Museum Archive: Vintage Mepps Aglia 0 Mouche, 3/32oz Brass spinning lure #1808

Stamped directly onto the brass blade are the identifiers "BRITISH FRENCH PAT." and the number 0, marking the size of this Mepps Aglia 0 Mouche. This specimen, listed as product code 1808, weighs 3/32oz (2.5g) with a total length of 1 3/4" (4.5cm). The brass color of the wide blade is a signature of the original French components designed by Andre Meulnart, even though this lure was assembled in the USA. Its feathered tail features a reddish-orange dressing made of squirrel and deer hair, accented with turkey-quill. Looking at the hardware, the condition is a respectable 4/5, with the wire-wrapped eyelet and the bead body showing a clean, functional state. A precise cone rotation system is integrated into the build, intended to let the blade spin smoothly according to the water current or retrieve speed. This design has been a staple for trout and panfish anglers since the 1930s, utilizing specific vibrations created by the wide blade shape to attract fish.