What is everyone's favorite lure that is no longer in production, or is still made but changed and not as good as the original? In other words, what lure would you like to see made in its original form again? Mine is the Rebel Deep Wee R, and original bomber in black and orange.
most will probably say the wiggle wart, i personally like the excalibur xr and xrk series which the mold is now made by booyah but still not the same. i also like the excalibur xcs series as well.
Mine is semi -recent. Less than a decade. it's the jointed shad rap on the right.. in "hot perch"
I always liked the Mr. Twister Thunder Worm.
Storm ThunderCraw
Berkley Powerbait Beast ~
Fortunately I managed to secure a "career supply" in advance of this bait's mysterious banishment.
A-Jay
With me it's more the colors that aren't available.
Twister 4" lizards......grape red flake, smoke red flake, electric grape
Twister Slither worms...Black, Grape, Smoke, Motor oil
Yakima Bait Hawg Boss Super Toad....Chrome Perch
Rebel Jointed Minnow, J20, J30.....Natural Perch, Baby Bass, Rainbow
And of course, Uncle Josh Spring Lizard, #11 frog, twin tails.....in chartreuse.
On 12/2/2016 at 5:30 AM, Catt said:
Tommy, have you seen the Wave Crawdude?
Several, but the only one I've written a company about to beg them to reintroduce has been the Strike King Grass King spinnerbait, which they've declined to do.
Remember Stembridge Fliptail worms? They were an oily mess to handle. Caught my first plastic worm bass on one. I think it was blue.
XCS 100s.
On 12/2/2016 at 5:14 AM, Scarborough817 said:most will probably say the wiggle wart, i personally like the excalibur xr and xrk series which the mold is now made by booyah but still not the same. i also like the excalibur xcs series as well.
Don Iovino Major Craft Zoner Hunter is now available TW and works great, I think better than the original Worts.
Tom
Super Pork was the best pork rind on the market....gone! Now I must make my own.
Tom
Rapala Fat Rap, Shallow Fat Rap, Down Deep Fat Rap.
Rogers Big Jim , Dalton Special , Rebel Deep Wee R , Strike King Spin Dance spinnerbait , Fliptail worm , Gator Tail worm , Pico Pop , Bomber Prop A .
On 12/2/2016 at 8:35 AM, Raul said:Rapala Fat Rap, Shallow Fat Rap, Down Deep Fat Rap.
Bingo!
Plus, I miss my Guido G4 tubes that Luck E Strike used to make. Best d**n finesse tube ever! They were just a tad slimmer and super soft, great quality.
Actually, I could probably come up with quite a list. In some cases it's not just the bait but the entire company is gone. Some within the last year.
Musky Jitterbug made of cedar.
Went so far as to recently buy the new plastic model and a block of cedar, took it to a woodworking hobbyist and had him shape the wood. Painted it and transferred all the hardware.
No comparison in action/sound to the new plastic ones.
Mister Twister Slither. It was the first plastic worm I had confidence in.
On 12/2/2016 at 9:20 AM, scaleface said:Gator Tail worm
i used to throw those too...especially at night. real thumpers they were. Zoom recently came out with a similar version, the G tail, with an exagerated flapper tail, but minus the snake eyes. these are for the fat girls only!
Xcalibur xrk50. Best lipless made
On 12/2/2016 at 9:20 AM, scaleface said:Rogers Big Jim , Dalton Special , Rebel Deep Wee R , Strike King Spin Dance spinnerbait , Fliptail worm , Gator Tail worm , Pico Pop , Bomber Prop A .
http://fliptaillures.mysimplestore.com/products
The Mann's Waker Elite, the best crankbait style wake bait ever made! I have a good size stash as I was able to buy some new old stock directly from Mann's but that wake bait can be moved at a good speed and still produce a nice wake as most others will dive too deep or blow out. If you find any of these grab them, you won't be sorry.
Rebel deep wee r's, Norman Snatrix plastic worm and Rebel ring worms.
Xcalibur XCS 100's They have been my top producing squarebills for years. I've got a pretty good stash yet, but I'm starting to be more careful about when and where I use them.
On 12/2/2016 at 5:30 AM, Catt said:
What is that?
looks similar to zoom big critter craw
^^ Sort of looks like the Riverside Big Claw . I still have some Big Claws .
I'm in the wiggle wart camp.
On 12/2/2016 at 8:35 AM, Raul said:Rapala Fat Rap, Shallow Fat Rap, Down Deep Fat Rap.
^^^^^ this is what I wish they would still make, the old craw color was killer
On 12/2/2016 at 7:33 AM, WRB said:Don Iovino Major Craft Zoner Hunter is now available TW and works great, I think better than the original Worts.
Tom
Um, Yeah, Tom if you could go ahead and not say this again, that'd be great!
On 12/2/2016 at 5:30 AM, Catt said:
On 12/2/2016 at 5:30 AM, Catt said:
On 12/2/2016 at 5:30 AM, Catt said:
Well all right!
It's Madman Craw Worms
Gator Tail worm, Spence Scout, Bass Berry
On 12/2/2016 at 10:44 PM, Dypsis said:Yeah, Tom if you could go ahead and not say this again, that'd be great!
There are lots of original Wort users who are looking for a replacement and the Zoner works better than the original, that rarely happens and that is why I am sharing this info.
Tom
On 12/2/2016 at 6:48 PM, whitwolf said:... Rebel ring worms.
I found that the 4" Zoom Dead Ringer is pretty comparable to the 4" Rebel Ringworms.
For some reason, Zoom made the 6" models with a longer tail, so it is nothing like the 6" Rebel's. It is a good bait, just not really a replacement for the original.
McCollum's Bush Hog Spinnerbaits. Either single or tandem blades. Great lures that I have a few of still and they were also my dad's favorite all time lure! I wish I could find some left over in a store somewhere.
80+ % of my double digit bass were caught on a Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm Cinnamon Pepper Neon/June Bug Laminated (Camouflage)
No longer made
I know we're talking about lures that we wish were still available so I'll try not to stray too far from the topic. One of my childhood memories is that of being with my dad in tackle shops playing with the big glass carousel case that displayed such classics as Heddon River Runts, Lucky 13's, Creek Chub Pikies and such.
Cabela's hand tied Bucktail jig.
manns razorback pig shallow diver,ditto's gator tail worm.
Can't get it to rotate?
Rattlesnake brand 4" chartreuse silver flake ribbontail worms. To this day I can't find a replacement worm in that size and color and the smallies just crushed them. I only have a handful left.
Not sure if they make it anymore, but I don't see it in stores.. The Strike King Grass Frog..
Whopper Stopper Dirty Bird
On 12/3/2016 at 3:35 AM, Catt said:
Oh yeah....those were really good pork frogs! I still have about 4-5 jars of those! They were better than Uncle Josh #11!
Rapala Fat Rap FR-7, Rebel Deep Wee R, Cotton Cordell Spot (the previous shape, before they put BBs in them).
Zoom z-nail. I bought about 6 bags several years ago when they were on sale. Now I only have 4 baits left.
On 12/3/2016 at 1:11 AM, crypt said:manns razorback pig shallow diver,ditto's gator tail worm.
I Iike them Pigs too . I still have a couple .
On 12/2/2016 at 10:32 PM, "hamma" said:^^^^^ this is what I wish they would still make, the old craw color was killer
I have one in the old craw color and one in the newer lifelike craw color .
Mann's Manipulator worm and wiggle warts.
a couple others I miss, the kangaroo worms from manns I beleive, and their baby stretch 1 minus, not sure if the baby stretch 1- is unavailable but I dont see them around anymore. It's a great bait for over thick weeds that are about a foot from the surface, I have a few left, and use them when a spinnerbait is producing short hits. And it's even produced several lunkers in tourneys for me. Awesome lure imho
Thats It Scaleface! the newer one looks good to, but that older one was a solid producer for me
@OCdockskipper I have several packages of the Zoom 4" dead ringer. I use them when the bite Is tough and also on a Siebert Outdoors Zenith shakeyhead!
I forgot another great bait ,the Natural Ike. best looking bait at the time. still have 12 of them.
On 12/4/2016 at 4:51 AM, crypt said:I forgot another great bait ,the Natural Ike. best looking bait at the time. still have 12 of them.
Me too .
Another of my all time favorite is the Arbogast MudBug .
On 12/4/2016 at 4:57 AM, scaleface said:Me too .
Another of my all time favorite is the Arbogast MudBug .
oh God yes, the Mudbug !!!!!!!!
I'm not sure, someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think they still make the Mudbug, and Lazy Ike. Great lures, but I always preferred the original Bomber, over the Mudbug, flat fish over Lazy Ike. Probably a northwest thing. I always thought of the Lazy Ike as a Midwest lure. Heddon Sonic was the first lure I used specifically for bass. Still out fishes other lipless crank baits I have at times. Another lure I wish I could still buy is a Scorpion spinner bait. I think they were made by a company called Bass Buster, again correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not sure on the brand It was a short arm single Colorado spinner bait, that I went swimming to save more than once when I was a kid. Only owned one and it is long gone.
Some baits are still available but just different now (Wiggle Warts, Old Rogues, Rebel Wee-R's, CC Big O's). I just bought a late '70's 3 inch Cordell Big O. It is plastic, not wooden like the originals, but it has that original bulbous shape and a decent perch paint job. I put Eagle Claw Lazers on it (only new #4 trebles I had) and put it in one of my summer boxes for a test run in 2017. Last year, a cheapo Pradco CC Big O in the medium size (craw color) was the most productive smallmouth crank I threw. I also like some of the old discontinued Poe's and Xcallibur and Natural Ike cranks.
Knight Tube Worm
Wish Arbogast would reintroduce the Mudbug. Here's a photo from a trip to Lake Champlain in the mid '90s. Note Mudbug on the rod above the walleye, smallmouth and pike.
Edited by Will WetlineOn 12/4/2016 at 5:38 AM, king fisher said:Another lure I wish I could still buy is a Scorpion spinner bait. I think they were made by a company called Bass Buster, again correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not sure on the brand It was a short arm single Colorado spinner bait, that I went swimming to save more than once when I was a kid. Only owned one and it is long gone.
I have one Scorpion or maybe its a Tarantula . I dont know because the skirt is missing . Tarantula had extremely wide strands .
On 12/4/2016 at 5:38 AM, king fisher said:I'm not sure, someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think they still make the Mudbug, and Lazy Ike.
The Lurenet site does not list the Mudbug. They do list the Lazy Ike, but I think the reference in the other posts was to the Natural Ike which is no longer made. It was made from some sort of new (at the time) plastic that was supposed to be more durable (unless you lose it!)
On 12/4/2016 at 5:38 AM, king fisher said:Heddon Sonic was the first lure I used specifically for bass. Still out fishes other lipless crank baits I have at times.
Yes, I liked the Heddon Sonic too. I forgot about that one.
The Balsa B and the Wiggle Wart.. I think the pre Rap wart market is safe from the lovino bait.
On 12/4/2016 at 5:38 AM, king fisher said:I'm not sure, someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think they still make the Mudbug, and Lazy Ike. Great lures, but I always preferred the original Bomber, over the Mudbug, flat fish over Lazy Ike. Probably a northwest thing. I always thought of the Lazy Ike as a Midwest lure. Heddon Sonic was the first lure I used specifically for bass. Still out fishes other lipless crank baits I have at times. Another lure I wish I could still buy is a Scorpion spinner bait. I think they were made by a company called Bass Buster, again correct me if I'm wrong, I'm not sure on the brand It was a short arm single Colorado spinner bait, that I went swimming to save more than once when I was a kid. Only owned one and it is long gone.
I have a bunch of them. Bought all of a store's stock when the bait was discontinued.
I would estimate that nearly 1/2 of my soft plastics are not made anymore by the original maker or the color is no longer available. Depending on the complexity of the soft plastic shape we have the ability to have custom soft plastics made that duplicate or come very close to the originals.
Hard lures are more difficult to replace when they are no longer made. We can usually find a new lure that works as well or sometimes better than the original. It takes time to develop confidence in any lure and when we loose a pet lure that is no longer made we try to duplicate it or find a alternative. I have retired a lot of lures.
Tom
Bass Pro Shop TOPNOCKER the most productive topwater lure ever made.
the mili-second I get the rumor one of my hot producing lures is being discontinued I fill a box up with them. I missed the topnocker warning but I won't miss anymore.
On 12/5/2016 at 4:35 AM, bigbill said:Bass Pro Shop TOPNOCKER the most productive topwater lure ever made.
the mili-second I get the rumor one of my hot producing lures is being discontinued I fill a box up with them. I missed the topnocker warning but I won't miss anymore.
I knew you was going to say that . You praised that lure so much that I found and bought one . Only used it one time and didnt catch any fish but thats OK. I'll try it again next year .
Most productive topwater lure every made is very opinionated. I'm assuming you mean for you. Ha-ha.
Most productive of all time might be rebel pop-r, devil's horse, jitterbug.. I guess that's a discussion for another thread lol.
I'd fish you side by side with my bluegill skitter walk. And tear you up son.haha. just kidding .
Kinda.
On 12/4/2016 at 10:53 PM, Wayne P. said:I have a bunch of them. Bought all of a store's stock when the bait was discontinued.
Bass Buster was the company that introduced the Beetle and Beetle spin. The company sponsored Virgil Ward's "Championship Fishing" in the 60's and early 70's. He always concluded his episodes with "So long and good luck with your fishing".
On 12/5/2016 at 6:02 AM, The Bassman said:Bass Buster was the company that introduced the Beetle and Beetle spin. The company sponsored Virgil Ward's "Championship Fishing" in the 60's and early 70's. He always concluded his episodes with "So long and good luck with your fishing".
Yep, watched show and a few others during that time period.
Flying Fisherman--Gadabout Gaddis
I had many Arbogast Mud Bugs and relied on them a lot. But I used the bomber much more than the Mud Bug. Problem with a lot of those baits back then was they would roll up if you added too much speed.
I still have a couple Scorpion spinner baits - short arm and really good for barely s-l-o-w rolling. Ward used to trail an Uncle Josh split tail eel on the back.
We also threw a lot of 6" Jelly Worms and 7 1/4" FlipTail worms. Oh, and Little George tail spinners.
On 12/5/2016 at 6:54 AM, Wayne P. said:Yep, watched show and a few others during that time period.
Flying Fisherman--Gadabout Gaddis
On 12/5/2016 at 8:05 AM, Tmmytomato said:I had many Arbogast Mud Bugs and relied on them a lot. But I used the bomber much more than the Mud Bug. Problem with a lot of those baits back then was they would roll up if you added too much speed.
I still have a couple Scorpion spinner baits - short arm and really good for barely s-l-o-w rolling. Ward used to trail an Uncle Josh split tail eel on the back.
We also threw a lot of 6" Jelly Worms and 7 1/4" FlipTail worms. Oh, and Little George tail spinners.
I'm drowning in nostalgia. Thanks guys!
On 12/5/2016 at 8:05 AM, Tmmytomato said:.
I still have a couple Scorpion spinner baits - short arm and really good for barely s-l-o-w rolling. Ward used to trail an Uncle Josh split tail eel on the back.
He was a big influence on me .At the end of every show he would demonstrate how he worked that particular bait in an aquarium . He hopped everything .LOL . I fish the same way
Bagley Bang o lure in the three inch variety
they were killer in the three inch for smallies on some of the streams that I used to fish
On 12/3/2016 at 4:17 PM, Bluebasser86 said:Mann's Manipulator worm and wiggle warts.
This^ Along with the Gillraker worm.
Tom