Museum Archive: Vintage Eppinger Weedless Dardevle Spinnie, 1/3oz Copper fishing spoon #3096

Stamped clearly with "DARDEVLE SPINNIE U.S.A." on its concave inner surface, this copper-toned spoon is a quintessential example of Eppinger’s enduring Michigan craftsmanship. Carrying product code 3096, this 1 3/4" (4.5 cm) lure features a specialized weedless setup, incorporating a single hook shielded by dual wire guards to help navigate thick vegetation or brush piles. Weighing 1/3 oz (9 g), the spoon provides enough heft for accurate casting while remaining small enough to appeal to various freshwater species. This specific specimen retains its warm copper luster and is in 4/5 condition, showing the light character one expects from a vintage piece that has been carefully stored over the years. Since Lou Eppinger began hand-making these in a Detroit basement in 1906, the brand has focused on using proprietary dies to ensure the specific weight distribution required for casting and retrieving. The back of the spoon reveals the heavy-duty rivet used to secure the weedless hardware, a functional design that has remained largely unchanged for decades.