Old Jitterbugs vs. new ones

[Blue Streak]

Is it just me or are the older ones just a lot better? I have several that go back to the sixties and seventies and they just seem to have a different sound than the new ones. They seem to be made a little better and they cast a little easier. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Chris W.]

I agree. I have a newer one that's also jointed, and my dad had an older jitterbug with felt or something on it, that one seemed to just work better. Mine skips across the water sometimes and just doesn't creat that bubble plop plop noise like the older ones.

[Hook Set]

Agreed. The last jointed one I bought, something was not right with it. The one I had fished before was about 15 yrs old. I thought it was just me.

[rboat]

I agree also, the older ones feel thicker, heavier, and stronger. The new ones are just plain cheap junk, probably mass produced overseas. The hardware and hooks are like tin or aluminum. Once again, a great product ruined by the greed to make more money. Shameful.

[Marty]

The Jitterbug is my favorite lure. I don't know about the old-vs.-new comparison, but I definitely think they're made with low-quality components. I'd stop using them if they weren't a unique lure.

I get rid of the hook hangers and replace them with screw eyes and split rings, plus replace the hooks. I also remove the screws from the metal lip and put super glue in the holes. I'll also do the same with the screw eyes if I'm using the jointed version. With these modifications the lures hold up quite well.

The company apparently has no incentive to retool and use more modern components. They presumably are satisfied with the sales and they're not feeling pressure from us. We need to complain more and not be so accepting of junk.

[bass or bass ?]

I love Jitterbugs, and yes, the new ones are different. I have two old ones that I bought in the early 60's, and the lip shape is different between the old and new ones. The bodies are also slightly different. I definitely prefer the old models. They also came in many different finishes back then. My old ones are finished in a brown scale pattern, and a leopard frog pattern, but the color is black on white with a yellowish belly.

I too change out the hooks for Owner Stingers.

[moby bass]

The metal used on the front lip is definitely thinner, approx. .025 v. .03 by my measurements.  The biggest difference though is how the cup is made.  The older models have a distinct dish or bowl in the lip. The newer ones are simply bent

to form the curve. It's subtle, but noticeable.

[airborne_angler]

Anyone know that Arbogast lures is being marketed(sold) by Pradco?

The same company that markets

YUM,HEDDON,BOMBER,COTTON CORDELL,SMITHWICK,REBEL,XCALIBUR,LAZY IKE,SILVER THREAD,CREEK CHUB,and BOOYAH products.

Maybe thats why the quality of the baits has changed.

http://www.lurenet.com/catalog.aspx?catid=LuresByBrand

[Scorcher214]

I've never tried the new ones...because i have like 4 old ones lol. I got 2 black ones and 2 white ones. I never wanted to fish with them because of it being my grandpas. But a few weeks ago i threw it out around 830pm and caught my biggest bass this year. Now im always throwing them out there.

[hercdoc]

Here is a custom wooden version.  According to the blog this lure will not be made anymore. It's on sale til tomorrow. 

http://www.customluresunlimited.com/sabre_frog

[bilgerat]

I'm gonna take a shot at making my own...

http://www.craftparts.com/eggs-fruits-wooden-eggs-c-249_251.html

[bass or bass ?]

I didn't mention in my previous post that the brown scale finish lure is a Musky Jitterbug, an oversized model with 3 treble hooks, one on each side of the lure, and one at the tail.

[bear7625]

The new ones are junk! There is a guy(Al Lemire)on the east coast that has a wooden version he calls the "Sea Fly". He sells it in kit form or completely finished. He also sells the wobble plates for making your own. He's trying to get into the bass market as well as musky with a larger version. I got 2 of his kits that I'm in the process of painting. He's also looking for input from bass fishermen. Check it out. 8-)

lemiresplugworks.com

[=Matt 5.0=]

The new ones are junk! There is a guy(Al Lemire)on the east coast that has a wooden version he calls the "Sea Fly". He sells it in kit form or completely finished. He also sells the wobble plates for making your own. He's trying to get into the bass market as well as musky with a larger version. I got 2 of his kits that I'm in the process of painting. He's also looking for input from bass fishermen. Check it out. 8-)

lemiresplugworks.com

He just came out with the Jr. Sea Fly.

[bear7625]

The new ones are junk! There is a guy(Al Lemire)on the east coast that has a wooden version he calls the "Sea Fly". He sells it in kit form or completely finished. He also sells the wobble plates for making your own. He's trying to get into the bass market as well as musky with a larger version. I got 2 of his kits that I'm in the process of painting. He's also looking for input from bass fishermen. Check it out. 8-)

lemiresplugworks.com

He just came out with the Jr. Sea Fly.

That's the size I have.