Nice Catch: Wayne Edens’ celebrated fishing lure collection cast at Morphy Auctions

DENVER, Pa. – Fishing lure enthusiasts from coast to coast will be angling for the catch of the day on Dec. 9, 2024, at Morphy’s live gallery auction of the Wayne Edens collection. The incomparable assemblage of lures – said to be the largest, most comprehensive, and historically important collection of its type to come to market – is brimming with ultra-rare gems, not the least of which is one of the eight celebrated Heddon “factory board” frogs hand-carved in 1898.

One of the original eight Heddon ‘factory board’ frog lures hand-carved, c. 1898, by Heddon Company founder James Heddon. Estimate: $30,000-$80,000.

Morphy Auctions

The all-original Heddon frog lure (or “bait”) was personally crafted by James Heddon, founder of the Heddon Company, Dowagiac, Mich., and exhibited on a display board at the factory.

The frog lure in Wayne Edens’ collection was acquired from Dudley Murphy (1940-2022), co-founder of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club. Murphy obtained the lure directly from the Heddon factory. The presale estimate is $30,000-$80,000.

Earliest model Enterprise Mfg. Co. Trory Minnow. Estimate: $20,000-$30,000.

Morphy

A three-part auction series for the Edens collection is planned, with Parts II and III to follow in 2025. Each sale will feature 600 to 700 lots. “Wayne’s collection is, in a word, astonishing, and contains many special-order and one-of-a-kind lures, some in their original picture boxes,” said Morphy Auctions’ founder and president Dan Morphy. “In addition to Heddons, there are rare productions by Immell Chippewa, Shakespeare, Pflueger, Haskell, and scores of other top brands. We estimate the collection’s value at around $3 million.”

Heddon special order 1309 five-hook Black Sucker. Estimate: $35,000-$45,000.

Morphy Auctions

Wayne Edens said that after he started collecting lures in 1988, he came to appreciate their history, beauty, and engineering, describing each as “a little work of art that has its own story.”