Museum Archive: Vintage Rapala Original Floater F11, 3/16oz fishing lure #14477

Wrapped in a vibrant gold finish with a reddish-orange back, this balsa wood minnow represents the foundational craftsmanship of Finnish angling history. Measuring 4 1/4" (11 cm) and weighing 3/16 oz (6 g), the Rapala Original Floater F11, designated by product code 14477, is a quintessential piece for any collector of European tackle. This specimen shows its age gracefully with a 3/5 condition rating, displaying some honest wear and markings on the sides and belly that tell a story of seasons past. The clear plastic diving lip is stamped with the classic "Rapala Finland" mark, engineered to take the lure to depths between 3 ft (0.9 m) and 5 ft (1.5 m). Equipped with three vintage treble hooks, the lure's construction stays true to Lauri Rapala’s 1930s vision of a buoyant, wood-bodied bait suitable for both casting and trolling techniques. The signature yellow eyes with black pupils remain distinct against the metallic scale pattern on the flanks.