Garren WoodFishing Hook Reference
Save this hook to your account to build a list you can come back to.
The Pflueger Cincinnati Bass (No. 3421-BT) is an American freshwater hook manufactured by Enterprise Manufacturing Company in Akron, Ohio, primarily during the early-to-mid 20th century. This model exemplifies Pflueger’s engineering approach to bass-specific tackle design, featuring a modified round bend with subtle angular offset that maximizes hook-set geometry and bait retention during the violent head-thrashing of hooked largemouth bass.
The defining physical feature is the distinctly American Cincinnati Bass bend geometry—different from traditional British patterns—coupled with a bright tinned finish. The filed point construction is prominently advertised on original packaging as a marker of Pflueger’s precision industrial manufacturing. Era evidence includes the absence of barcode, cream-colored cardstock sales card with brass-wire retention, and green letterpress typography consistent with 1900-1950 retail distribution standards.
Collecting significance: Cincinnati Bass represents a uniquely American Midwestern fishing tradition and remains moderately uncommon in original packaging. Sales cards with complete hook counts and minimal toning are increasingly scarce as vintage tackle dispersed over the past 70 years. The bright tinned finish variant (BT designation) is documented across both retail sales card and boxed 100-count formats, offering collectors multiple packaging options to pursue.
8 cataloged imagesSelect any record to load it above.
8 images shown
Pflueger 3421-BT Cincinnati Bass — Standard Shank, Straight-Ring Eye, Superior Filed Point, Bright Tinned Finish — Size 20 — Sizes 15–30 Available
The Cincinnati Bass geometry is engineered around three specific functional principles: (1) Hook-set geometry: The subtle offset point angle (8-12 degrees) positions the barb slightly inward from the shank axis, creating a natural rotational moment during the strike that embeds the point deeply into the jaw musculature without requiring extreme angler force. This contrasts with the pure round Sproat, where the perpendicular point requires direct linear pressure. (2) Bait retention: The standard shank length (~0.92″-1.02″ for size 20) provides sufficient lever arm to secure live baitfish without the extreme shank extension of the Carlisle, which was unnecessary for bass fishing. (3) Wire gauge and fatigue resistance: The standard wire gauge (~0.044″-0.050″) balances the need for sufficient strength to land 2-8 pound bass against the need for delicate barb geometry in smaller sizes (15-20). The round wire profile distributes bending stress evenly, reducing the risk of catastrophic failure under the violent head-shakes unique to bass strikes.
The filed point (as advertised on packaging) is a mechanical precision advantage. Pflueger’s industrial filing operations created a uniform, acute angle across the entire point, ensuring repeatable penetration characteristics across every hook in the production batch. This was a significant competitive advantage over hand-sharpened British imports, which suffered from batch-to-batch inconsistency.
Physical measurement with calipers
We don't have measured sizes for this hook yet. Own one? Submit calipered measurements and we'll review and add them. Thank you!
The Enterprise Manufacturing Company was founded in Akron, Ohio, in 1881 by Ernest F. Pflueger, a German immigrant and visionary entrepreneur who recognized the commercial potential of luminous fishing lures. Pflueger’s pivotal 1883 patent for phosphorescent paint on artificial baits transformed the company’s trajectory from a modest American Fish Hook operation into a global fishing tackle powerhouse.
By 1900, Pflueger’s Akron factory had expanded dramatically following the critical 1899 acquisition of the American Fish Hook Company of New Haven, Connecticut—the hook division that had been founded in 1864 by Dr. Chauncey O. Crosby, inventor of the first automated hook-making machine. This consolidation gave Pflueger access to established hook production expertise, extensive historical bend designs, and a ready-made distribution network across American hardware jobbers and retail outlets.
Under the leadership of Ernest A. Pflueger (Ernest F.’s son), the company scaled hook production to unprecedented industrial volumes. By 1927, Pflueger employed 350 workers year-round and manufactured an astonishing 100+ million fish hooks annually. The company’s manufacturing sophistication was legendary—Pflueger pioneered the use of precision mechanical filing for point sharpening, advanced tempering protocols, and industrial-scale ringed-eye and flatted-eye construction.
In 1928, Vice President Charles T. Pflueger (another family member in management) purchased a farm in Green Township, Ohio, where he constructed a private testing lake with controlled hydrological features. This facility was used for rigorous empirical testing of hook penetration mechanics, wire stress tolerances, and lure hydrodynamics—validating the ‘BEST BY TEST’ marketing claims that appeared on Pflueger packaging. This commitment to empirical quality assurance was virtually unique among tackle manufacturers of the era.
The company’s dominance in terminal tackle gradually shifted toward reels and rods following the introduction of the first Pflueger baitcasting reel in 1916 and the first spinning reel in 1954. By 1966, when Shakespeare Company acquired the Pflueger tackle division, hook production had already become a secondary focus for the corporation. All modern Pflueger hooks are vintage collectibles; the brand currently operates under Pure Fishing as a reel and rod manufacturer only.
The Pflueger Cincinnati Bass (No. 3421 series) emerged in the early 1900s as part of Pflueger’s expansion into region-specific hook designs following the 1899 acquisition of the American Fish Hook Company. The Cincinnati Bass was engineered specifically for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fishing in freshwater lakes and river systems of the American Midwest—particularly the Great Lakes region, Ohio River, and Mississippi River basin where organized bass tournaments and regional fishing clubs were driving demand for specialized tackle.
The model remained in continuous production from approximately 1900 through the 1950s, spanning five decades. Documentation shows that the Cincinnati Bass was manufactured in multiple size ranges (documented from size 15 through size 30) and in at least three distinct finish variants: Japanned (J = black enamel), Bronzed (Br = warm brown-gold), and Bright Tinned (BT = silver-white hot-dip tinned). Each finish variant carried its own four-digit model code (3421-J, 3421-Br, 3421-BT) to facilitate retail inventory management.
Packaging formats evolved over the production span. Early examples appear in simple kraft paper packets or wooden barrel containers (circa 1900-1920). The transition to cardstock sales cards with brass-wire retention (illustrated here) became standard during the 1920s-1940s. Boxed formats for bulk distribution (100 hooks per wooden box) coexisted with sales card retail variants throughout the production era. No significant engineering changes to the bend profile, wire gauge, or eye construction are documented between the earliest and latest production examples, suggesting that Pflueger maintained design consistency across the entire 50-year production window—a testament to the Cincinnati Bass’s initial engineering success.
The Cincinnati Bass series was discontinued sometime between 1950 and 1966 as Pflueger’s strategic focus shifted toward mechanical tackle (reels and rods). No post-1966 Pflueger Cincinnati Bass production is documented. The model has no modern equivalent under the Pflueger brand name.
Sales card packaging exhibits characteristics consistent with early-to-mid 20th century retail distribution. The cream cardstock with green letterpress text and brass-wire chain retention system is typical of Pflueger's pre-1950s sales card format. The absence of a barcode or modern UPC coding indicates pre-1974 manufacture. Wooden box variant features lithographed label and 'Made in U.S.A.' marking consistent with Pflueger production from 1920s-1950s. The straight-ring eye and filed point construction (explicitly stated on packaging) align with Pflueger's documented manufacturing standards during the 1900-1950 era. No 'Bulldog' or 'Four Brothers' brand line markings are visible on the sales card label (only 'Pflueger' text), suggesting this variant may predate the December 1914 trademark registration, though later non-branded examples continued throughout the production run.
The Cincinnati Bass bend emerged as a distinctly American innovation during the early 1900s, developed in response to the explosion of largemouth bass fishing in the Midwest and South. Unlike traditional British patterns (Kirby, Sproat, Limerick) designed for European species and angling styles, the Cincinnati Bass was engineered specifically for the acrobatic jumping and head-thrashing behavior of Micropterus salmoides. Pflueger's massive Akron factory manufactured this pattern in partnership with regional tackle dealers and hardware jobbers throughout the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basin. The bright tinned finish (3421-BT designation) was particularly favored for murky, tannic-stained bass waters where flash and visibility in low-light conditions provided a competitive advantage over matte or dark finishes. By the 1920s, Pflueger's Cincinnati Bass had become the dominant freshwater pattern across the American heartland, outselling imported British hooks in volume across the entire hardware distribution network.
The Cincinnati Bass bend represents an American refinement of traditional European round-bend principles (the Sproat ancestry is evident in the parabolic curve) with an anglicized offset tip geometry borrowed from Kirby tradition. However, the Cincinnati Bass diverged significantly from its antecedents by prioritizing the specific hydrodynamic and mechanical requirements of large-mouthed black bass rather than serving as a generalist pattern.
Competing American designs from the same era include the Aberdeen (which predates and retains wider gape), the O’Shaughnessy (which emphasizes extreme strength over precision hook-set), and regional patterns from South Bend Tackle and Shakespeare Company. The Cincinnati Bass occupied a middle ground—stronger than the Aberdeen, more precise than the O’Shaughnessy, and distinctly American in orientation.
Historical influence: The Cincinnati Bass design lineage extends through Pflueger’s production run (1900-1950s) and influenced subsequent American manufacturers. Later hooks marketed as ‘bass-specific’ by Eagle Claw and other modern producers often adopt Cincinnati Bass-like offset geometry, though modern materials and manufacturing have altered the balance of strength and sharpness.
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Analysis | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
23407 D No. 1/0 — O'Shaughnessy Hooks Ringed Duratin | 91% | Compare | |
|
23407 B No. 1 — O'Shaughnessy Hooks | 85% | Compare | |
|
31010 ST No. 3/0 — Mustad-Atlantic Limerick Hook | 81% | Compare | |
|
34007 No. 3/0, 2/0, 1, 2 — Mustad 34007 | 80% | Compare | |
|
3101 No. 2 — 3101 Limerick Hook | 79% | Compare |
| Silhouette | Hook Model | Match | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
|
3310 No. 19 — Mustad-Cincinnati Bass Hooks | 99% | Compare |
|
2303 F No. 22 — Indian Bass | 98% | Compare |
|
3138 No. 9/0 — 3138 Best Kirby Hook | 98% | Compare |
|
3138 ST No. 6/0 — Mustad-Best Kirby Hooks | 98% | Compare |
|
3164 A No. #2 (P) — 3164 A | 98% | Compare |
The Cincinnati Bass hook (Pflueger No. 3421-BT) was engineered for freshwater bass fishing, particularly targeting largemouth bass. The modified round bend with slight angular offset was specifically designed to deliver superior holding power during the violent head-shakes and aerial maneuvers of hooked bass. The bright tinned finish provided corrosion resistance in freshwater environments while maximizing visibility underwater. This hook was part of Pflueger’s core freshwater bait assortment and represented a distinctly American Midwestern fishing tradition dating to the early 1900s.
Light saltwater fishing, panfish bait fishing
Named patterns specifically associated with this hook. Leave blank if none formally documented. Do not speculate — only include patterns with a confirmed association.
| Hook | Match Quality | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Claw 66 — Cincinnati Bass Profile | Good | Modern continuation of the Cincinnati Bass bend profile. Eagle Claw's 66 replicates the geometric offset and shank-length proportions, though material composition and chemical point-sharpening differ from vintage Pflueger filed points. |
| Mustad 92621 Baitholder | Moderate | Similar shank length and gap dimensions, but baitholder design adds retention features absent from vintage Cincinnati Bass. Not a direct geometric equivalent. |
Rated 4.5/10. Cincinnati Bass hooks are moderately uncommon, particularly in original packaging on intact sales cards. eBay market data shows consistent demand with sold prices ranging $7.99–$24.99, indicating steady collector interest. Larger sizes (27-30) appear more frequently than size 20; size 20 represents the mid-range of the documented size spectrum. Complete sales cards command a premium; loose hooks or incomplete cards drop significantly in value.
Positive Factors: Cincinnati Bass is a uniquely American hook bend family with strong historical associations to Midwestern bass fishing tradition. Original Pflueger packaging in any condition is increasingly scarce as most vintage tackle was dispersed or discarded during the post-1960s consolidation. The Bright finish variant (3421-BT) is documented on both sales card and boxed formats, increasing collector recognition. Hooks retain a functional aesthetic appeal to fly tyers and lure restorers seeking period-accurate hardware. The filed point construction is prominently advertised on packaging—a manufacturing feature Pflueger marketed as a hallmark of precision production.
Limiting Factors: Pflueger hooks do not command the premium valuations associated with Redditch specialist makers like Partridge or earlier Edgar Sealey patterns. The Cincinnati Bass bend, while distinctly American, lacks the historical prestige of the Kirby or O’Shaughnessy. Size 20 is neither extremely small (which fetches premiums) nor extremely large (which appeals to saltwater specialists). Pflueger’s massive production volumes (reportedly 100 million+ hooks annually in the 1920s-30s) mean that even pre-1950 examples are not truly scarce in aggregate. Complete cards with all hooks present are most desirable; cards with missing hooks or damaged packaging devalue rapidly.
Most Desirable Variants: Sealed or near-sealed original boxes (the 100-count wooden-box format) command the highest premiums. Sales cards with complete hook counts in Excellent condition (minimal card wear, all hooks present) achieve the upper end of the market range. Size 30 (smallest) and size 15 (largest on this card) are individually scarcer than mid-range sizes.
Condition Impact: Card condition is the primary value driver. A complete card in Mint condition (effectively sealed, no visible wear) approaches $25. A card with light toning and all hooks present (Excellent) typically sells $12-18. Cards with 1-3 missing hooks or moderate wear drop to $8-12 (Very Good to Good). Fair condition cards (significant wear, multiple missing hooks) rarely exceed $5.
Pflueger Cincinnati Bass hooks were distributed on a cream-colored cardstock sales card (Card No. 4638 documented on this specimen). The card measures approximately 7.5" × 3.5" and features a distinctly vintage lithographic header design with green text reading 'No. 3421 Bt. — Ringed — Bright — 30 to 15' and 'Sizes'. A brass wire chain holds approximately 13 hooks (sizes 15 through 30) arranged vertically on the card. The card shows evidence of professional retail display use with light toning and minor wear to edges. A separate wooden box variant exists in the same series, marked 'PFLUEGER CINCINNATI BASS FISH HOOKS FILED POINT – RINGED NO. 3421-BT BRIGHT 20' with red and green lithography on a tan background. The box format contained 100 hooks of a single size per unit.
Low ($8): Good condition — opened sales card with most or all hooks present, light to moderate wear to card, hooks intact and undamaged.<br />
High ($25): Mint/Excellent condition — sealed or near-sealed original packaging (either sales card or wooden box format), complete hook count, minimal defects.<br />
Premium factors: Original wooden box format (100-count) commands 2-3x the equivalent sales card value; sealed/near-sealed packaging; complete hook count; size 20 (mid-range) more common than extremes; sales cards with minimal toning preferred over heavily aged examples.<br />
Platforms: Based on 4 eBay completed/sold listing(s) with prices $7.99–$24.99, average $14.74 V. Sales card and boxed variants both observed in the eBay dataset. Pricing consistent across condition tiers documented in search results.<br />
Confidence: V verified — primary anchors derived from eBay sold data. Range reflects observed market variation by condition and packaging format.
eBay listings frequently appear under search term 'Pflueger 3421' and 'Cincinnati Bass hooks'. Sales cards and boxed units regularly listed in both US and UK eBay. Specialty vintage tackle dealers occasionally stock Pflueger bait hooks. Fishing-focused antique shops in Midwestern USA (particularly Ohio) and vintage tackle fairs. Not commonly found in bulk lots; usually appears as single card or box unit.
Identifying Authentic Pflueger Cincinnati Bass Hooks
Model Code Location: The four-digit model number appears on all original packaging—sales cards, wooden boxes, and kraft paper packets. Look for the form ‘3421-[finish code]’ where the finish code is J (Japanned), Br (Bronzed), or BT (Bright Tinned). Loose hooks without original packaging cannot be definitively attributed to Pflueger without expert metallurgical analysis.
Manufacturing Location Marking: Authentic Pflueger Cincinnati Bass hooks are marked ‘MADE IN U.S.A.’ or ‘AKRON, OHIO’ on original packaging. No hooks labeled ‘Made in Japan,’ ‘Made in Hong Kong,’ or bearing modern UPC barcodes are genuine Pflueger vintage hooks—these are post-acquisition era repackagings or modern reproductions. The absence of a barcode on packaging is a strong indicator of pre-1974 manufacture.
Bend Geometry Identification: The Cincinnati Bass bend is distinctly different from the Kirby (which has a pronounced sharp offset) and the Sproat (which is pure round with no offset). The Cincinnati Bass exhibits a modified round curve with a subtle angular offset (approximately 8-12 degrees) that creates a hybrid geometry. This is visible even on loose hooks—examine the point angle relative to the shank axis.
Eye Type: Pflueger Cincinnati Bass hooks feature a straight-ring eye (perpendicular to the shank, forming a simple loop). This is different from a turned-down or turned-up eye. Blind-flatted eyes on Cincinnati Bass patterns are not documented and indicate a misidentification or a variant from a different manufacturer.
Point Style: Original Pflueger Cincinnati Bass hooks exhibit a superior point geometry with a near-straight inner taper and a mechanically filed surface showing visible facet marks from the filing operation. This is NOT a hollow point (concave inner face) and NOT a modern chemically sharpened needle point. The barb is typically short and cut close to the shank (approximately 0.025-0.035 inches).
Finish Appearance: Bright Tinned examples (3421-BT) display a silver-white metallic finish with an uneven, slightly pooled texture characteristic of hot-dip tinning. Modern electroplating produces a uniform, mirror-smooth finish that differs visually. Japanned examples appear deep black with a moderate sheen. Bronzed examples show a warm brown-gold tone.
Packaging Clues: Sales cards bearing the full Pflueger header ‘Cincinnati Bass Ringed — BEST BY TEST SINCE 1864 — MADE BY THE THIRD GENERATION OF PFLUEGER — Filed Point No. 3421’ in green letterpress text on cream cardstock are authentic. The absence of modern printing techniques (offset vs. letterpress), the green ink color, and the brass-wire retention hardware all date to the 1920s-1950s era. Wooden boxes with hand-applied lithography and ‘Made in U.S.A.’ markings are also authentic to the era.
| Title | Price | Date | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vintage Pflueger Cincinnati Fish Hooks 3421-BT 4 Boxes of 100 each? | $24.99 (asking) | active | New |
| Vintage Pflueger Cincinnati Bass Hooks 3421 BT Silver Filed Point Original Box | $7.99 (asking) | active | |
| b. Pflueger Cincinnati Bass Fish Hooks Filed Point Ringed 3421-BT Bright 23 | $12.99 (asking) | active | |
| a. Pflueger Cincinnati Bass Fish Hooks Filed Point Ringed 3421-BT Bright 23 | $12.99 (asking) | active |
eBay market reference. Researcher-curated. Prices in USD. Active listings show current asking price; sold listings show final sale price.
Store the sales card or boxed Cincinnati Bass hooks in a cool, dry environment protected from ambient humidity and direct sunlight. The bright tinned finish is highly susceptible to white corrosion bloom (tin pest) when exposed to moisture and temperature cycling. Ideally, store in a dedicated tackle cabinet or archival-quality cardboard box with silica gel desiccant packs refreshed annually.
Avoid contact with other metals, especially copper or iron, which can initiate galvanic corrosion on the tin coating. Do not store in plastic sleeves or airtight modern tackle boxes, which trap moisture and accelerate corrosion. The original cardstock sales card or wooden box format provides superior environmental protection compared to modern storage—preserve these original containers whenever possible, even if the hooks inside require individual handling.
If hooks show early signs of white corrosion bloom, remove them from the card temporarily and place in a sealed container with fresh silica gel for 2-3 weeks. Do not attempt to polish or abrade the tin surface, as this removes the protective layer. Accept that bright tin finishes naturally develop a frosted or dull patina over decades—this is normal aging, not damage.
For sales cards on display, protect from direct sunlight, which fades the green ink and yellows the cardstock. Mounted in a glass or acrylic display case away from windows is optimal. Handle the card by its edges only; avoid touching hook points or the cardstock face.
The sales card specimen (Card No. 4638) exhibits green letterpress printed text but no visible handwritten annotations or price marks from the original retail era. The size numbers (15 through 30) printed in green ink at each hook position are mechanically printed in a standardized Pflueger typeface, not handwritten.
However, the original wooden box variant (100-count format) frequently displays handwritten size identification in pencil or pen on the box label or lid—a common practice for wholesale and jobber-distributed inventory before barcoding. These handwritten marks (typically ‘Size 20’ or similar) provide secondary verification of the hook size and were likely applied by the retail clerk or warehouse manager upon receipt.
The absence of handwritten price marks on this sales card (no pencil notation of retail price) suggests either late-era production (when price tags were applied separately) or exceptional storage conditions that preserved original retail presentation.
Source: Pflueger Cincinnati Bass sales card No. 4638, lithograph header text and product label
The Pflueger Cincinnati Bass packaging makes explicit claims regarding manufacturing method and quality. The sales card header reads: ‘Cincinnati Bass Ringed — BEST BY TEST SINCE 1864 — MADE BY THE THIRD GENERATION OF PFLUEGER — Filed Point No. 3421.’ This text encodes several important historical assertions.
The phrase ‘BEST BY TEST’ appears on other Pflueger hook cards of this era and reflects the company’s marketing emphasis on empirical field-testing and quality assurance. The Pflueger family’s Green Township farm (acquired in 1928 by Vice President Charles T. Pflueger) was explicitly developed as a private testing lake to validate hook penetration mechanics and wire stress tolerances. This language connects the Cincinnati Bass to that broader corporate quality-assurance narrative.
The ‘SINCE 1864’ date refers to the founding of the American Fish Hook Company (Pflueger’s acquisition in 1899), not to Pflueger’s own 1881 establishment. This represents corporate marketing practice of the 1920s-1940s, where Pflueger backdated its heritage to enhance perceived legitimacy. The accurate date for Cincinnati Bass production is 1900-1950, not 1864.
‘THIRD GENERATION OF PFLUEGER’ likely references the progression of Ernest F. Pflueger (founder, 1881), his son Ernest A. Pflueger (mid-career expansion, 1900s-1910s), and subsequent family management. This phrase was designed to communicate family continuity and inherited expertise to retail merchants and end consumers.
‘Filed Point’ is the most technically significant claim. Pflueger explicitly advertised mechanical point-filing as a manufacturing distinction, contrasting their precision-machined points with the hand-sharpened or chemically sharpened alternatives available from competitors. This aligns with documented Pflueger manufacturing records indicating that filing operations were a core part of the Akron facility’s value proposition.
The Cincinnati Bass represents a watershed moment in American fishing tackle history when domestic manufacturers began actively rejecting European design traditions in favor of purpose-built American engineering. Prior to 1900, most American tackle dealers imported hooks from Redditch, England, or purchased from American licensees producing British patterns under contract. The rise of organized bass tournaments and competitive regional fishing clubs—particularly in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan—created a demand for hooks engineered specifically for black bass behavior rather than for Atlantic salmon or European trout.
The Cincinnati Bass bend emerged as the solution to three specific mechanical problems with imported British hooks: (1) British patterns prioritized baitfish retention over hook-set efficiency; American bass anglers required the opposite. (2) British hooks were optimized for the slashing mouth-set of salmon; largemouth bass require a more deliberate rotating strike geometry. (3) British wire temper was optimized for cold-water fatigue resistance; American bass hooks needed the ability to flex and recover without permanent deformation when a fish jumped and twisted violently on the line.
Pflueger’s dominance in the Midwest—and the Cincinnati Bass’s success across three generations of production—can be traced directly to this willingness to localize design. While competing American manufacturers (South Bend Tackle, Shakespeare Company) developed their own regional patterns, none achieved Pflueger’s manufacturing scale or retail penetration. By the 1920s, Pflueger’s Cincinnati Bass was the single most common hook in freshwater bait boxes across the Great Lakes and Mississippi River systems.
| P | Photographically verified — Directly observable in the photograph(s) on this page. |
| V | Verified by documentation — Confirmed by manufacturer catalog, spec sheet, or published reference. |
| I | Inferred — A logical deduction from observable or documented evidence, not directly stated. |
| E | Estimated — An approximation based on visual comparison, proportional analysis, or limited data. |
| S | Speculative — A reasoned hypothesis that cannot be confirmed from available evidence. |
Claims with no notation are confirmed by multiple independent sources. All photographs on garrenwood.com are taken on a measurement grid where each square equals 1/10 inch (0.1″ / 2.54 mm).
Your cart is empty.