Museum Archive: Vintage Yakima Bait Worden’s Original Rooster Tail 3, 3/16oz Silver spinning lure #15976

Stamped clearly into the silver willow leaf blade, the "ROOSTER TAIL 3" markings identify this Yakima Bait classic, carrying the legacy of Howard Worden’s 1950s design. Measuring 2 1/4" (6 cm) and weighing in at 3/16 oz (6 g), this inline spinner features a weighted body decorated with a subtle honeycomb scale pattern that matches the textured blade. The rear is finished with a characteristic blonde hackle feather tail, a signature Worden element intended to provide a soft profile in the water. This specific piece, identified by product code 15976, shows some light age-related surface marks on the silver plating and the hand-tied feathers, earning it a 3.5/5 condition rating. The willow leaf blade design is engineered to rotate widely, generating the vibration that has made these a staple for stream trout and panfish for decades. Small areas of wear in the body finish near the tail attachment indicate its vintage status while the internal wire remains straight and functional.