Museum Archive: Vintage Heddon River Runt Spook floating, 2/5oz Yellow / Stripes fishing lure #0128

Yellow dominates the palette of this classic Heddon River Runt Spook, accented by distinctive dark horizontal stripes along its flanks. Weighing in at 2/5 oz (12 g), this floating #9400 series lure is a staple of American angling history, first making its debut in 1935. The 3 1/4" (8 cm) plastic body features the famous "Spook" designation, which was Heddon's way of marking their transition into durable plastic materials. A black metal diving lip is pinned to the chin, designed to pull the bait down during a steady retrieve. The face is particularly striking with its oversized red and orange eye surrounds painted directly onto the yellow surface. This specific example, identified by product code 0128, is in 4/5 condition, showing the careful preservation of its original paint. The hardware consists of two heavy-duty treble hooks mounted with classic screw-eye hangers, characteristic of Heddon's reliable USA-made manufacturing. Fine grey stripes wrap around the top of the body, providing a textured look that contrasts with the smooth, rounded belly.