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Step 1
Gain knowledge about the history of fishing and familiarize yourself with the jargon used to describe different reels and what they were designed to do. Part of this should be understanding that reels were first sold commercially in the 1900's in Michigan and Ohio by the Heddon and Pflueger company.
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Step 2
Hunt for antique reels the same places people hunt for other antiques, such as yard sales, estate sales, thrift shops and flea markets. Keep a practical budget in mind as you begin your hunt for the vintage reels. As more people have become knowledgeable about vintage reels, the prices have risen.
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Step 3
Focus your collection on a specific type of reel. These vary by region, big game, fly, homemade, material or specific manufacturers. The more specialized your collection, the greater its value.
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Step 4
Attend swaps with other collectors. A membership in a fishing reel club or society will connect you to other collectors and will help you increase your knowledge and the size of your collection. Take Me Fishing is a great website dedicated to clubs and organizations for fishermen and the art of fishing and collecting fishing memorabilia.
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Step 5
Educate yourself about the grading system used to describe vintage reels in both appearance and mechanical condition. Grading refers to the condition versus the value of the fishing reel. It is based on an A and M system of one through 10. For example, an A1 has no value, while an A10 is unflawed.
