Museum Archive: Vintage South Bend Dart-Oreno, 3/4oz Brass fishing spoon #9848

3/4 oz (21 g) of solid brass construction provides the foundation for this vintage 'Bayou Special' casting lure, cataloged under product code 9848. Measuring 2 3/4" (7 cm), the Dart-Oreno features a prominent stamped metal head plate that doubles as a diving lip, which bears the manufacturer's name and holds painted yellow eyes. The brass surfaces show light signs of age but remain bright, earning a condition rating of 4/5 for their clean state. Attached to the rear of the weighted body is a trailer composed of yellow and mottled brown feathers, providing a soft textural contrast to the rigid metallic hardware. The original wire leader is still securely fastened to the front attachment point, demonstrating the lure’s integrated configuration from the factory. South Bend’s influence is clear in the utilitarian yet effective assembly, specifically in the secure mounting of the feather skirt to the rear hook eyelet.