THE HISTORIC FIRST AMERICAN WOODEN MINNOW

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/17/2025

Brought to market initially in 2006, this historically priceless piece represents the link between the Rotary & Cedar Plugs of the late 1890s, and the first commercially offered Minnows just after the turn of the century. This is the bait that was found in Twin Lakes, OH resident Hiram C. Rice’s tackle box. Rice lived and fished in the back yards of Ohio’s most noteworthy early lure makers such as Pflueger, Pardee, and Shaffer, and their influence is clearly visible in the Trory Minnow-style paint. The natural wood grain comes through on the sides of this hand-shaped bait, with a dark back and slightly curving gill marks. It has striking copper-colored “perch” stripes with a golden belly. When this bait first appeared on the market, it was rigged with two trebles, the rear hung on the looped pin prop mount, and the belly treble mounted on an added, post-production eye, screwed directly into the large belly weight. The bait has since had the belly treble removed. Evident when the bait most recently sold at auction, it was designed to carry a pair of hooks on each side. The pair of through-holes in the sides are worn in such a manner as to indicate the original side hooks were fastened with strings, or some similar material. Currently, the bait is rigged in this manner, with hooks and string from unknown sources. The “File Maker” spade-shaped props are original and identical to those on a similar bait shown in Arlan Carter’s book on page 279, and the prop bearings appear to also be original and unchanged. When this Minnow was sold in 2006, the looped pin line tie was broken, and it has since been replaced. When found, the bait’s right eye was cracked, but still intact, and the left eye was missing. In the interim, a pair of reddish decoy-style eyes has been inserted. The added side hooks and glass eyes are easily removable if the new owner should prefer a step in that direction. The Minnow itself remains in strong Very Good Plus condition and the important original props are in super shape. You are bidding on one of the most important and desirable objects in angling history, as it is the best representative predecessor to all other American Wooden Underwater Minnows.

Item Dimensions: 4" length.