Vintage Tackle Contest: Del Shure Lure

Here's a weird one for our ongoing vintage tackle contest. When I first looked at the photo below of the Del Shure Lure, I thought perhaps submitter Jeff Shafer thought I was asking for vintage medical equipment. But it turns out this contraption is actually an early version of a sophisticated scent-dispersal system. Jeff wrote:

I acquired this "lure" in a box of fishing stuff at an estate sale. I don't know anything about it other than what was in the package. It does not appear to have been used. I am rather skeptical about it's ability to work, rather it probably did a better job of catching the fisherman. The price on the box of $6.95 sounds a little high for the 1950's.  

While there are somewhat similar systems on the market today for shark fishing, the Del Shure was probably intended mostly for catfish. Of course, vintage tackle expert Dr. Todd Larson of The Whitefish Press and "Fishing For History" blog explains why this high-tech device was ultimately a flop. Dr. Todd says:

"This is one of the most fascinating, overly-complex fishing devices I can remember seeing. Patented in 1952 by Mark Moore of Davenport, Neb., it is indeed a complicated scent system designed to "intermittently supply liquid lure to the water in the region of the fishhook." The goal was to attach the thin tube to the fishing lure or hook and every so often, press the syringe which shot liquid lure scent through the long tube and out the end, theoretically attracting fish. The great drawback, of course, is that the amount of tubing needed for actual fishing conditions greatly exceeded the length of the actual tube. Unless you were fishing directly below the boat, this was a massive design flaw. The Del Shure Lure clearly did not connect with the fishing public (the price was equivalent to $60 in today's terms), which is why yours is the first I've ever seen in the box. I'd value it at $30-$40. To see a picture of the patent for device, click here."

Perhaps this find isn't so useful in real fishing situations, Jeff, but the new pliers headed your way will get well worn on the water. Thanks for sending!

If you've already sent me photos of your vintage tackle, keep checking every Thursday to see if I chose it for an appraisal by Dr. Todd. If you haven't and want to enter the contest, email photos of your old tackle to [email protected], along with your name, mailing address, and story of how you acquired the gear. If I use it in a Thursday post, you get a pair of Berkley Aluminum Pliers ($50).