Karl T. White’s Blog; Home of the Ask the Expert Series

Since 1948, at the age of 9, Karl White has been interested in fishing. This began when he was living next to a sandpit lake. One day while he was fishing, another young boy came along who threw a red and white River Runt bait in the water. Trying to be helpful, Karl told the boy to leave his cork in the water or he would never catch a fish. You can guess what happened next. “Bang! A Bass!” From that point on, Karl has been a collector. A few years passed, then Karl’s father  took him to an old hotel in Claremore, Oklahoma, where he probably the best collection of antique firearms is kept. Karl was fascinated by this. He thought “If there is a museum on hunting material, why isn’t there one for fishing., since it is more popular?” Hence, his collection of fishing tackle was begun.

In 1961, Karl married Beverly Wright and they had three daughters, Crystal, Leesa and Holli.

In 1962, Karl received his degree in Biology and Chemistry from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma.

By 1976  Karl’s business Crystal Laboratory, Inc., which manufactures raw allergenic products, was growing fast and supplied him with the income to purchase some of the best antique fishing tackle collections that have existed.

In 1976, the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club (NFLCC) was founded by three gentlemen in the School of the Ozarks. Karl had previously contacted these people and was instrumental in the formation of the club and is one of it’s founding members. This club has now grown ot over 6000 members at the present time. During this time Karl has seen a “gasp” when some paid $50.00 for a lure, to a “gasp” when someone paid $40,000.00 for one. The NFLCC has given him the means to seek out the best collections available and to trade his duplicates to add to his collection.

Karl currently is the consultant to BASSMASTER Magazine and has a column in their magazine titled ‘What’s It Worth”, in which he answers reader’s questions concerning antique fishing tackle and related items.

In 2002 he donated his entire collection to the Oklahoma Aquarium, located in Jenks, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa. It has an exhibit in it, which houses his collection and is named the ‘Karl and Beverly White National Fishing Tackle Museum’.