Museum Archive: Vintage Nebco FlashBait 266, 1/3oz Red / White / Nickel fishing spoon #2182

Red and white stripes diagonally cross the convex front surface of this 1/3 oz (10 g) metal spoon, creating the high-contrast pattern synonymous with traditional mid-century lures. Flipping the lure over reveals a polished nickel reverse side, deeply stamped with "FLASH BAIT 266 MPLS. MINN" and the company's fish logo, marking its manufacturing origins in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Measuring exactly 2 1/4" (5.5 cm) in length, this Nebco FlashBait 266 (Product Code: 2182) features a robust brass split ring at the base connecting to a sharp treble hook. The painted finish shows some gentle evidence of its age through light surface marks, maintaining a respectable 4/5 condition that collectors often seek for display in a vintage tackle box. Its construction is primarily designed for casting or trolling techniques, where the weight-to-size ratio allows for reaching specific depths in the water column. The specific MPLS. MINN stamping provides a direct link to the regional fishing history of the American Upper Midwest.