Museum Archive: Vintage Mepps Aglia 5 Dressed UV, 1/2oz Black / Red UV Glow in UV light, Fluorescent spinning lure #12696

A striking fluorescent red glow emanates from the beads and blade accents under UV light, making this Mepps Aglia 5 Dressed UV highly visible in stained or deep waters. Weighing 1/2 oz (14 g) and measuring 3 1/4" (8 cm), this spinner is built around a heavy central wire featuring a stack of four bright orange beads that provide the necessary weight for long-distance casting. The black-painted blade is stamped with the Mepps Black Fury 5 logo and adorned with seven distinct red dots. This specific specimen, identified by product code 12696, carries a natural hair dressing on the treble hook, utilizing dark squirrel and deer hair with red accents to create a significant underwater profile. While the blade shows a slight deformation from previous use, the lure remains a solid example of French-engineered components assembled in the USA, earning a condition rating of 3/5. The wide blade design relies on a cone-style clevis to facilitate rotation as soon as the retrieve begins, a design hallmark since Andre Meulnart first invented the Aglia in 1938. The contrast between the matte black blade and the UV-reactive red elements offers a specific visual trigger for species like northern pike, trophy bass, and walleye.