Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Rok’t Dardevle, 1 3/4oz Rainbow Trout fishing spoon #19749

The stamped branding on the polished reverse side reads "DARDEVLE DEARBORN MI.," identifying its origin in the facility Eppinger moved to back in 1959. This 3 1/2" (9 cm) spoon features the Rainbow Trout pattern, characterized by a creamy white base transitioning into a light blue stripe and a soft pinkish-orange belly accented with distinct black dots. Weighing in at 1 3/4 oz (50 g), the Rok’t Dardevle is a heavy-duty casting option designed for reaching distance and staying down in the water column. The front face proudly displays the iconic devil head logo, a symbol of quality since Lou Eppinger's early days in Detroit. It is rigged with a robust, silver-finished treble hook attached via a heavy-duty split ring, suggesting its readiness for larger freshwater predators like pike or lake trout. This specimen is in superb shape, showing minimal signs of age and earning a clear 5/5 rating for its crisp paint and bright metal. The classic oblong, concave shape is stamped from Eppinger’s proprietary dies, ensuring the traditional performance that has kept this American brand in tackle boxes for over a hundred years. Cataloged under product code 19749, it stands as a fine example of Michigan-made fishing history.