Museum Archive: Vintage Heddon Tiny Torpedo, 1/4oz Baby Bass fishing lure #15684

The Heddon Torpedo has been a go-to lure for trophy bass anglers for almost a century. The topwater prop-bait has been buzzing up bass across the country since the 1920s and remains a favorite to this day.

One of the key features of the Heddon Torpedo is the rear propellor that creates a high-pitched tone that fish can't resist. The torpedo body shape and strong hardware make it a durable lure that can handle aggressive strikes from big bass.

The Heddon Torpedo is unique because it combines the side-to-side walking ability of a Spook with the buzzing ability of a buzzbait. This means that it works with multiple speeds and retrieve styles. You can reel quickly and make the tiny tail propellor spin at Mach 1 to create a high-pitched tone, or you can whip the rod a few times and pause to make the lure zip violently and stutter. If you want to add some finesse, you can also gently crawl a Torpedo back, allowing the prop to make a subtle bubble trail that reluctant fish can follow.

The Heddon Torpedo is an easy lure for anyone to fish, but it's important to be mindful that Torpedoes also roll as they move, which can create line twist. Clipping one on via a snap-swivel can solve this problem, as can fishing one on a short leader with a barrel swivel between it and your main line.

The Torpedo's versatility makes it a great choice for bass anglers who want to experiment with different techniques and retrieve styles. Whether you're targeting big bass in shallow water or casting to structure in deeper water, the Heddon Torpedo is a proven lure that can help you hook into that trophy bass you've been dreaming of. So next time you're out on the water, give the Heddon Torpedo a try and see why it has been a favorite of anglers for almost 100 years.