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If antique fishing lures are your passion, I have just the spot for your next vacation -- Jenks, Oklahoma! The non-profit public Oklahoma Aquarium has been open since May 2002 and is located near Tulsa, Oklahoma. And although the numerous marine life exhibits are both educational and beautiful, Karl and Beverly White have helped put the museum on the map with the donation of their entire fishing tackle collection.
Cases and cases of lures and reels.
Look up and you'll see tackle boxes hung on the wall, turn another corner and you come upon a bass boat. With over 25,000 pieces in the collection, it's a good bet that if it's related to fishing, it's probably in the museum.
- The White collection is considered the world's most complete tackle collection.
- The Snyder Reel, the only one not in the Snyder family, is one of the premier pieces in the museum and valued at $50,000.
- White's first lure, purchased at the age of eight, is James Heddons Crazy Crawler and still in the collection.
- The entire collection is cataloged in Karl White's three books, Fishing Tackle Antiques & Collectibles and available to purchase in a boxed set from the museum gift shop, price $114.95.
About Karl and Beverly White
Born and raised in Oklahoma, Karl has been an avid fisherman his entire life and has had a love for collecting tackle since he was eight years old. One day as he was worm fishing on a local pond, he was astonished to see another boy fishing with a "lure". Curiosity and interest immediately took over. After conducting extensive research, Karl decided he had to have a lure. This research led him to the James Heddon and Sons, Crazy Crawler.
This lure was the most expensive lure of its time to produce. At the age of 8, Karl saved his ten cent a week allowance until he was able to purchase the $1.10 cent lure. This first lure which started it all is still in the collection today. Since the age of twelve, when Karl's father took him to an antique gun museum, Karl had the dream to open an antique fishing tackle museum.
The Karl White Collection has been compiled over the course of 55 years. Karl and his wife Beverly have purchased individual pieces and entire collections while traveling all over the country in search of "that perfect piece". As Beverly says, "they always knew what they were doing for a vacation!" One of those not-so-perfect pieces was the first Skeeter Bass Boat, which was barely recognizable when purchased. But with love, Karl restored it to its original beauty. The highest price that Karl has ever paid for a single piece is $31,350 . . for the Snyder Reel. There are several artifacts which date back to prehistoric days.
Provided by The Oklahoma Aquarium
In 2002, Karl White donated his entire collection, which is roughly estimated at four million dollars, to the Oklahoma Aquarium and today he serves as Curator Emeritus. Karl also serves as a consultant for BASSMASTER magazine, with a column entitled "What's it worth?" In the column, he appraises, identifies and answers questions concerning antique tackle.
Tackle collecting has been a passion of Karl's his entire life but not how he earns his living.
In addition to amassing the most complete antique tackle collection in the world, for 37 years Karl has owned and operated Crystal Laboratory, Inc. The lab manufactures source materials for testing and treatment of allergies, and this success has enabled him to buy the best antique tackle in the world. Karl holds degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Central State College in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Above and beyond the tackle and successful laboratory, the most important thing in Karl's life is his family. He was married to Beverly Wright in 1961. They have three daughters, Crystal, Leesa and Holli and eight grandchildren. Karl attributes most of his success to the women in his life, including his mother and aunt.
The Karl and Beverly White Antique Fishing Tackle Museum is the result of Karl's lifelong passion and serves as a testament to Karl's commitment to fishing and antique tackle. This one-of-a-kind collection will hep to preserve the history of fishing for many generations to come.
Provided by The Oklahoma Aquarium
The world's largest lure is in the museum and certainly a magnet for the kids. This is the one piece in the museum that was not part of the collection, the lure was donated by a local store that was going out of business.
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