Sunday Poll Results

Sunday Poll Results: Do You Insure?

I thought the most recent poll was most interesting. Only a quarter of people surveyed insured their fishing tackle under a separate policy. I think this is really the way to go. Whether you have a collection worth only a little or whether you have one worth a lot, it would really, really benefit you to take out a separate insurance policy. The NFLCC has an agreement with a popular national insurance company to issue specific policies for fishing tackle. Look into it!



A fun poll this week: With the Final 4 set, who will win the NCAA Basketball championship?

-- Dr. Todd

Poll Results: Which Lure had the Best Finish?

Well, it was a dogfight right down to the end. Who had the best paint jobs on their lures? It was a two dog race: Heddon and Creek Chub. In the end, Heddon nosed out its Garrett, Indiana rival by just 4%. The only surprising thing was that Shakespeare only got 2 votes. Have you SEEN the photofinish Shakespeare lures? They are awesome. And only 75 years ahead of time.


This week there is a poll asking whether you have insured your tackle or not. Thanks to everyone who has voted in the past!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: DO YOU USE HOOK TUBING?

Sunday Poll Results

Nothing surprising in the latest poll results, as the majority of collectors do not use hook tubing. There are lots of arguments both for or against, although I don't take a side on either end of the spectrum. Doesn't bother me if I have lures with them on or off. I do, however, prefer to photograph lures with the tubing off...just seems more natural that way.



This week's poll: Who had the better (higher quality, more aesthetic) paint job on their early lures?

-- Dr. Todd

Poll Results

Poll Results

Almost 2/3 of those who answered the poll did not feel Dick Cheney was an appropriate figure to have been invited to speak at the AMFF. If there is a more polarizing figure in American politics I cannot think of one.


There's a new poll up about the use of hook tubing--do you use it? Some people love it and others think is potentially hurts lures.

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: WHAT FOREIGN TACKLE DO YOU COLLECT?

A fascinating poll this week, which goes to show the wide variety of tackle people are collecting this day. Although "Russia" didn't get any votes, I personally know two people who collect Russian reels and one who collects Russian lures.



This week a new poll on the American Museum of Fly Fishing decision to ask Dick Cheney to speak at the museum.

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: SUPER BOWL OF BOXES WINNER!

We have a winner folks, in the Chris Labuz Super Bowl of Boxes: the Moonlight Blue Box! In a bit of an upset in the playoffs (the K&K won handily in the prelims), the Moonlight came in at 25% of the vote, followed by the Heddon Slopenose at 18%. The #1 seed K&K limped in at 11%--the same as the Pflueger Canoe box. All in all a fun poll and I thank Chris for submitting it...



Also, for those football fans out there, almost 60% of those who voted think the Cardinals will win. We'll see what comes of this one in a few hours!



-- Dr. Todd

The Super Bowl of Boxes Finale Poll!

Chris Labuz's Super Bowl of Boxes has reached its final stage! Today, we cull our list of pretenders down to the Top 10. You will only be able to vote for one of these, so the winner will be the one with the most votes and be crowned 2009 Chris Labuz Lure Box World Champion. Whose box will reign supreme???

Hey, also vote in the real Super Bowl poll...we'll see if this crowd can pick an NFL champion as well!



-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results

Sunday Poll Results: World Record Bass

This week's poll asked the question of whether we will see a new World Record largemouth bass anytime soon. 60% of you are more optimistic than me, and see the record falling in 1-10 years. However, over a third felt it would be anywhere from 10 years to not in their lifetime.

Personally, I think it will be decades before the record falls, if it ever does.



Thanks to everyone who voted, and remember to vote in the new poll!

-- Dr. Todd

The Sunday Poll Results

The Sunday Poll Results

No other poll I've run has brought so many emails--some people decrying the entire idea that you can even begin to define "vintage," while others others arguing that it is only defined by the individual. I've written about my thoughts on the subject below. A full 30% feel it is impossible to define; while 44% believe it is before 1950. A few brave souls even voted for pre-1900 and post-1980.


All of this goes to show us that it is indeed a difficult to term to come to a consensus on. One thing we can all agree with: it is badly overused.

Thank for voting and check out the new poll!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: How Often Do You Fish?

Well, it looks like we got some anglers on our hands! A full 60% of respondents fish on average 21 or more times per year. That's an active angler! More importantly, we have another 27% who fish six to twenty times per year. Only 11% fish less than 5 days.



All of this underscores how important it is for all of us to not only be interested in preserving fishing and outdoor history, but also to promote fishing to the younger generations. From our poll last week we know the majority of collectors are aged 40-60, which means that many of you will be having grandchildren soon (if you haven't already). Don't you owe it to them to share your love of fishing???

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Result: Where do you get your tackle?

The Sunday Poll Results: Where do you get your tackle?

Not too much surprised me about this week's poll. It turns out that the majority of collectors get their tackle from a variety of sources, with eBay leading the way (7 out of 10 responses) and Joe's Board (2/3 polled) getting tackle from these venues. I did find it moderately interesting that only about half of those who responded find tackle these days in the field; I bet a decade ago this would have been closer to 90%. But times change, as evidenced also by the fact fewer than a quarter participate in trades.


Thanks to everyone who responded and don't forget to vote in this week's poll!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll: How Old Are You?

Sunday Poll Results: How Old Are You?

I think of all the polls I have run, this is the one that gives us the best glimpse of the current state of collecting. A close look at the results show almost a perfect bell curve between the ages of 20 and 70+. The majority fall between the ages of 50 and 59 (a full 1/3). Almost 70% are below the age of 59.

Now, what does this all mean? It means that, while we have a nice percentage of collectors below the age of 40 (10% or twice the number over the age of 70) it is right in that range analysts tell us we start to develop the ability to have surplus income (i.e. 40s and 50s) that the majority of collector's lie.

Looks like a pretty healthy hobby, from the standpoint of age, to me! Now this doesn't mean that we should not be doing whatever we can to encourage young collectors, in particular kids and any neophytes regardless of age, but the poll does show that we are probably not that different than 10 or 20 years ago when it comes to average age.



-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll: How Many Years have you Been Collecting?

Sunday Poll: How Many Years have you Been Collecting?

This was a very interesting poll. It shows that the hobby of collecting has many seasoned collectors--over 1/3 of which have been collecting 20+ years (some as long as 40). Another 40% have been at it from 10-20 years, but what was heartening to me is that 24%--one in four--have been at it less than a decade, with 10% collecting for less than 5 years. I was told by more than a few collectors that this number would be much lower. I still think we need to work harder on encouraging new collectors, and I have some ideas on how to do this I will start working on in 2009.

Thanks to everyone who voted, and please vote in the new (companion) poll!


-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll: How Many Tackle Shows do you Attend Per Year?

Sunday Poll: How Many Tackle Shows do you Attend Per Year?

Nothing too amazing about this poll--except that a full 11% don't go to any tackle shows at all during the year! The nice part of this is that those 11% will get to experience a tackle show likely for the first time, and it is a never to be forgotten experience.



This week we ask how many years you've been collecting, so make sure to vote in the poll!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: Tackle Prices

Sunday Poll Results: Tackle Prices

More feedback from the Lang's auction comes in the surprising results from the Sunday Poll. Two things surprised me about this poll; first, that 16% of collectors felt the market for antique tackle was weak. I just don't see the evidence to support this. The latest Lang's auction reached $1.4 million, just $100,000 below the High Estimate. That is not the sign of a weak tackle market, and is all the more remarkable in light of the weakened world economy. In light of this, it was gratifying to me to see that nearly 30% felt that the market was either average, above average or strong. All very interesting.



This week's poll asks how many sporting collectables shows you attend in any given calendar year. My thanks to everyone who emailed and posted on this fascinating topic! You haven't heard the last of it yet.

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: What Clubs do you Belong To?

An interesting cross section of club members from the poll question, What Collecting Clubs do you Belong To? The NFLCC was highest, of course, with 83% but the FATC and ORCA had good showings at 21% and 26%. CATC was strong at 13%.



Thanks again to everyone who voted!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: What do you primarily collect?

Sunday Poll Results: What do you primarily collect?

Another weekly poll with surprising results! I was gratified to see that almost a third of the respondents fished antique gear on a regular basis, and nearly half had done it a few times before. A full 95% of those who responded said they were either fishing antique gear or were open to the idea! I think that is really great. There are tons of available equipment and it is a tremendous amount of fun. Thanks again to everyone who responded.


Check out and vote in the new poll!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: What do you primarily collect?

Sunday Poll Results: What do you primarily collect?

Another Sunday poll with really surprising results! The question was what you primarily collect, and the answers I have to admit shocked me a bit. The unsurprising part: 70% of collectors are into the old classics, wooden lures (likely with glass eyes). Also not surprising is that 40% are into fishing reels.

But what did surprise me is that Paper & Ephemera was at 20%, meaning one out of five collectors polled actively look for catalogs, ads, etc. If you add the 13% that collect fishing books, you have a really nice segment of the collector world who are into paper. I was frankly surprised. Also making a strong showing was bobbers, at 13% or roughly one of eight.

The one mistake I made in the poll was not to include fly rod lures. Next time I run this, I will make certain to include this category.

The full results of the poll are here:


Make sure to vote in the new poll this week!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Results: Is it REALLY Still Out There?

Sunday Poll Results: Is it REALLY Still Out There?

This week's poll had some surprising results. First, fully 2/3 of the respondents felt like there was still a lot of tackle out there to be found--even if it took a lot of work. Less than 1/3 were pessimistic, and only 3 of you believed it had dried up all together.

My thoughts? I do think it is still out there, but it certainly requires a whole lot more work than it used to.



I want to thank everyone for taking part!

-- Dr. Todd

Sunday Poll Result: Which Lure Company is Holdings its Value Best?

Sunday Poll Results: Which lure company is holdings its value best?

The results from the latest poll are in, and it would appear that we have a clear winner when it comes to baits that hold their value even in down economic times. Heddon emerged as the victor, achieving 33% of the vote, followed closely by Miscellaneous companies with 32% of the vote. Since the Miscellany category covered everything from Cordell to Haskell, it's not surprising that this selection received as many votes as it did. Others receiving a good share of votes include Creek Chub (16%), Moonlight/Paw Paw (10%), and the amorphous Other (11%). A number of others hovered in the 5%-9% region.

The big surprise to me, however, was South Bend (2%) and Shakespeare (4%). These two members of the Big 5 seem to be slipping a bit in the down economy.


Anyway, some food for thought on this Sunday.

-- Dr. Todd