Museum Archive: Vintage Rapala Original Floater, 1/8oz Gold fishing lure #5014

Glistening gold scale patterns dominate the sides of this Finnish-made balsa wood minnow. Cataloged under product code 5014, this Rapala Original Floater weighs in at a light 1/8 oz (4 g) and measures 2 3/4" (7 cm) in length. The specimen features a striking red back that transitions into the gold foil scales, completed by a clean white underbelly. A translucent red diving lip is set into the nose, allowing the lure to operate at depths between 3 ft (0.9 m) and 5 ft (1.5 m). The 4/5 condition rating reflects a very well-kept lure; the finish is bright and the balsa body is sound, with only slight age visible on the dark-finished treble hooks. Yellow eyes with black pupils provide a focused look to the front profile. This design is built for versatile techniques like casting or light trolling, utilizing the high buoyancy of its wood core.