Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Dardevle Midget UV, 3/16oz mackerel fishing spoon #19758

Vibrant green mackerel patterning defines the convex face of this 1 1/2" (3.5 cm) spoon, a specific design intended for visibility in varied water clarities. Registered under product code 19758, the Eppinger Dardevle Midget UV features bold black stripes over a neon base, a finish that has been part of the brand's extensive color catalog for decades. Weighing in at 3/16 oz (6 g), the lure's silver reverse is clearly stamped with "DARDEVLE MIDGET U.S.A.," a mark of the proprietary dies used in their Michigan-based production. The hardware consists of a classic treble hook attached via a sturdy split ring, suitable for light casting or trolling. Maintaining a 4/5 condition rating, the specimen shows very little wear on its paint or metal surfaces. The concave depth of the metal body, a signature characteristic of Eppinger lures since Lou Eppinger's early 1900s designs, is specifically shaped to provide a consistent response when retrieved at a slow pace.