Johnnie O'Neil
Johnnie O'Neil was an American fishing lure inventor from Akron, Ohio, USA. His most famous invention is the Weed Wing—a shiny, weedless spoon lure.
O'Neil created the Weed Wing spoon in 1957 and secured a patent for it in 1962. The key feature of this lure is a special design that shields the hook from snagging on aquatic weeds, making it ideal for fishing in heavily vegetated areas.
In the mid-1960s, Johnnie O'Neil sold the manufacturing rights for his successful lure to Harrison Industries from New Jersey.
Harrison Industries became the company that manufactured and marketed the Johnnie O'Neil's Weed Wing spoon for many years, cementing its status as a classic weedless lure.
Ultimately, the rights to the lure were passed on to the Panther Martin company, which continues to produce it today.
