Stumbled upon an old lure....
Last year somebody on the Stage was trying to remember an old spinning lure that was made by the Eppinger Daredevle Company in Dearborn, MI. At least that is what I remembered....
Anyways, the lure being described at that time reminded me of something that I had in my personal tackle box, but could not find for illustration. I assumed that I had lost it somewhere back in the day. I drew a colorized sketch from memory and posted it. Later on, the Stage member that had inquired confirmed that was not the lure in question so it was considered a "solved mystery" regarding this particular lure.
Yesterday afternoon I was organizing some tackle for this coming Spring, and eureka...I stumbled upon the old relic that I had remembered owning! The hook was in need of replacement, so I added a "store bought" black feathered treble and fabricated a 1/2 inch extension on the lure shank using a partial swivel and split ring so that the metallic silver tube would ride higher during deployment and not cover the hook.
For me, this provided complete "closure" to something that had been nagging me...I don't like to misplace tackle! I had thought about this "missing" lure from time to time over the past year since that original post!
This lure came into my possession as a door prize way back in the 70's when my father and I were attending a small fishing trade show in Pontiac, MI. I never caught any fish on it as a kid, so it was simply set aside collecting dust over the past 5 decades. In a way, it is very nostalgic to me now...so although I plan to give it a fresh try my hopes are to catch just one fish on it and then place it in a retirement mode!
The "osprey"...manufactured by the Eppinger Daredevle Company. I noticed a few vintage ones on E-Bay, and I'm not sure if this product is still on the market or not. There is a small narrow slot on the body...probably to create some water disturbance
First time I’ve seen that one, thanks!
OJdidit wrote:
First time I’ve seen that one, thanks!
You're welcome OJdidit! Kind of a quirky design and I recall that it had a slight wobble as well as spin during retrieve.
I just noticed that Admin moved this to the main topic, so I guess it must be something that had interest to them....
Between the blade and the tube it should have a lot of wiggle. The tube flairs out at the end. That lure could work.
fishyaker wrote:
Last year somebody on the Stage was trying to remember an old spinning lure that was made by the Eppinger Daredevle Company in Dearborn, MI. At least that is what I remembered....
Anyways, the lure being described at that time reminded me of something that I had in my personal tackle box, but could not find for illustration. I assumed that I had lost it somewhere back in the day. I drew a colorized sketch from memory and posted it. Later on, the Stage member that had inquired confirmed that was not the lure in question so it was considered a "solved mystery" regarding this particular lure.
Yesterday afternoon I was organizing some tackle for this coming Spring, and eureka...I stumbled upon the old relic that I had remembered owning! The hook was in need of replacement, so I added a "store bought" black feathered treble and fabricated a 1/2 inch extension on the lure shank using a partial swivel and split ring so that the metallic silver tube would ride higher during deployment and not cover the hook.
For me, this provided complete "closure" to something that had been nagging me...I don't like to misplace tackle! I had thought about this "missing" lure from time to time over the past year since that original post!
This lure came into my possession as a door prize way back in the 70's when my father and I were attending a small fishing trade show in Pontiac, MI. I never caught any fish on it as a kid, so it was simply set aside collecting dust over the past 5 decades. In a way, it is very nostalgic to me now...so although I plan to give it a fresh try my hopes are to catch just one fish on it and then place it in a retirement mode!
Last year somebody on the Stage was trying to reme... (
show quote)
That looks like a great spinner. I’ve never seen one like that
Very cool looking lure, but I doubt it is very effective, or it sold for too much. Anything back in the day that worked well seemed to find it's way into everyone's tackle box, such as daredevil spoon, lazy ike, bucktail jig, mepps spinner, rooster tail and a few others. This is the first time I have seen one to the best of my memory, though my memory isn't what it used to be.
mistred64 wrote:
Between the blade and the tube it should have a lot of wiggle. The tube flairs out at the end. That lure could work.
I believe it does have a pretty oddball action. Have not had it in the water for years but I'll find out soon!
Graywulff wrote:
That looks like a great spinner. I’ve never seen one like that
I can't really say that I ever gave it a fair chance back in the day. I am very curious about what will happen when I try it this Spring. If I remember correctly, it felt like what happens when you cast out a lure and the hooks flip and tangle on your line...giving a zany retrieve coming back to you.
bapabear wrote:
Very cool looking lure, but I doubt it is very effective, or it sold for too much. Anything back in the day that worked well seemed to find it's way into everyone's tackle box, such as daredevil spoon, lazy ike, bucktail jig, mepps spinner, rooster tail and a few others. This is the first time I have seen one to the best of my memory, though my memory isn't what it used to be.
You just might be dead on correct with that hunch. If it was a great producer, then it would have seen a broader market for sure. I think at first they were being given away at trade shows for promotion. I do not recall ever having seen one hanging on a peg in the tackle shops back then. It might have been a total dud and they never went into mass production.
I'm pretty sure I will catch some fish on it...given time and patience...but unless it surprises me I will not consider it as a "go to" lure! I think the original hook dressing was a red tube over the treble hook shank...sort of like the old original Mepps Aglia's had. Speaking of those original Aglia's...as a kid they were our red hot lure for smallies. A number 2 or 3 sized blade. We caught them trolling along the shores of Lake Huron near Alpena, MI...staying out from the reedy shorelines in about 15 feet of water.
I caught a lot of trout with a daredevil spinner in red and white. That was my go to spinner as a kid. I didn't have that particular one though.
Have two of those hanging from the rafters in the basement. One in packaging. Don’t remember where I got them. They have hung from the rafters way longer than from the end of a rod.
Captain wrote:
Have two of those hanging from the rafters in the basement. One in packaging. Don’t remember where I got them. They have hung from the rafters way longer than from the end of a rod.
Now that's very cool! I'd hang on to them just like you have been! Nifty that one is still in the packaging. That tells me that perhaps they did market them for a while. The one I was given came from a salesman and was out of the package already....
I have seen a few on E-Bay with different colored blades, and they also seem to have a brass bead up ahead of the spinner blade clevice. Mine only ever had the single red bead as pictured. As I mentioned also...my hook is different than the OEM would have been because I replaced it recently.
I was out ice fishing this morning and on my way home drove by the local Bay that has been open all Winter...just too cold to go out in a kayak though. Pretty soon I'm going to give this baby a cast! Only one keeper perch today and plenty of small ones. Also missed a decent sized northern pike that zoomed in, caught me off guard and smashed my small jigging spoon without getting hooked. Left a wake of dusty sediment in a cloud plume that looked like an underwater freight train had just rambled on by!
DareDevil in-line spinner . Old ones built in The N.E. I was a kid and we used the big ones for big pike. I liked the ones with a squrel tail. I have some from late 1950’s seedless spoons. Red and white stripe are classics.
Caught the freighter last week while fishing for snapper someplace warmer. Bi catch on a2 oz jig.
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