Museum Archive: Vintage Weedless Johnson Silver Minnow, 1/3oz Black / Gold fishing spoon #3953

The Johnson Silver Minnow is a successful fishing lure invented in 1920 by Louis Johnson. To overcome the problem of fishing in a weedy lake, he developed a lure that imitates the movement of a minnow and integrated a guarded hook onto the spoon which was plated with real silver for a brighter flash. Johnson's design featured a special copper/zinc alloy spoon that was thicker in the middle, which caused the lure to rock back and forth, keeping the hook facing up and reducing the chances of catching weeds. This rocking motion also made the lure visually effective underwater and eliminated the need for swivels to prevent line twist.

The Johnson Silver Minnow was the first lure to use real silver for a whiter, brighter flash than chrome or polished steel. The use of real silver plating also sets it apart from other fishing lures. The rocking motion of the lure also creates flashes of reflection from the silver in the water, making it more visible to fish. This, combined with the guarded hook design, made the Johnson Silver Minnow an enduring and successful fishing lure.

The Johnson Silver Minnow's rocking motion causes it to rock back and forth through a 270 degree angle, creating flashes of reflection from the real silver plating in the water. This flashing is most effective as it is directed downwards and to the sides, as fish typically attack lures from below or the side. This design feature adds to the lure's effectiveness in catching fish.

The Johnson Silver Minnow is a deadly fishing lure that can be used on its own or with a trailer for added effectiveness. Its unique rocking motion makes it more attractive to fish and is not affected by the use of a trailer like many other spoons are. A popular combination is using a pork rind trailer in red/white or yellow/white, as it imitates the red gill rakers of a wounded or distressed baitfish, which can act as a visual 'dinner bell' to predatory fish that prefer to attack slower, wounded prey over fast and healthy ones.