Museum Archive: Vintage Johnson Silver Minnow, 1/3oz Silver fishing spoon #0007

Commemorative black lettering celebrating the 80th Anniversary 1920 - 2000 adorns the face of this silver-plated spoon, a special edition piece of American fishing history. Weighing in at 1/3 oz (9 g) and measuring 2 1/4" (5.4 cm), the copper and zinc alloy body is engineered with a thicker center to facilitate a rocking motion that covers a 270-degree angle. This specific specimen carries the product code 0007 and displays a textured honeycomb scale pattern that catches light alongside the authentic silver plating. Originally patented by Louis Johnson to navigate heavy vegetation, the weedless design utilizes a guarded hook intended to stay upright during the retrieve. As an older USA-made production, this lure represents the era before manufacturing shifted overseas. The condition is rated 4/5, showing a well-preserved surface that retains its characteristic bright, white-silver flash. Anglers historically paired this model with a trailer to mimic the gills of baitfish, though the spoon's construction provides its own distinct visual profile in the water.