Museum Archive: Vintage Johnson Silver Minnow Weedless, 3/4oz gold fishing spoon #24171

Copper and zinc alloys give this 3/4oz (21g) spoon the density required for punchy casts into thick lakeside vegetation. Measuring 2 3/4" (7cm) in length, this specimen features the legendary weedless guard, a design pioneered by Louis Johnson in 1920 to allow anglers to navigate heavy lily pads and grass. While the series name suggests silver, this vintage piece, marked with product code 24171, is finished in a clean gold plating that offers a warm, high-visibility flash in stained water. The body is engineered to be thicker in the center, a technical feature that keeps the hook upright while allowing the lure to rock through a wide 270-degree angle. As a vintage item manufactured in the USA, it represents the high quality of earlier production runs before manufacturing moved overseas. The surfaces are exceptionally well-maintained, earning a condition rating of 5/5. The wire guard remains resilient and the gold finish is smooth on both sides, ensuring maximum light reflection as it moves through the water column.