Museum Archive: Vintage Storm Hot'N'Tot Thin Fin, 1/4oz Natural fishing lure #1296

Natural scale patterns over a silver body give the Storm Hot'N'Tot Thin Fin its distinctive look, especially combined with those prominent yellow eyes. This 1/4 oz (6.5 g) vintage specimen, identified by product code 1296, hails from the pre-Rapala era of Storm production in the USA. Measuring 2 3/4" (7 cm) in length, the lure features a large metal diving lip that allows it to reach depths of 5 ft to 13 ft (1.5 m to 4 m) during a troll or drift. The hardware consists of two original-style treble hooks and a line tie snap mounted directly through the metal lip. A black-to-silver gradient on the back highlights the textured scales that cover the body. Rated at a condition of 4/5, the lure shows gentle signs of its age while maintaining its structural integrity for targeting walleye, pike, or perch. The wide metal lip is characteristic of these early American-made models intended for deep-water presentations.