now I understand that it’s a $2000 or more lure. Thanks for your great video.

[@RetroBassin]

Absolutely amazing story, Doug! Thanks for sharing!!

[@SWCFLORIDA]

Great episode Chris. That place is fantastic. Good looking box of baits you got there. Looking forward to watching you fish with them

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Jon! Need to get back on the drink!!

[@davidcloyd1296]

Great channel!

[@kennethboydsr3966]

Great flick !!!!!

[@Ds-xi2sq]

On video counter 14:28 You liked that Tackle Box..It was a UMCO Series 4500U, 10 tray. We chatted a year ago and i was restoring a couple ... This is the one i first restored, when we chit chatted ! ... My other is the grand daddy of all...that one is a 14 tray ... Still working on that box ... It's a BIGGY ! ..lol....Hope all is well your way...Nice Video 🎣🎣🎣

[@the_crusty_ledge]

side note: funny to hear him speak of the internet in 95. . like it was soooo new. I had already been online for several years at that point and I was in high school. in fact, I was on the internet in the 80s cause it was already a thing then. Fun fact, eBay started in 95, so online sales was already a thing too. that's all I have to say about that, just thought it was a little funny to hear.

[@kevinross2442]

Awesome video! Thank you

[@wilmawife]

I would get into all sorts of trouble at a show like that.

[@RetroBassin]

Thank goodness I was only there for a day…

[@randystone4903]

Fun for your videos to jog my memory about lures I used decades ago. I still have some of my favorite plugs including several that glow in the dark probably from radium. You've got me checking on prices to permanently retire from fishing some of my oldest lures. Don't know if these suspect glowing plugs are as illegal as the mercury filled one, but I do store them safely.

[@DsTackleBox]

Thanks for the visit to the NFLCC show. I like how you asked a few vendors if they'd fish them and they looked confused like, Why?, 😆 That's when we step in, take that lure and catch a bass, a smile and a pic all at the same time! Thanks for the vid! Fall fishing? You're in? Holler at me and see if we can't do some picking and fishing! - D.

[@RetroBassin]

Feel like I’m stuck somewhere between a caster and a collector!

[@DsTackleBox]

@@RetroBassin I know the feeling man! Great pick ups!

[@davidabney7700]

The Heddon baits seem to be well represented at this antique fishing tackle show. A couple of "once popular" Heddon baits in the west-central region of Georgia was the Vampire aka: Vamp in wood or plastic and the Zaragossa, the predecessor to the Zara Spook. The 4-inch Vamp was particularly effective in Spring and Fall, using a frog pattern or perch-pattern in shallow water using a medium speed retrieve with short jerks of the rod tip that enhanced the action. A wounded bait fish just a waiting for a bucket-mouth to come up and feast on. The Zaragossa was a great topwater bait in the Spring and Fall. The Zaragossa bait was deadly when bass were in the shallows.Using a silver-bait fish pattern and walking this big dog across the surface could sometimes provide the greatest day ever in topwater fishing. The Frog and Perch patterns also worked on special occasions. I didn't notice either Heddon fishing legend baits in the show, were they there?

[@jonzimmerman798]

Love the content

[@LowBrowFishing]

That must have been a blast! But I feel like they should almost call it "the Heddon Antique Show"

[@RetroBassin]

Definitely a Heddon heavy crowd!

[@Swavywavy]

Went through my great grandfathers two tackle boxes i just made 1000$ on a heddon lure and a Muskie lure and my whole family is from Wisconsin or New Jersey except for me i was born in Florida and my dads side was fishing lure makers in there little town

[@bobjohnson7207]

That is so cool the guy tried to sell you half of a Muskie lure.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

Did you see any early, wood Bomber baits? Nice show! John

[@shadowwolf9329]

I had a lure shaped like a bobber similar to those that were just shown

[@justintime2031]

I found some of these recently at a yard sale

[@RetroBassin]

Which one???

[@justintime2031]

@@RetroBassin vamp flukes dying flutters lots of poppers and many more I'm looking into.seems I have alot from the 40s to the 80s

[@jamesperkins5075]

Loved the jitterbugs me and my friends would trade them like playing cards small big stick and all the colors and patterns, made me laugh thanks

[@FranklinHicks-qs4gs]

How does this guy have only 18k subs ????? come on people !!!!

[@shadowwolf9329]

I had one of those

[@shadowwolf9329]

Bright colors stand out in murky or low light situations

[@chumbsychavis2641]

Watch your videos 😊

[@WolfsDE]

I have only just seen this video. This is really interesting to me. I looked at my grandma's old baits and have a heddon bait I can't find anywhere on ebay just wondering what they sell for, because I have no idea what his stuff might be worth. But, the lure in question is a Heddon Big Chug. If you have a Facebook page/profile...I can send a picture to show you it. I am hoping for a history on this bait, and just curious as to what it goes for. I hope you are doing well.

[@anton1949]

Artificial lures have caught far more fishermen than fish.

[@williamprewett3777]

I have a Helins flattish. It looks like a spinnerbait. Ever heard of one.?

[@RetroBassin]

Never!

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

Im predicting the market for vintge lures will drop out once these old timers die…i dont know anyone 40 and younger collecting…they are just selling back and forth to eachother…

[@RetroBassin]

Me too…that’s one reason I started this channel. Need to keep the old stuff relevant, even if no one alive remembers when they are developed!

[@thelonesomefisherman7425]

Have to laugh at the $15. price for the deep diving muskie lure. This is a collectable lure yet current prices for in production muskie lures range from roughly $20. to $300. and guys are actually fishing with them. 😮

[@MrCoffeekelly]

Catch and release in 1912? Lol.

[@RetroBassin]

I wonderes about that, too!

[@michaelmorris8707]

Fishing lures catch more fisherman than they do... Sorry had to say it !

[@carlmchale8341]

That's a shame looks like you were the youngest person in the place

[@RetroBassin]

I just loved being there to learn!

[@carlmchale8341]

@@RetroBassin us too

[@TonyPhillips-jy7ev]

Ugh some them lures worth a lot $$ not worth losing trying fish ugh