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The most collected lure maker in the world
James Heddon carved his first wooden frog by a Michigan millpond in the 1890s, and by 1902 the family was selling the Dowagiac Casting Bait, the lure that started the American tackle industry. For collectors, Heddon is the reference brand: more variety, more documentation, and more record prices than any other maker.
Value in Heddon collecting comes down to age, color, and hardware. Early underwater minnows with five hooks and glass eyes routinely bring hundreds of dollars, while rare colors of common models can multiply prices several times over. The River Runt, made by the millions from the 1930s on, is the classic starter lure: common versions cost less than lunch, rare colors reach into the hundreds.
| Model | Era | Type | Typical value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dowagiac Underwater Expert | 1902-1905 | Underwater minnow | $800 – $3,000+ | The origin of the industry; rough examples still bring big money |
| Heddon 150 (5-hook minnow) | 1905-1930s | Underwater minnow | $100 – $500 | Glass eyes, five trebles; rare colors go far higher |
| Zaragossa | 1920s-1930s | Topwater | $75 – $400 | The ancestor of the modern Zara Spook |
| Lucky 13 | 1920s+ | Topwater chugger | $20 – $90 | Wood versions with glass eyes beat later plastic |
| Punkinseed | 1940s-1950s | Sunfish imitation | $40 – $200 | Tiny 380 series and rare colors are the chase |
| River Runt Spook | 1933+ | Crankbait | $10 – $40 | Made by the millions in plastic; rare colors excepted |
| Torpedo | 1930s+ | Topwater prop | $15 – $60 | Wood pre-war versions carry the premium |
Good collector condition, no box. The original box typically makes the package worth 3-4x more.
Full walkthrough: how to identify old fishing lures. Ready to sell? Check which lures are worth money.
The app confirms the model and era from one photo and shows live eBay listings for the same lure, so you know what yours is worth today.
Early Dowagiac underwater minnows from 1902-1905 top the brand, with exceptional examples selling for thousands. Among more findable lures, rare colors of the 150 series and early Zaragossas lead the way.
Combine the eye type (glass is earliest), hook hardware (cup rig, then L-rig, then surface rig), body material (wood before roughly 1940, plastic after), and the box style if you have it.
Common colors in played-with condition sell for $10-40. Rare colors, wood versions, and mint examples with the box can bring $100 or more.