Hopkins

Hopkins Fishing Lures is an American brand founded in the 1950s in Newport News, Virginia, by a Marine engineer named Eldon J. "Hop" Hopkins. The company is famous for its innovative metal spoon lure, constructed from marine-grade stainless steel.

Eldon Hopkins worked in the aerospace engineering field. He developed his lure seeking a simple yet highly effective metal bait that would drop quickly to great depths and exhibit an attractive action.

He utilized his metalworking expertise to create a lure made from tough, marine-grade stainless steel, making it virtually indestructible.

Unlike traditional spoon lures used for trolling, Hopkins lures feature a short, thick, slightly curved profile with a cut-out at the tail end. They are designed for vertical jigging.

Action: Due to its weight and shape, the lure drops rapidly, while still creating a flashing, erratic wobble that simulates a wounded or dying baitfish fluttering downward. This is ideal for catching fish suspended in deep water (rockfish, tuna, walleye).

Hopkins Lures gained popularity in the 1960s, becoming the standard for rockfish (striped bass) fishing on the Atlantic coast.

The lures are famous for their extreme durability and simplicity: it’s a piece of metal that just works.