Eppinger® Genuine Dardevle® Spoon

The Genuine Dardevle spoon from Eppinger is a timeless classic that has been a staple of bait store racks for years. For our testing we casted a 1/4 oz. spoon in a hammered nickel, "glass rainbow" finish throughout a variety of environments.

First Impressions

Often described as a well-balanced wobble lure, the Dardevle definitely unleashes a torrent of action on the retrieve. Because of the weight of the lure, a medium-to-fast retrieve is necessary to maintain proper buoyancy. This speed in conjunction with the dynamics of the spoon create a wide wobble, much more aggressive than typically seen with a action bait.

Fishing the Lure

We found this lure most effective in the transition period one hour before and about one hour after sunset. We encountered eager bass and a couple northern pike keying on this lure as we retrieved it over the weedbeds and flats during the early evening. We used this lure primarily in open water and shore casting conditions. As such, it will grab weeds and mid-water obstructions. This is the case with most hardbody baits, but unlike other crankbaits the Dardevle has no suspension capabilities meaning it can't "shake" snagged grass.

We speculate the flash created by the wobble effect of this lure is the #2 strike trigger behind action when crossing a bass. The hammered nickel finishes will reflect more light than the painted lures, but even the painted lures are uncoated on the underside belly. Overall, the action is impressive, but we find it to be a bit overaggressive for clear water and/or mid-day conditions.

Review Summary

There's a reason the Eppinger Dardevle spoon has been a staple in tackleboxes for nearly 100 years. A timeless classic, cast or trolled, this lure will key in big bass and northern pike. Finding which size to use for your fishing preference will require some testing, however you'll find having a Dardevle or two in the proper sizes provide you years of trouble free use. For this, testing is recommended by sticking to a standard hammered nickel finish in a couple varying sizes at first. Once you determine which size fits your fishing style, then experiment with color combinations.