Crankbaits, spinners, spoons, wakebaits, and poppers: you’ll find them all on the U.S. Postal Service’s “a-lure-ing” new stamps featuring freshwater fishing lures. USPS dedicated its latest eye-catching postage in honor of freshwater fishermen (and women) and the legacy of crafting ingenious lures.
Johnny Morris, the founder and lead outfitter of Bass Pro Shops, champions conservation and education. His namesake museum and aquarium houses over 1.5 million gallons of water and 35,000 live animals — a fitting site for the release of these beautifully photographed freshwater fishing lures now encapsulated on USPS Forever Stamps.
Celebrating Tools of the Trade
“Fishing lures are more than just tools — they represent tradition, innovation, and a deep connection to the great outdoors,” said Lee Beasley, campus director at Bass Pro Shops. These five designs (crankbaits [or plugs], spinners, spoons, wakebaits, and poppers) are wildly popular among fishermen.
Each lure is iconic in its own way. For example, the deep red crankbait brings in bass, walleye, and pike by wriggling during retrieval. Spoon lures, which stand out in bright green on the stamp sheet, were most likely created by a Vermont blacksmith in the 1800s. They underline the deep connection that Americans have to fishing culture.
It’s no wonder that USPS chose these popular lures for one of its newest designs.
“I am so excited that the most participated-in sport in America is getting a stamp,” said fishing guide Mike Webb, owner of Webb’s Guide Service. Why not adorn our daily mail with one of the most utilized outdoor tools in the country?
Lures Prove the Perfect Size for Stamps
Photographer Sarah Cramer Shields provided imagery for the stamps. Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps from five of the most popular designs in the freshwater fishing world.
“As our design team would tell you, fitting subjects in such a tiny frame is no small feat. However, with their miniature size and design flourishes, fishing lures make ideal stamp subjects. Fish find each of these designs irresistible … and we think you will too,” said John DiPeri, USPS Western Region vice president.
Where to Find Them
The Freshwater Fishing Lures stamps are now available in panes of 20 at local U.S. Post Offices nationwide and online at the Postal Store. Forever stamps, true to their name, will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1‑ounce price, regardless if you send a letter today or 10 years from now. Want to see where these lures end? Check out the hashtag #FishingLuresStamps across social media.
