Museum Archive: Kmart Kresge #K02, 1/2oz fishing lure #12353

Tipping the scales at 1/2 oz (14 g), this Japanese-made Kmart Kresge #K02 is a well-preserved piece of retail fishing history. The lure measures 2 1/2" (6.5 cm) and showcases a sunfish-inspired palette, featuring a dark olive-green back that transitions into golden-yellow scaled sides with a prominent black spot. A unique detail of this specimen is the red paint on the underside of the diving lip, which is designed to reach depths of 3 ft (0.9 m) to 7 ft (2.1 m) for both casting and trolling applications. This specific item, identified by product code 12353, is unused and remains in its original vintage blister packaging. The internal construction includes a noise-making rattle chamber to aid visibility in stained water. Its hardware consists of two belly hooks, and the overall build quality reflects the craftsmanship typical of Japanese manufacturing from this era.