So my old man gave me some gear for my birthday today, a Shakespere Sigma baitcaster, some new 10lb Stren Fluorocast to load it with, and a Plano box with about 35 Rapala lures (all in their original, good condition boxes). Guess he ran across a widow on a garage sale last summer who was getting rid of her deceased hubby's old gear, and he picked up 50 Rapalas for $50. I know some of these have got to be older, cuz the price stickers are still on some boxes, ranging from $1.75-2.80. Some unopened, all in great condition. So I was wondering if there were any particulars I should be keeping an eye out for, or for that matter if anyone had a good site for looking up value of older/unique/rare vintage lures. Thanks guys, Tight Lines

Update: I've been able to identify a few via e-bay and some other sites, so far have about 5 out of the group dated at 88/89 worth about $16 a piece. Also, just went through the second layer of them in the box and found some "Storm Thin Fin" which i guess was made by same company later on??? Havent been able to identify any through pictures or e-bay, anyone know anything about these?

Rapala uses a short-hand coding system to identify their lures just like the coding on your rod. F9 Would be a Floating 9", SR4 is a Shad Rap 4", etc. So look for those kind of identifiers.

As far as which ones to watch out for, the original floating and countdown are probably two of Rapala's pride and joys over the years, although I think the countdown is being phased out for the Clackin' Minnow. And yes, Storm is a subsidiary company of Rapala.

Let me know what you got? I'm a curious and can try and help figure them out if you need it. And if you'd be willing to sell any if they're in as good as shape as you say they are I'd buy or trade for them. Not a big crank bait user, but I really like Rapala lures as collector items.

Armstrong - Thanks for the tip on the shorthand code. I was aware of this by looking at their boxes as to tell what kind of lures they are, was wondering more specifically on if anyone had any tips on dating them. I can't seem to find any copyright/production year marks on any of the boxes or lures, except a couple that have "printed in finland 88/89"

I apologize in advance for the picture quality, it was taken with the camera on my phone (whose lens is scratched to hell), but this is one of the storm lures that I'm having the most trouble finding anything out about. From what I've seen on e-bay, at least one guy is selling ones in the same packaging as pre-rapala, but I cant seem to find any info on this style. Its a Storm (pre-rapala?) ThinFin "Silver Shad" The item is listed as T1, and the color is purple scale. Ive only seen one on e-bay that looks similar, and it was out of box w/ no box on the sale. This is one of the ones I mentioned that is unopened in original packaging.

Any thoughts/guesses as to rarity or value?

There are a few sites that I looked at and there good but just “Google” picture vintage rapala lures and it should be a lot more easy to look through them all. Good luck

Happy Fishing

Bassman