Heddon Antique Fishing Lure the Lucky 13

In this Antique Lure gallery we spotlight the Heddon Lucky 13. The Heddon lucky 13 is infamous with antique lure collectors and fisherman alike. I cant tell you how many people I've met when discussing antique lures they bring up that they used to fish and or still fish with the Lucky 13. A great top water lure popular with striper, salmon, and bass fisherman alike.

A Brief Introduction into the History of the Heddon Lucky 13

The Heddon Lucky 13 is series number 2500 for the regular size, and series 2400 for the Jr. The lure spanned the test of time and was made in some shape or fashion since the . The Lucky 13 lure was arisen out of the Wiggle King lure in the late teens. The Lucky 13 I believe was cataloged first in 1920, in a Red Border Heddon Dowagiac Down Bass Box. Story has it the Wiggler King was done away with due to the similarities and name confusion with the Creek Chub Wiggler. What ever reason it was, the Lucky was destined to be one of James Heddon's best selling lures.

Specifications of the Lucky 13

The Heddon Lucky 13 series 2500 is approximately 3 7/8" in length. The lure due to its longevity was offered in quite a few configurations. First, the lure was offered in Cup Rig Hardware, with no Eyes and a elongated lower lip the lure is given the nick name "No Eye, Long Lip" by collectors.  The Lucky 13 soon after moved with the rest of the Heddon lure line up to the L-Rig Hardware, and the elongated lower lip was shortened thought to give a better strength to the hook harness. The lure was offered in both regular and and heavy duty L Rig, mostly used for salmon and salt water fishing. The lure was offered in Toilet Seat (Both up turned and Regular), and Two piece Flap rig with and without eyes. The lure then was offered in a Surface rig hardware with tack eyes, and finally onto a plastic lure with painted eyes. There is also a Musky version of the lure that is larger and made with and without glass eyes, in a spook body. The lucky 13 was offered in all the boxes as well, from its initial down bass box, to the up bass box, into the HR Brush box and finally onto the Banner box.

1934 Heddon Catalog Showing the Lucky 13 and its Available Colors

  


Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Frog Scale
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2509J, Frog Scale,  No Eye, Long Lip, L Rig.

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Green Scale
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2509D, Green Scale, No Eye, Two piece Hardware, Shown with correct HR Brush Box

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in natural Scale
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2509R, Natural Scale, No Eye, Long Lip, Cup Rig.
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Perch
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 
Model 2509L, Perch Color, No Eye L Rig, Shown with Correct up leaping Bass Box

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Bar Perch
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2500, Bar Perch, No Eye, Cup Rig.

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Pike Scale
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2509M, Pike Scale, No Eye, Long Lip, L Rig.
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Rainbow, and Blue Scale
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 
  Top: Rainbow  Bottom: Blue Scale, No Eye, Long Lip , Cup Rig.

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Gold Fish and Red and Black Spots
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Top: Gold Fish Scale Bottom: Red with Black Spots, No Eye, Long Lip. Top: L Rig, Bottom, Cup Rig.

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Gold Fish and Red Head Flitter
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Top: Gold Fish Scale Bottom: Red Head Silver Scale, No Eye, Long Lip, Cup Rig. 
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Transition Lucky 13
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Transition Series between the Wiggle King and the Lucky 13, Dace in color, Painted Eyes, Cup Rig.

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Red Scale
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2509H, Red Scale, No Eye, Long Lip, Cup Rig, Shown with correct Down Leaping Bass Box.

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Strawberry Spot
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2509SS, Strawberry Spot, No Eye, Long Lip, Toilet Seat Hardware.
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Yellow and Frog Spot
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Top: Solid Yellow Bottom: Frog Spot, No Eye, Long Lip, Cup Rig Hardware.

Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Wiggle King in Strawberry Spot
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Wiggle King
Strawberry Spot, No Eyes, Cup Rig, Shown with the Wiggle King introductory Box.


Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13 in Green Crackle Back
Heddon Dowagiac Antique Lure the Lucky 13
Model 2500, Green Crackleback, Glass Eyes, Two piece Hardware.


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