Museum Archive: Vintage Rapala Original Floater F11, 3/16oz fishing lure #17234

Measuring 4 1/4" (11cm) in length, this classic Finnish lure features the quintessential balsa wood construction that defined the brand’s early success. The silver-foiled sides display a detailed scale texture beneath a deep blue back, a pairing designed to catch light while moving through the water column. Weighing 3/16oz (5g), this Original Floater F11, product code 17234, carries three treble hooks for casting or trolling applications. The clear diving lip is engineered to reach depths of 4ft - 6ft (1.2 - 1.8 m), facilitating a wounded minnow presentation through uniform or stop-and-go retrieves. In terms of condition, this piece is rated 2/5, displaying visible signs of use including some wear to the foil finish and surface marks on the diving lip. The buoyant balsa body remains the heart of the design, a construction method Lauri Rapala pioneered in the 1930s that allows the lure to be twitched on the surface or hovered at specific depths when fished with a split shot.