Museum Archive: Vintage Rapala Original Floater, 1/4oz Trout fishing lure #4482

Product code 4482 distinguishes this 5" (13 cm) balsa wood minnow, a staple for anglers targeting trout and other predatory species. Weighing 1/4 oz (7 g), the lure is finished in a detailed Trout pattern, complete with the characteristic spots and a soft pink lateral stripe. This particular specimen hails from Ireland, a detail often sought by collectors of vintage European-made Rapalas. When pulled through the water, it is engineered to reach depths of 4 ft to 6 ft (1.2 m to 1.8 m), making it as effective for light trolling as it is for shoreline casting. The hardware consists of three belly-mounted treble hooks, all showing well in this 4/5 condition example. Its buoyancy is derived from the precision-shaped balsa body, a construction method that has remained the gold standard for the brand since its inception. Whether twitched near the surface or worked down to its maximum swimming depth, the lure relies on its lightweight frame and signature lip design to mimic a vulnerable baitfish.