Country Living: These Vintage Fishing Collectibles Are Worth a LOT More Than You’d Think

By Sarah Zlotnick and Laurren Welch
September 11, 2024 

Featured: Vintage & Antique Creels

A source of sustenance as well as a beloved leisure activity, fishing has long evoked memories of slow days outdoors waiting for the line to catch. As the pastime has evolved over the centuries, so too has the gear associated with the sport. Today, vintage fishing memorabilia can bring in a pretty penny, so it’s best to think twice before clearing it out of Grandpa’s garage. From antique fishing lures to woven fishing creels, here’s how much the most popular vintage fishing collectibles are worth today.

With a concave side that rests on a fisherman’s back and an angled, slotted lid to insert his catches, creels have been documented as far back as the Middle Ages but fell out of everyday use once catch-and-release laws were introduced in the 1950s. Handwoven from split willow and reinforced with leather by Oregon tanneries, these portable baskets often pop up today in lake house decor.

How much are vintage fishing creels worth?

Baskets from the 1880s through 1930s can fetch close to $3,000 when associated with known leatherworkers such as A.E. Nelson (top right). Simpler creels from later decades don’t skimp on charm, though, and can be found for between $50 and $300 each.