Museum Archive: Vintage Fred Arbogast Hula Popper, 1/4oz fishing lure #16722

Measuring a compact 1 1/2" (4 cm) in length, the distinctive 'HULA POPPER' block lettering is cleanly stamped across the dark crown of the lure body. Fred Arbogast pioneered this design in 1941, introducing the fishing industry’s first rubber skirt to mimic the breathing motion of prey even when the lure is stationary. This 1/4 oz (8 g) specimen features a frosted silver-white finish decorated with bold black spots and a deep red cupped mouth. The yellow and white rubber skirt remains well-attached, anchored behind the main body alongside a sharp treble hook. Identified by product code 16722, the specimen is remarkably well-preserved, deserving a solid 5/5 rating. Its wide mouth is engineered to catch and displace water on the surface, allowing anglers to mimic the surface commotion of frogs or cicadas while targeting bass and pike.