Museum Archive: Vintage South Bend Fly Oreno, 3/64oz fishing lure #20621

Weighing in at a mere 3/64 oz (1.4 g), this wooden Fly Oreno showcases the meticulous hand-painting typical of early 20th-century South Bend craftsmanship. Measuring just 1 1/4" (3 cm), the lure features a gold and tan honeycomb scale pattern that blends into a deep brown head and a soft pink blush at the throat. A set of bright yellow eyes with black pupils sits near the top-mounted screw-eye line tie, providing a classic focal point. This specimen, assigned product code 20621, retains its original hardware including a bottom-slung double hook on a wire hanger. Produced from 1918 into the mid-century, these surface-running lures were designed for a delicate presentation on a fly rod. The specimen is in 5/5 condition, with the finish showing exceptional preservation for its age. The dark topcoat tapers cleanly into a lighter underbelly, highlighting the quality of the scale application.