Museum Archive: Vintage Weedless Johnson Silver Minnow, 3/16oz Gold fishing spoon #6698

Gleaming with a classic gold finish, this specimen represents the legendary weedless design perfected by Louis Johnson back in 1920. Weighing in at 3/16 oz (6 g), the spoon's specific copper/zinc alloy construction is thicker in the middle, which helps maintain its orientation during the retrieve. This particular Weedless Johnson Silver Minnow, identified by product code 6698, measures 1 3/4" (4.5 cm) in length and features the iconic integrated guarded hook for navigating heavy vegetation. Rated a 5/5, the lure exhibits the high-quality plating typical of vintage USA-manufactured stock before production moved abroad. The gold surface is designed to produce downward and side-directed flashes as the body rocks through a 270-degree angle. Because the rocking motion remains consistent even when adding a trailer, many collectors and anglers still pair these with pork rind to mimic the look of a distressed baitfish. The single hook is positioned to stay facing upward, deflecting snags while staying clear for a strike from below.