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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | I would like to start that I would NEVER sell this bait but wondered about the value for insurance purposes.
I remember going to the Webster Lake ramp one day to go out muskie fishing. I believe it was in 2000. As I arrived at the public access there was an older gentleman and a lady getting ready to take their boat out. We struck up a conversation that turned into a great friendship.
We talked how he had done fishing that day and that Pete Mania was out filming. He then told me about the different places he was going to be speaking at over the next few months. I thought to myself this guy must be important and asked his name. and he replied, "Perry, Perry Smith". My jaw hit the ground. Here was the man that I had read his article in Muskie magazine time and time again.
Jumping a little forward and after many conversations on the phone and emailing back and forth...in 2002 he had me come visit him on LOTW for a week. I think we lost more fish than we caught and I was kinda bummed about that. I look back on it now and realize just how great that experience was with a great leader and friend...fish were not important!
While there he had showed me a Hawg Wobbler that was going to be Muskies, Inc. commemorative lure the following year. He had asked if I wanted to buy it. He had the box it came in and all the paperwork. There was something special about this lure! As many of you know all the commemorative lures are marked with a production number of 1-500 usually. The bait that Perry had was marked 0 (zero)! The first of the first.
I really didn't have extra money for it at that moment and regretfully passed on the purchase. I did however take a few things with me to drop off at his house in Wisconson to his wife. Upon meeting her I knew right away that she was the gracious lady holding Perry up!
Very soon after I had fished with Perry on LOTW, he was diagnosed with cancer which I took very hard even only knowing him for a few years. Although no one could ever take the place of my father...Perry was another father figure to me.
I deeply regretted not getting that lure now. I spoke to my wife about it and she understood how I felt. In 2003 Perry passed away. I made a special trip to go to the special memorial in Eau Clair. While there you could realize what type of individual Perry really was. Not only did his heart yearn for muskie fishing but also all types of fishing and hunting. I remember one statistic where he had killed a buck for what I believe was 35+ years straight. He loved to hunt with a bow and stalk them. The things he loved more were friends and family! Everyone there were both saddened and in awe of this man!
To my surprise my wife got me one of the best Christmas gifts I have ever received in 2003...that Hawg Wobbler marked 0. She had contacted Perry's wife and had gotten that lure for me. I don't know how she ever found it or remembered exactly which bait but I will never forget it.
While Perry was still with us, I had taken a picture of him and I together. I sent him this picture along with a copy for him in the mail with a note I had written to him. I asked if he would write something on the back of one of the pictures and send back to me which he did right away. When the wife got me that lure, I had it, the picture and the note placed in a shadow box which still hangs in my house today.
I will never ever sell this lure but wondered if anyone had an idea of the value of it being the first of the first. I know the values given here will not be anywhere near the sentimental value it is to me.
Thanks,
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | Very touching story. Thanks.
I'd say valued "in the hundreds."
I love my Hawg Wobblers. Fish have a way of absolutely creaming that bait when they strike.
Vince, there are collectors of antique/rare baits out there. I would imagine that you could ask for an appraisal from an expert (especially for insurance purposes). That is to say ... an appraiser of Musky baits.
You'll be hard pressed to find a better collective of Musky experts outside of this web site.
Edited by cjrich 1/2/2011 9:37 AM
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Posts: 2361
| I wouldn't worry about placing a value of more than a hundred or three on it, max.
Hawg Wobblers are a dime a dozen. That particular edition was one of a large group.
Perrry Smith? Not exceptionally known in the fishing world, outside musky insiders, and mostly not known in the larger musky fishing community. So there is not a large field wanting that particular bait. Sentiment, and value to you might be
very high, but consider that some of the rarest, top quality Heddon musky baits can be had for $400-800, and there is a large demand for those, hard to value this bait any higher, cash wise.
Not to say that two buyers wishing to have this at an auction couldn't run that total up, on any given day, but cash value, I am guessing I would have it bracketed.
One thing I would say Vince, this bait and some surrounding memorabilia could be the basis for a GREAT travelling trophy for Muskies Inc.. You might consider getting it assessed as to value, donating it to the organization, writing it off on your taxes and at the same time sharing the story and memories with many, many others through the organization, and having it recalled at each pass of the award. | |
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Posts: 1086
| Great story!
I can relate to this. It's not related to musky fishing, but can be related by trying to think up a value on something that has tremendous sentimental value, but hardly any street value. I have my pride and joy Camaro sitting in my garage. No motor in it. It has sat in my garage like that since 2004. Back when I had big aspirations of taking the racing gig to the next level from the small-time racing that I had been doing between '98 and '04. Then got married, started a family, had two kids, etc.
It's extremely difficult, now, for me to decide just what in the heck to do with that car. It has very little, to no street value whatsoever. Yet, it has TREMENDOUS sentimental value to me. I wanted that make, model, specific year, specific motor, trim, etc, etc. Nothing from my wishlist with that car could be deviated. Yet, it's a dime a dozen.
The thoughts of me parting with it and selling it off have come and gone several times throughout the years. To the insurance company, it's worth less than it's blue-book value due to no motor. But yet to me, it's worth much more than that.
Only way I'd sell it is if someone came along knowing I had this car, and they wanted to have this specific car I have because for some reason, to them, it held some sort of special meaning too. Just like it had special meaning to me when I bought it.
That's a very small percentage of people.
Things with sentimental value typically only hold high "value" to the person that currently possesses it. To others....it's most likely nothing special. I don't know if there's any way to put a dollar value on the lure you have? | |
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Posts: 101
Location: Liberty, IN (OKI Tri-State) | Thanks for sharing your story Vince. Perry was indeed one 'heckuva a guy' and one that really could make you feel, in very short order, as if you had known him your entire life. Anyone fortunate enough to have spent time with him on his adopted home waters of the infamous LOTW can attest to his knowledge, his passion and his genuine straightforward love for all things surrounding our pursuit, preservation & sharing of our outdoors heritage and lifestyle.
True; He may not have been well known outside of our relatively small Muskie Community, but he sure was a fellow that left things the better for his having been here. He was/is a very good friend to me, one that I miss a lot. Memories of that little blue houseboat and those too few days of seeing the Bay of Sabaskong through his eyes.... the spots-on-the-spots, records, charts, stories and sage advice.... what a special man he was. God Bless and Keep you Perry Smith.
Thanks again for sharing Vince,
Bob | |
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Posts: 1530
| what you have can not be priced. he shared his life. the bait is a token for the memorys. | |
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Posts: 1060
Location: Palm Coast, FL | woodieb8 - 1/4/2011 5:04 PM
what you have can not be priced. he shared his life. the bait is a token for the memorys.
Understand and totally agree woodie...wanted to try to get a value for insurance purposes. | |
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| Nice story and glad to hear the item has value to you.
You could insure it but like others have said it may not have a bunch of monetary value. If it's something really special may times people will put the piece in a safe deposit box in the bank.
On your wall you can keep the shadow box with a identical lure for the stories and memories. In the bank you will have the real deal. Away from theft or fire. | |
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| Touching story. Many of us had the good fortune to meet and fish with Perry Smith. An outstanding individual and fisherman. His wife Marilyn cant be beat. However, to ask a value? To me there certainly wouldnt be a value, nor would I care if it was $5 or $50000. The actual value is what the story you just told is really worth to you. Good luck with your appraisal. | |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | If I had a memento bait that was worth $50K; I'd unload it in a heartbeat and buy a brand new boat.
And then I would think of my friend every time I launched ... | |
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| Hahahaha. I guess you might be right.... | |
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A story...and value?