Early fishing magazines

If you follow this column, then you know I have a strong passion for the history and lore of our sport. Part of that includes an appreciation for early fishing magazines.

Just like Bassmaster or B.A.S.S. Times, these vintage publications featured where- and how-to stories to catch more bass. Yet their message spoke to a simpler time … long before trolling motors, global positioning or hydraulic anchors ever hit the scene. 

Back when the sport of bass fishing was truly in its infancy. 

Among these early publications were Forest and Stream, National Sportsman and Hunter, Trader, Trapper — all dating to the late 1890s, early 1900s.

They served as platforms for legendary writers James A. Henshall, Zane Grey and Jason Lucas, all of whom helped the black bass achieve its prominence as a true gamefish — which in turn, helped shape the sport. 

A Book by Its Cover

Perhaps what appeals most to me is the cover art that was created to lure the reader. Illustration was the dominant medium in those days, and some of the images were truly captivating.

Just as Norman Rockwell captured slices of everyday life for The Saturday Evening Post, illustrators of hunting and fishing magazines did likewise — using their art to pique reader interest, to tease or lure us to what was inside.

Many of these renderings were simple caricatures — anglers, hunters or boatmen engaged in some aspect of sport. Sometimes they were humorous, other times serious. Others appeared as collages of related images, or still lifes of tackle and gear prepared for an upcoming fishing trip.

Whatever the composition, it was always designed to reel in the outdoor enthusiast.

On the inside were articles sharing the latest techniques to catch fish or highlight distant angling destinations … just like what you find in Bassmaster or B.A.S.S. Times today. 

These early magazines also contained advertisements, each showcasing the latest and greatest in fish-catching tools and technology. Though they may look crude now, they were on the cutting edge for their time. 

These are of special interest to me, as they relate directly to the vintage tackle I like to collect.

Nose in a Book 

I’m not alone on this either. There are countless tackle and periodical collectors out there who love to find and read these early publications. Some share an interest in fishing, others perhaps not. Either way, they all have an appreciation for early print media. 

There is actually a market for these early magazines, too. Auction houses here and abroad sell early outdoor publications — books primarily, but rare magazines as well — and they can fetch high prices. Just ask advanced collectors like Dennis Emerson, Bill Sonnett or Tom Penniston — all members of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club who actively buy, sell and trade ephemera related to fishing. They have watched interest grow to all-time highs. 

Curious what the premier issue of Bassmaster Magazine is worth? Try several hundred dollars or more! And it’s not even that old by comparison. Of course, to realize such a return it would have to be in near-mint condition. Still, even a beat up example might do well.

If you have some early fishing magazines and would like to learn more about them, I suggest posting a query online at Joe’s Old LuresOld Reel Collectors Association or National Fishing Lure Collectors Club. All of these groups are dedicated to the preservation of vintage fishing tackle and its related ephemera, and many of the hobby’s most knowledgeable people monitor their sites.

If you choose, you can buy, sell or trade on these sites. Either way, if you have an interest, these are great places to start.