Master Catalog Archive Project MCAP

My Bait Shop – Master Catalog Archive Project (MCAP)

 

 📚 82 Catalogs 📄 2,161 Pages 📁 Thousands Coming 🕰️ 1800s–Present

 

 

A growing archive of vintage fishing tackle catalogs for collectors and researchers - Launched 03/16/2026

The Master Catalog Archive Project (MCAP) is an ongoing effort by My Bait Shop to preserve and publish vintage fishing tackle catalogs, advertisements and ephemera for collectors, researchers, and historians. These catalogs and material help document lure models, colors, packaging, and tackle history from the late 1800s through the modern era.  It is important that this material be preserved for collectors as well as its historical significance.  At My Bait Shop we are passionate about leading the way in the preservation and publication of this material.

Why These Catalogs Matter

Original fishing tackle catalogs are valuable references for identifying lure models, confirming finishes, studying color charts, and understanding how lures were marketed in their own time. MCAP is designed to make these historical resources easier to access for collectors and researchers.

Project Update: 06/08/2026

Current Focus: Expanding the Heddon catalog archive and organizing additional vintage catalog scans for publication.  Additionally starting the Rebel and Lazy Ike archives while working on Heddon as well.

Latest Progress: We are working to build out a near complete Heddon catalog collection first.  However due to the size of some of these we are breaking up our pace and adding some shorter ones from other companies as well to help fill in.  Eventually our archive will have thousands from all companies.

Most recent are:

Heddon: 1968 Canada, 1969 Canada, 1962 Trade, 1962 New Reels, 1963, 1963 Letter packet, 1963 Trade, 1964, 1964 Trade, 1965 Trade, 1965

Lazy Ike:  1987, 1990, 1989, 1984, 1983, 1992, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1960, 1969, 1968, 1961, 1962 both Kautzky & Corp, 1956, 1959, 1980, 1970, 1978

Bomber:  1981-82, 1982-83, 2004

Rebel:  1973, 1979, 1972 Boat, 2004, 1992

Misc:  Atlantic Lures 1969

What’s Next: Additional manufacturer archives, more decade coverage, and expanded indexing features are planned as time allows.

Browse Catalogs by Manufacturer

Browse Catalogs by Decade

MCAP catalogs can also be browsed by decade. This section will grow over time as more manufacturer archives and catalog pages are added.

Featured Catalogs

Vintage Lure Catalog Index (Coming Soon)

The Vintage Lure Catalog Index will eventually list all catalogs included in the My Bait Shop Master Catalog Archive Project (MCAP), organized by manufacturer and year.

As additional catalogs are published, this index will make it easier for collectors and researchers to quickly locate specific fishing tackle catalogs and browse the complete archive.

Related Collector Resources

MCAP Notice:
Catalog scans are presented for historical and research purposes as part of the My Bait Shop – Master Catalog Archive Project (MCAP). All trademarks, brand names, and related materials remain the property of their respective owners. If you are a rights holder and would like material reviewed or removed, please contact us.