Museum Archive: Vintage Weedless Johnson Silver Minnow UV, 1/3oz Fire Tiger fishing spoon #9574

Measuring 2" (5 cm) and weighing 1/3 oz (9 g), the Fire Tiger finish on this specialized spoon covers a signature copper and zinc alloy body. The classic design, product code 9574, utilizes a thickness concentrated in the center to maintain a rocking motion throughout a 270-degree arc. This specific version is from the vintage USA-made production line, offering a level of craftsmanship sought after by collectors of Louis Johnson's 1920 invention. A metal weed guard protects the single hook, allowing for use directly inside heavy vegetation. Under low light, the UV-active properties reveal a strong luminescent glow across the yellow and green sections of the lure. The paint on this specimen is in 5/5 condition, retaining its bright orange nose and green-tinged tail with crisp black vertical bars. Because the rocking motion is balanced by the alloy's weight distribution, the hook remains oriented upward to deflect weeds without requiring a swivel to manage line twist.