Lure History

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Comment by John Sheehan yesterday

Nebco Flash Bait 266 National Expert Bait Company. 

Comment by John Sheehan yesterday

Nebco Flash Bait 266 National Expert Bait Company. 

Comment by John Sheehan yesterday

Detroit Dardevlets and a Flutter Spoon 

Comment by John Sheehan yesterday

Dardevle spoons by Eppinger have been a favorite among anglers for over a century. Founded in 1906 in Detroit, Michigan, by Lou Eppinger, the company started off small, with Lou designing and hand-making fishing lures in his basement.

The Dardevle spoon is a uniquely shaped spoon that has filled tackle boxes for generations. It is designed to mimic the erratic movements of injured or distressed baitfish, which makes it more attractive to predatory fish. The spoon has a distinctive oblong shape with a concave surface that gives it a unique wobbling action when retrieved through the water. This action, combined with the spoon's bright and flashy design, makes it irresistible to fish.

Over the years, Dardevle has expanded its product line to include a wide range of spoons in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Today, the company offers over 150 different colors and 65 different styles of lures, providing anglers with a vast array of options to choose from.

Dardevle spoons are made in the USA, with their own manufacturing proprietary dies used to create the uniquely shaped spoons. The company takes pride in producing high-quality, American-made products.

For those just getting into using a spoon or other lure, there are a few things to keep in mind. When fishing in cloudy water, dark colors with a copper-colored back tend to work best. For clear water, a lighter colored spoon with a nickel-colored back is the way to go. Having a black-colored lure is also recommended, as it has worked well regardless of the water's clarity.

When fishing with a spoon, a slow retrieve is usually all that's needed. If the spoon stops and flutters during a retrieve, slightly pumping the rod can trigger a following fish to respond. Anglers should experiment with different sizes of lures and the speed of retrieval until they find what works best for them.

In addition to being popular among anglers, Dardevle spoons have even been used by the United States government. During wartime, Dardevles were included in aviation survival kits, a testament to the design's effectiveness.

In 1959, Dardevle moved from Detroit to Dearborn, Michigan, where it continues to operate today. The small company has been successful over the century for one primary reason – the lures work. As Lou Eppinger once said, "The Dardevle spoon catches fish."

Comment by John Sheehan on July 12, 2024 at 8:01am

25 Vintage Fishing Lures Worth A Fortune – My Bait Shop, LLC

Comment by John Sheehan on July 9, 2024 at 10:10am

This Classic,' Imp Klicker' was the ticket for an outside weed line suspended 2# Bass in a Cove.  

Comment by John Sheehan on July 9, 2024 at 10:05am

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on July 2, 2024 at 6:31pm

I can't remember the name of that one. It's been so many years since I fished them.

Comment by John Sheehan on July 2, 2024 at 3:19pm

Hey Bruce! Thanks for the great post. I love this Lure Nostalgia. I see several Rebels, a Rapala, Heddon Tiny Torpedo and Crazy Crawler and of course the Arbogast Jitterbug in the favorite nighttime color! That Skip-n Cisco is one I don't recall, but I dig Prop Baits! Have no clue about the two crankbaits in the 1st and 5th trays from the left. Maybe a Manns deep Diver in the 1st Tray ?What's that shallow lipped one in the 5th Tray?

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on July 2, 2024 at 5:51am

I haven't fished these lures in over 35 year so they have to be antiques. I can't remember all of their names. I used to be a diehard bass fisherman for awhile. Of course I wads a diehard every kind of fishing at one time or another.

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