Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Dardevle Cop-E-Cat 7400, 1/2oz Nickel fishing spoon #2152

Dardevle spoons by Eppinger have been a favorite among anglers for over a century. Founded in 1906 in Detroit, Michigan, by Lou Eppinger, the company started off small, with Lou designing and hand-making fishing lures in his basement.

The Dardevle spoon is a uniquely shaped spoon that has filled tackle boxes for generations. It is designed to mimic the erratic movements of injured or distressed baitfish, which makes it more attractive to predatory fish. The spoon has a distinctive oblong shape with a concave surface that gives it a unique wobbling action when retrieved through the water. This action, combined with the spoon's bright and flashy design, makes it irresistible to fish.

Over the years, Dardevle has expanded its product line to include a wide range of spoons in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Today, the company offers over 150 different colors and 65 different styles of lures, providing anglers with a vast array of options to choose from.

Dardevle spoons are made in the USA, with their own manufacturing proprietary dies used to create the uniquely shaped spoons. The company takes pride in producing high-quality, American-made products.

For those just getting into using a spoon or other lure, there are a few things to keep in mind. When fishing in cloudy water, dark colors with a copper-colored back tend to work best. For clear water, a lighter colored spoon with a nickel-colored back is the way to go. Having a black-colored lure is also recommended, as it has worked well regardless of the water's clarity.

When fishing with a spoon, a slow retrieve is usually all that's needed. If the spoon stops and flutters during a retrieve, slightly pumping the rod can trigger a following fish to respond. Anglers should experiment with different sizes of lures and the speed of retrieval until they find what works best for them.

In addition to being popular among anglers, Dardevle spoons have even been used by the United States government. During wartime, Dardevles were included in aviation survival kits, a testament to the design's effectiveness.

In 1959, Dardevle moved from Detroit to Dearborn, Michigan, where it continues to operate today. The small company has been successful over the century for one primary reason – the lures work. As Lou Eppinger once said, "The Dardevle spoon catches fish."