Museum Archive: Vintage Fred Arbogast Jitterbug, 1/4oz Perch fishing lure #21438

Weighing exactly 1/4 oz (7 g), this vintage specimen showcases the distinctive Perch pattern characterized by a dark scaled back and a bright yellow belly. The wide, double-lobed aluminum lip—stamped with the Fred Arbogast name and Akron, Ohio origin—is a direct link to the design’s 1938 debut. This 2" (5 cm) floating plug, cataloged under product code 21438, features the signature large yellow eyes set against a darkened head with subtle purple highlights. Two sets of treble hooks are securely attached via screw-eye hardware, showing light wear that places this lure in a 4/5 condition rating while the paint remains glossy. As a surface-running lure, the structural focus is the front cup, which is engineered to displace water and create a rhythmic "plop-plop" sound during a steady retrieve.