Lures Of Yesteryear And Today. Still Use Them? 2025
FlipnLimits reply :
Forum members
Just had a thought and seeking your input. On another thread, we are discussing fishing line that was developed 10 years ago (or more now) and comparing it to new line on the market from the same company. Some members agree that the "old stuff" may be just as good as the new stuff.
Please share your baits/lures of yesteryear that you use today, even though newer versions/products may be available. For example, I use the original Terminator spinnerbaits as I see nothing improved in the new ones. I use old plastics that are not for sale now or new "formulas" have been released.
Fellow member, DarrenM, and I agreed it may be an "advertisor's web" we are caught in. I hope you don't mind your mention, Darren. You share credit for for the start of this thread, thank you.
Please post your old bait versions you feel are better than new versions. You know, old one-knocker cranks! Or old designs of tackle/equipment you still use.
Thank you
FL
livetofish28 reply :
Original wiggle wart pre rapala
Tight lines
Andrew
IntroC reply :
Old style berkley frenzy cranks. I still buy them off ebay. Not the filcker shads,
OkeechobeeAngler reply :
Hula popper and a Lucky 13.
FlipnLimits reply :
Great replies so far! I also liked the Wiggle Wart.
Ok, one of mine. I like the old Mann's -1. The new ones don't have the same color, rattle chamber, amount of bb's, and are of a different material. I always scoop-up older ones, repaint, and have them clear coated.
FL
J Francho reply :
Mud Bug. There is no "new version" that I know of.
TorqueConverter reply :
Risto Raps
Down Deep Rattling Fat rap
the bigger versions of the Reble R squarebill
Anything and everything Bagleys
Lee Sisson baits (he ones he made after leaving Bagleys)
IntroC reply :
Another that I buy off ebay when I can find them is the blue/chrome Rebel minnow with the thatch work on the side. I now own many from years of searching ebay. For some reason the blue/chrome is the hardest to come by.
Catt reply :
Rat-L-Traps
Johnson Spoon
Bettle Spins
Lunker Lure Rattle Back Jigs
Smithwick Rogue
Preytorien reply :
I have one older Jitterbug and two newer ones. The old one runs true and bubbles along perfectly every time. The new ones seem to need adjusting every once in a while. I'm not sure if the lips of the old one are thicker aluminum or what but it never needs adjusting. The only thing I've had to do is replace old trebles on it.
Jeff H reply :
Rapala Fat Rap #5 and #7. Especially the shallow version.
Jitterbug
FlipnLimits reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 9:55 AM, Catt said:Rat-L-Traps
Johnson Spoon
Bettle Spins
Lunker Lure Rattle Back Jigs
Smithwick Rogue
Great list. Have used all of them and still use Traps and Rogues.
FishinDaddy reply :
Johnson Spoon
Devils Horse
Pop-R
Rapala J-11
Not only are the designs decades old, I have some in my tackle box that are over 10 years old and still catching fish, boat rash, rusty hooks and all.
FlipnLimits reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 10:37 AM, FishinDaddy said:Johnson Spoon
Devils Horse
Pop-R
Rapala J-11
Not only are the designs decades old, I have some in my tackle box that are over 10 years old and still catching fish, boat rash, rusty hooks and all.
LOL, rusty hooks. Nice to have those lures though!
Catt reply :
I have some that still catch but I don't throw!
Wooden Heddon Tiny Torpedo 2 ea.
Wooden Cotton Cordell Big O 3 ea
Wooden Bill Norman Little N 5 ea
Wooden Hellbender 2 ea
Smithwick Rogue 2 ea in a color & pattern the factory reps swear Smithwick never made. ( the rogues are older than them).
MacP reply :
Rebel Craws/Frogs/Crickets, Pop-R, Hula Popper, Rogues, Kastmaster Spoons, Kwikfish, Original Rapalas, Jitterbugs, Popping Bugs, Bandits with triple grip trebles.
My number one are Yo-Zuri Snap Beans. They absolutely slay. Secret of mine.
primetime reply :
I still use the original zara Spooks which had lead rattles (I believe) super spooks by jimmy Houstan and Bill dance under Excalibur Label from 90's...The sound from the Versions pre 1997 sound completely different and had awesome color patterns...Very sublte rattles...But the best by far is the original Rebel T-10 and T-20 Walking baits with the Silver Ridged sides and black backs as they also had a one knocker sound, while the new versions lack a split ring, and Most New Pradco Lures make too much noise for me compared to the originals.....
Spit'n Image, Swim n Image, Cordell Boy Howdy (Just like a devils horse) Original super Spot lipless cranks, Rebel and Bomber Long A Floating Minnows Made in USA before they were part of Pradco....Yo-zuri banana boat Topwater, Crystal Vibes, Original Rapala Balsa Finish Minnow-Tank Tested with Ireland Stamps and same with Metal Shallow Shad Raps and Metal Suspending shad raps.....
Luhr Jensen Woodchopper, Fish Stick, Original Poes Super Cedar Deep Divers, Rebel Craws, and anything Rebel as the flash and vibration from the original Fast Trac Countdown versions, to floating versions always produce for me.
Last but not least....Cordell Jointed Red Fins From Older Days, and Original Culprit worms in the original laminate colors that were so good before Power worms from Berkley took over the Market. Manns Augertails, and lets not forget Mr. Twister grubs and worms as the 6" Phenom worm still needs to be in every Bass Fishermans Box for sure.......Johnson silver Minnow and the Moss Boss have been known to catch a few fish and so do the Inline Hildenbrandt weedless Spinnerbaits.
I love the new stuff, but still love the older stuff as the fish are not seeing them anymore....If everyone is throwing a Senko, I go Slugg-o....
MacP reply :
I forgot one. I still fish slider heads and slider worms
FlipnLimits reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 12:57 PM, primetime said:I still use the original zara Spooks which had lead rattles (I believe) super spooks by jimmy Houstan and Bill dance under Excalibur Label from 90's...The sound from the Versions pre 1997 sound completely different and had awesome color patterns...Very sublte rattles...But the best by far is the original Rebel T-10 and T-20 Walking baits with the Silver Ridged sides and black backs as they also had a one knocker sound, while the new versions lack a split ring, and Most New Pradco Lures make too much noise for me compared to the originals.....
Spit'n Image, Swim n Image, Cordell Boy Howdy (Just like a devils horse) Original super Spot lipless cranks, Rebel and Bomber Long A Floating Minnows Made in USA before they were part of Pradco....Yo-zuri banana boat Topwater, Crystal Vibes, Original Rapala Balsa Finish Minnow-Tank Tested with Ireland Stamps and same with Metal Shallow Shad Raps and Metal Suspending shad raps.....
Luhr Jensen Woodchopper, Fish Stick, Original Poes Super Cedar Deep Divers, Rebel Craws, and anything Rebel as the flash and vibration from the original Fast Trac Countdown versions, to floating versions always produce for me.
Last but not least....Cordell Jointed Red Fins From Older Days, and Original Culprit worms in the original laminate colors that were so good before Power worms from Berkley took over the Market. Manns Augertails, and lets not forget Mr. Twister grubs and worms as the 6" Phenom worm still needs to be in every Bass Fishermans Box for sure.......Johnson silver Minnow and the Moss Boss have been known to catch a few fish and so do the Inline Hildenbrandt weedless Spinnerbaits.
I love the new stuff, but still love the older stuff as the fish are not seeing them anymore....If everyone is throwing a Senko, I go Slugg-o....
Fun post! Not sure if original spooks have lead but they're one knockers, only 2 left in my boat and they're for tournaments only. One super spot left but it's retired (don't want to lose it). I still throw a sluggo, it's a great bait. Never learned any inline baits for some reason. Even baits from just 5 years ago are outdated and bass don't see them any more. Culprit worms were great, they were all tail. Memory Lane! And some not even that old.
It's funny to think my baits are "old school" when I'm only in my 40's, like many of the forum members here.
TorqueConverter reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 1:14 PM, FlipnLimits said:Fun post! Not sure if original spooks have lead but they're one knockers, only 2 left in my boat and they're for tournaments only. One super spot left but it's retired (don't want to lose it). I still throw a sluggo, it's a great bait. Never learned any inline baits for some reason. Even baits from just 5 years ago are outdated and bass don't see them any more. Culprit worms were great, they were all tail. Memory Lane! And some not even that old.
It's funny to think my baits are "old school" when I'm only in my 40's, like many of the forum members here.
I'm not quite into my 30s and a lot of what is considered old school. Bagleys, discontinued Rapalas, early Warts, ect. The only super spooks I have are the JH signature series and I've clobbered big spots and the occasional large mouth on them in beaver lake.
I like a lot of the newer stuff out there. The contemporary square bill beats up on my big square As, Shallow wee R and plastic Big Os. The Rapala DT series lays a solid beatdown on my down deep ratling fat raps, risto raps and most anything else for the equivalent depth. A lot of my BPS XPS stuff pulls a lot of my fish. The slim dog, the egg, XTS crank, XPS square bill and lazer eye deep diver kick butt over a lot of lures I have and they're just house branded stuff. DTs and XPS pulls a lot of my trebble hooked lure bass.
Catt reply :
Y'all be funny! 
At 62 yrs old, baits that aint 25+ yrs aint old!
frogflogger reply :
Shallow running Hawaiian wigglers still catch fish for me particularly around stumps - very difficult to find them
Stlbob reply :
Truth be told 90% of what i have is older gear.I pick up stuff all the time from CL,yard sales..A lot of the new cranks look great but the 12 to 20 dollar price tag is tough.
Favorites
Rebel floaters DeepWe R's
Rapala Fat Raps in all sorts of patterns
Zara Spook and all its smallers cousins
Chug Bug-wooden
Devils Horse-wooden
Bagleys ,all sorts of colors and styles-wooden
Mann's jelly worms
roadwarrior reply :
I expect a resurgence in the Rapala DT line, especially the DT6
Talonman reply :
I have a Rebel Deepwe R and a few old jitterbugs in my 'Retired baits' tackle box.
I now am thinking to get them back out... 
The DeepWe R is in the bottom right cormer. Kind if hard on the eye though.
ak47soulja22 reply :
Hula popper
Jitter bug
Mud bug
AC shinner
Good ol purple worm double hook
FlipnLimits reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 7:50 PM, Catt said:Y'all be funny!
At 62 yrs old, baits that aint 25+ yrs aint old!
LOL, that's what I tell the 22 year olds I fish against.... then I pull out the Josh 11A and they call me grampa. I have used this trailer from my start, granted plastics get the nod most of the year.
0119 reply :
Dalton Special
Nip-a-de-dee
Zo zuri Tobimaru Jr., so so old but long discontinued
Double spins, the precurser to the modern spinnerbait
Foxee jig
basscatcher8 reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 10:28 PM, roadwarrior said:I expect a resurgence in the Rapala DT line, especially the DT6
Hard to believe those have been out as long as they have lol. I bought some when they first came out and they are still in the box. Havent been used a whole lot.
TorqueConverter reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 11:00 PM, Talonman said:I have a Rebel Deepwe R and a few old jitterbugs in my 'Retired baits' tackle box.
I now am thinking to get them back out...
The DeepWe R is in the bottom right cormer. Kind if hard on the eye though.
Why is the Clackin Rap DC10 in the retried baits box? I just picked one up on sale pricing. It remindes me a of Dt-10 crossed with an Xrap.
RoLo reply :
hoosierbass07 reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 1:12 PM, MacP said:I forgot one. I still fish slider heads and slider worms
Thanks a lot. I never heard of those before. When I looked them up and read about them I said - I have to get them now and add them to my collection!!!! Now I'm starting to get interested in Charlie Brewer Sr. Slider worms. lol.
RoLo reply :
On 2/26/2014 at 9:54 AM, hoosierbass07 said:Thanks a lot. I never heard of those before. When I looked them up and read about them I said - I have to get them now and add them to my collection!!!! Now I'm starting to get interested in Charlie Brewer Sr. Slider worms. lol.
I used to purchase Slider worms & Slider grubs direct from Charlie himself (he passed in year 2000 I believe).
His book "Slider Fishin" is a good read, which explains Charlie's 'Do Nothing' technique.
Roger
cbfishalot reply :
Pre Rapala Wiggle Wart, Reaction Innovations Vixen
in hard baits and Roboworm 3" reapers in a soft bait.
Talonman reply :
On 2/26/2014 at 6:51 AM, TorqueConverter said:Why is the Clackin Rap DC10 in the retried baits box? I just picked one up on sale pricing. It remindes me a of Dt-10 crossed with an Xrap.
That actually was an 'active tray shot', but I decided my DeepWe R was a little hard on the eye, and moved it into my 'retired box'.
This is my retired box with the DeepWe R and some real old JitterBugs...
The Bill Dance firetiger has a chipped bill.
TorqueConverter reply :
610 clackin rap not DC10. Too many XCS baits on the brain I suppose. What are those neat looking joined bluegill looking things? What is in that 2nd cavity from the top far right? Looks like super shallow/wakebait bomber.
Talonman reply :
Unknown...
Can't remember what they are, but I do have two of them in there...
MacP reply :
On 2/26/2014 at 4:57 PM, Talonman said:Unknown...
Can't remember what they are, but I do have two of them in there...
i'm not sure what those are but you need to unretire those kwikfish and send em my way!
plumworm reply :
Those Lazy Ikes in that retired box need to be fished. Show them a little love and they'll love ya back. edit: I looked again at the picture, they're flatfish (double front hook) Same advice though.
Talonman reply :
You get 1/2 your wish... They are now officially back out of the retired box...
And going into my G2 tray, awating the arrivial of my other 3 G2's.
Talonman reply :
On 2/27/2014 at 4:50 AM, plumworm said:Those Lazy Ikes in that retired box need to be fished. Show them a little love and they'll love ya back. edit: I looked again at the picture, they're flatfish (double front hook) Same advice though.
I used my flatfish in the Bordman River growing up in Traverse City Mich.
The Salmon liked um when they were running...
Along with eggs in small nylon bags (spawn sacks), on tiny 'egg hooks'...
We would all stand on the various bridges, and when you had one, you would yell 'fish-on' and we all would reel in.
Then you had to make your way around the bridge, over the guard rail, and down the 'usually dirt' bank to a net-man.
Good times, and my dad would buy me hot-chocolate while we fished with the boys.
I loved those cold nights fishing with my dad.
Salmon in the Boardman River, filmed in Traverse City Mich
Anyway, I haven't used my flatfish for years.
ROCbass reply :
Never used it myself, but my dad has a crazy looking jointed frog crankbait in his box that he swears by. I believe its called a crankin' guido frog.
Bankbeater reply :
Lazy Ike's
Jitterbugs
Big-O
Floating Rapala
I'm always amazed when I tell people that I use these. They act like only the new lures will catch bass.
Avalonjohn44 reply :
I am surprised there are no mentions of the vintage Helicopter Lure, son...
My serious list that I still use:
Mepps Fury #3 Red or Yellow (still made, but I have mine from the 80s)
Bagley Bang-O-B minnnows
Johnson Spoon
Lunker City Sluggo
Lunker City Hellgies
Phillips Crippled Killers
Cooper Loor Frog
WRB reply :
10 years ago is 2004, 95% of my standard use lures are older than 2004!
20 years is 1994, 80% of what I fish with on a regular basis are at least that old.
My jig mold dates to 1971 and fish this jig every outing, hair jig with pork ring trailers.
The oldest lure I still use are twin spins w/ football jig head and vinyl skirts with pork trailer, 1968 design.
Use musky size wooden Jitter Bugs that date back into the 60's at night.
Scroungers that are 80's vintage.
Several wooden swimbaits that late 80's to early 90's like Huddleston wooden trout.
This list is too long to post.
Tom
plumworm reply :
I still catch a lot of bass on early 90's era Bandits 100 series (square bill) 200 and 300 series. Love those old colors.
Jaderose reply :
On 2/25/2014 at 11:29 AM, MacP said:Rebel Craws/Frogs/Crickets, Pop-R, Hula Popper, Rogues, Kastmaster Spoons, Kwikfish, Original Rapalas, Jitterbugs, Popping Bugs, Bandits with triple grip trebles.
My number one are Yo-Zuri Snap Beans. They absolutely slay. Secret of mine.
I forgot all about these. I had a couple of these in a tackle box that was stolen about 10 years ago. These things ROCK!! Also, I throw out my Chrome and Fire Tiger Lazy Ikes all the time. Catch plenty of bass on them. They just work! I also have good luck throwing Mepps Comet Mino's # 4 in both gold and silver. Had both of them for years. Polish the spinner blades with ketchup in the Spring and hang on. Probably my most consistent lure year after year.
Team9nine reply :
- Original Team Daiwa TD1/2-Hi's
- Original One-knock P-70s
- Original Bomber Long A's from the 80s, the old plastic version used for waking
- BPS Stud Fry soft plastics that were discontinued about 10 years ago
- Lead tuning bill Bagley DBs from the 70s/80s
There are likely more I'm forgetting...
-T9
iceintheveins reply :
Rat L Trap
Risto Rap
Rattlin' Fat Rap
Old Style Terminator Spinnerbaits
Jitterbugs
Husky Jerks
Cordell Super Spot (Still one of the best lipless cranks along with the orginal trap and the red eye shad)
basshunter81 reply :
On 2/26/2014 at 4:57 PM, Talonman said:Unknown...
Can't remember what they are, but I do have two of them in there...
I think they are storm possum's
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