Museum Archive: Vintage Johnson Silver Minnow, 1/4oz Gold fishing spoon #1071

A weight of 1/4oz (7g) makes this vintage spoon a nimble tool for picking apart cover. This gold Johnson Silver Minnow, carrying product code 1071, measures exactly 2" (5cm) and showcases the ingenious design Louis Johnson first debuted in 1920. Crafted from a copper and zinc alloy that is noticeably thicker in its center, the spoon is engineered to rock back and forth through a 270-degree angle. This specific geometry ensures the guarded hook remains facing upward, sliding over lily pads and reeds where other lures would snag. The gold plating provides a warm, consistent flash directed downwards and to the sides—precisely where predatory fish are likely to strike from. Unlike modern iterations produced overseas, this piece originates from the brand's USA manufacturing era. It arrives in 5/5 condition, maintaining a brilliant luster across its curved surface. The integrated metal weed guard is firm and correctly aligned with the single hook, ready for a pork rind trailer or to be fished clean.