Museum Archive: Fred Arbogast Hula Popper, 1/3oz fishing lure #16081

Yellow and orange tones sweep across the belly of this 1/3 oz (10 g) surface lure, creating a high-contrast silhouette for fish looking up from below. This specific Fred Arbogast Hula Popper, identified by product code 16081, measures a compact 2" (5 cm) and remains in unused condition. Across the top, the classic "HULA POPPER" name is stamped in bold white lettering against a dark back featuring blue and purple scales over a mesh-patterned base. A deep red concave mouth is designed to push water forward, a hallmark of the 1941 design that pioneered the use of a rubber skirt to mimic the flared shape of a hula dancer. That skirt, comprised of yellow and black rubber strands, is held by a black collar to provide subtle movement even when the lure sits motionless on the surface. The hardware consists of two treble hooks secured by silver-finished belly plates and a sturdy nose screw-eye for direct line connection. This USA-manufactured specimen features large yellow eyes with black pupils set into the purple-toned head to watch for surface strikes.