December 2013
Harris Cork Frog
Charles R. Harris
Manistee, MI
1897
It is December! Time to celebrate the birth of Jesus and get together with family and friends. What better time to tell a lure “field find” Christmas story.
So, quite a few years ago, a friend invites me to his grandma’s house around Christmas for dinner with his family. I had never met his grandma, so it was a little odd going there. But how could I pass up a home cooked meal?
I arrived and walked in the house and the smell of mashed potatoes, ham, turkey, and spices filled the air. In the corner of the living room I noticed a real Christmas tree, filled with tons of old ornaments and Christmas lights. Between conversations, I looked at the tree and ornaments and made the comment “They don’t make these like this anymore”. My friend snickered…and I was not sure why.
After a great meal, the grandmother brought up the subject of the Christmas tree. “You like my tree?” she asked.
“Oh yes, it is beautiful”.
“I think you need to look at it closer” my friend says.
I was not sure what he meant, and stepped up to the tree. Then, I saw it. How did I miss it before? Hanging from a branch near the top of the tree…a frog fishing lure!
The frog hung from a string wrapped through the legs of the lure. The barbed hooks were removed “so I don’t get poked”, explained the grandmother.
“My husband loved to fish and this was his favorite lure” she explained. “When he passed, I hung it on the tree in his memory.” There was a long pause, and then she said something that floored me. “I would like you to have it.”
What??!! How could I accept such a gift from a stranger? I didn’t know what to say. Before I could say “I can’t accept this” she continued on.
“I had other lures, but one day a man came over and basically took them. I didn’t know old lures were valuable and he took advantage of me not knowing this. I understand you collect lures, and my grandson says that you are not this type of person. That is why I want you to have it.”
If I remember correctly, this event happened exactly 25 years ago this December. I will never forget the lesson this sweet old lady taught me. I have looked at a lot of lures since then and have done tons of appraisals. I admit, I don’t know everything and the collector market is challenging and changing all the time. But, I try to always be as honest as I can…even if it means passing on a lure that I really want because I don’t have the funds for it.
I still have this frog and it will never be for sale. The collector value of this lure is not high, but it is extremely valuable to me.
Hmmmm, maybe I will hang it on my Christmas tree this year….
But, a little more on this frog as a fishing lure....
This frog was patented and made by Charles Harris who was a professional "Bell Ringer" in a band that performed in many locations. His cork frog was held together with wire inside the legs and it was also wrapped tightly with fishing line...as you can see in the below picture.
The Harris Frog was one of the first fishing lures ever made of something other than metal. It truely has a place in fishing lure history. Examples today are very hard to find. Harris made few other fishing lures.
Also, to add in the legacy of the Harris Frog, this is the lure that was introduced to James Heddon, who was inspired by this lure and began carving his own frogs out of wood. Slowly, this coverted Heddon from being a beekeeper by trade to manufacturing fishing lures. Hence, the Heddon Co that is one of the top fishing lures manufacturers of all time got its start (contrary to the popular story of how James Heddon tossed a stick in the water and witnessed a bass grab it...giving him the inspiration).
Another Harris Frog. Worn, but not "modified".
