April 2014
“Spoon”
Mfg – Unknown
Found in Central Minnesota
Age – 1930s?

Every fisherman has heard of the term “spoon” used to describe some metal fishing lures, such as the Dardevle, Little Cleo, Blue Fox, or a Red-Eye.  It is because the shape is similar to the open end of a spoon used for eating.  If fact, the term “spoon” may go back further than people realize.
 
When one of America’s first lure inventors, Julio Buel, was asked how he came up with his first lure design, he told a story of his childhood.  The story involved a young boy drifting in a boat trying to catch fish with live bait.  He took a break from fishing to eat lunch that he packed for the trip.  While eating some canned food, he accidentally dropped his spoon into the lake.  As he watched it spiral and flash to the bottom of the lake, he was surprised to see a large fish swoop in and grab it.
 
The boy hurried home and modified a table spoon and headed back to the lake.  His spoon now had a hook on it and he let it troll behind the boat as he slowly oared across the lake.  Sure enough, it wasn’t long before he caught a large trout.  As he grew older, he perfected his lure and was granted the first American Patent for a fishing lure in 1852.
 
Now, speed ahead to many years later….
 
Picture a fisherman looking at the metal fishing lures in a store.  “Hmmmm”, he thinks, “Those lures look like spoons”.
 
It is now the Great Depression in the United States, so he can’t afford one of these lures.  But, bringing home a meal of fish sure would be nice.
 
“Well” the fisherman thinks, “I can make one of those”.  But, instead of using the "scoop" end of the spoon, he uses the handle to make a small lure.
 
So the fishing spoon, in this case, goes full circle.  The table spoon inspires the making of a fishing lure…and the fishing lure inspires someone to make their own from a table spoon.
 
I found this homemade spoon lure in a very small tackle box several years ago.  The tackle box had hooks, sinkers, and two homemade "spoons" in it.  I wish I knew more of the history of these lures and their maker, but I do not.
 
Still, this “spoon” is extremely cool.  That is why they are this month’s “Lure Of The Month”.