Museum Archive: Vintage Rapala Original Floater, 1/8oz Gold fishing lure #5742

Gold-toned sides transitioning into a dark black back define the visual character of this hand-tuned balsa wood minnow. Weighing 1/8oz (4g) and measuring 2 3/4" (7cm), this Finland-made specimen reflects the precision manufacturing standards that made the brand a household name. Designed to operate within a depth range of 3ft to 5ft (0.9 m - 1.5 m), the clear diving lip is firmly secured into the nose of the body, just above a subtle red accent under the chin. The hardware features two treble hooks, and the lure remains in excellent 5/5 condition. Identified as product code 5742, it retains the classic painted yellow eyes with distinct black pupils common to these balsa iterations. The choice of balsa wood, a signature of Lauri Rapala’s original 1930s design, provides the buoyancy needed for both casting and trolling applications.