Eppinger
The history of Eppinger started in 1906, when Lou Eppinger ventured into the Ontario wilderness for a month of fishing, camping, and introspection. During this trip, he utilized a lure that he created himself, a spoon that weighed 2 ounces. The metal was shaped to be thinner in the middle and thicker on the edges. This design caused the lure to swing from side to side, almost flipping over but always righting itself, much like a Dardevle.
In 1912, Lou took his prototype and turned it into a finished product, which he named the Osprey. This lure proved to be a hit and caught a lot of fish, particularly pike, a popular sport fish in the Midwest.
In 1918, Lou's nephew, Ed, joined the company and together they decided to rename the Osprey to Dardevle, inspired by the nickname "Teufelhunden" or "Devil Dogs" given by the Germans to the 4th Marine Brigade during the Battle of Belleau Woods. The allies referred to these Marines as "Dare Devils" which is the name now associated with Eppinger's most successful line of lures.
What started as a small company selling about 500 lures a year, Eppinger has now grown to become an international phenomenon, selling millions of lures annually. The original Dardevle has since given birth to an entire family of lures, now available in over 16,000 different sizes, shapes, and colors to cater to every fishing requirement.
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