Museum Archive: Vintage VIVIF Vintage Vivif Swim Bait, 3/16oz Yellow fishing #6166

Measuring a compact 2 inches (5 cm), this French-made classic brings a piece of post-war angling history to the collection. The 3/16 oz (6 g) weight is balanced within a body featuring a distinct yellow underbelly transitioning into a dark olive scaly pattern along the back. Known as the Vivif Swim Bait, product code 6166, it represents a significant 1940s innovation by a French sport fisherman who sought to create a more effective "live tail" for perch fishing. The soft body remains supple, which is notable for a specimen of this age, earning a condition rating of 5/5. Its anatomical details include a molded-in dorsal fin, a prominent yellow eye with a black pupil, and a single belly treble hook. The tow point is integrated directly into the nose, reinforcing the streamlined profile intended for casting. This specimen reflects the craftsmanship of early European soft lure manufacturing, where the focus was on replicating natural forage through texture and form.