What Happened To The Best Baits Ever

[Jaw1]

I have recently been going through my tackle that's stored in my shop. I have found alot of lures that remind me of certain years where they were the baits to have. Take for instance the chatterbait,footballhead jig,sebile magic swimmer,and various others. I know people still fish all the things I've listed but the fanfare is gone. There was a time not long ago where you didn't read an article where they were not mentioned as top producers in various tournaments. So what's different? The alabama rig seems to be headed down this road in my area as well and spybaiting seems to have died around here before it got off the ground good. So what are you guys thoughts and what lure do you wonder about? (Where'd they go,why no publicity). Just a little curious to see if it's just me

[F14A-B]

The A-Rig being banned from Tournaments I think has a play in it, plus folks seem to think of it as a pain to throw & crank.. It's a effective tactic at times though.. The market is saturated with baits of all types now.. Some baits never go out of style ( plastic worms, jig & trailer )

[kickerfish1]

Spybaiting is seasonal for most waters. Water clarity and cooler water temps are usually indicators to when I would fish one. It is at the other end of the spectrum as it forces the power anglers to downsize and break out the light line and lighter rods.

A-rigs are another story. Between state regulations on the number of hooks and tournament regulations the overall use of them is down considerably.

[Jaderose]

What gets advertised?  The tried and true or the latest and greatest (and most expensive).  There's your answer.  We see all kinds of stuff about the newest Rapala or something great out of Japan but when was the last time you threw a Lazy Ike or a Whopper Stopper?  I collect both and actually use them.  Whopper Stoppers are some deep diving fools and slay the Pike up in Minnesota.  Lazy Ikes produce Crappie and LMB's, too  How long have underspin jigs been around but the Classic was won on them this year so they are hot right now.  I'd love to see the Classic get won on something like an Ike these days.  People would go nuts for them!

[Jrob78]

I feel like Chatterbaits/bladed jigs are still about as hot as they ever were.  A lot of major tournaments are won with them, including Aaron Martens, in part, on the Chesapeake Bay last week.  

[MassBass]

I think the tube, both the flipping tube and the gitzit/finesse tube has really fallen out of style. But years back tubes were hot. There were at least two classics won on tubes. Beaver baits and senkos have really taken its niche. 

[Jaw1]

I throw chatterbaits all the time and they produce, but usually if the baits not something new it's just a side bar in an article. Spinnerbaits are a proven bass catcher but I have read multiple articles lately where the pros will say (I never throw a spinnerbait) I know it's all marketing and there's no money in pushing proven baits, it's just find of funny to me, there's a new best bait ever every year. Just for the record I never throw a spinnerbait, hate fishing alabama rigs and don't catch fish on underpins but I've got plenty of them all. The marketing works.

[WRB]

If you watch MLF the format doesn't promote specific lure sponsors, the angler use only what catches bass under the specific conditions. You don't see the latest and greatest promotional lure, you see tired and proven lures that catch bass. Chatter baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs and worms dominate the MLF competition.

The same lures are doing very well in the B.A.S.S. Elite series. This years Kentucy lake event the top 12 used hair jigs, worms, Scrounger jig and swim jigs/ swimbait trailers and crankbaits on ledges, nothing new.

Tom

[the reel ess]

If you watch MLF the format doesn't promote specific lure sponsors, the angler use only what catches bass under the specific conditions. You don't see the latest and greatest promotional lure, you see tired and proven lures that catch bass. Chatter baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs and worms dominate the MLF competition.

The same lures are doing very well in the B.A.S.S. Elite series. This years Kentucy lake event the top 12 used hair jigs, worms, Scrounger jig and swim jigs/ swimbait trailers and crankbaits on ledges, nothing new.

Tom

I like that show. Even my wife enjoys the tense competition of it.

[A-Jay]

 

 

Today's Manufacturers have done a most excellent job of turning the sport of bass fishing into Annually changing Fads.

 

From boats & motors, to rods, reels & line, to hard lures & soft plastics; whatever the "In Thing" is at the last Icast or caught some fish at the last Bassmaster Classic, there's a perception (based on advertising) that this is the way to go and if you don't have it - you're missing out on bass.

 

So what happened to the best baits ever ~ nothing.  

The seasoned anglers are still throwing them.

There's all different types of Hard Baits, Soft Baits, Swim Baits, Umbrella Rigs, Jigs, Frogs, Spinnerbaits, Buzzbaits, & Spoons and whichever bait the bass are biting that day, well, that's the Best Bait Ever.

 

A-Jay

[whitwolf]

A lot of wisdom in both WRB's and AJ'S posts!

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Aj hit the nail on the head.we all as individuals know what works and dont.Just like boats whats the differance in a 2015 ranger and a 2016 ranger of the same model? nothing but a number.i can catch bass with 40 year old reels and rods and lures.the only real thing that changes the whole fishing scene.is fishing line.fishing line has made fisherman better not new lures or new reels boats and rods.

[the reel ess]

Aj hit the nail on the head.we all as individuals know what works and dont.Just like boats whats the differance in a 2015 ranger and a 2016 ranger of the same model? nothing but a number.i can catch bass with 40 year old reels and rods and lures.the only real thing that changes the whole fishing scene.is fishing line.fishing line has made fisherman better not new lures or new reels boats and rods.

I used to get Field and Stream and Game and Fish mags. That's why I stopped. Nothing changes in the basics from year to year. Sometimes the same articles get passed off for new.

[Catt]

Bass anglers are a gullible crowd if you appeal to their belief "it's the tackle not the angler"!

Got my hinny chewed for posting that

[Bluebasser86]

I feel like Chatterbaits/bladed jigs are still about as hot as they ever were.  A lot of major tournaments are won with them, including Aaron Martens, in part, on the Chesapeake Bay last week.  

I think they died down a little for awhile after the initial rush but these past few years they've been red hot. Now there's bladed jigs specialist like Brett Hite out there and even technique specific rods. B.Hite destroyed the tournament field in an Elite tournament last year with a Chatterbait, then A. Mart won the last Elite with one and they've played a big roll in a couple more in between including producing the heaviest single day weight on Guntersville in the Classic 2 years ago. 

 

I'm probably a little biased towards them, but I certainly don't think they've fallen to the wayside. 

 

Right now I'd say the Ned Rig is probably one of the biggest buzzwords out there. 

[roadwarrior]

The most dramatic change has been electronics. Today's anglers can find fish in deeper water

that were once almost "uncatchable". Ledge fishing in this part of the country is everything during

the hottest part of the year.  

[blckshirt98]

Baits are like any other industry, like sports supplements, that rely on yearly innovations and buzzwords to keep sales up.  Every year you have a handful of new buzz generating items that stir up some discussion but once it all settles down people will use the old standards that work.  Every now and then a new bait or technique will catch on and enter the fabled realm of "accepted bass catching canon" like dropshotting a few years back.

 

Spybaits got some traction but never blew up because their usage was very specific.  Those LiveTarget baitballs were a freaking eye-catcher but I haven't caught anything on them.  RIght now I think magnum spoons and hair jigs are techniques getting some traction, but will likely fall into the spybait category and specific condition baits.

 

The one bait though nowadays that is blowing the f up that I think will stick, are topwater rat style baits.  The small custom rat companies have been around but the baits have been really expensive for many anglers.  But with all the reports and fish blowups being caught on video by people fishing rats, and SPRO introducing their BBZ-1 rats, and the smaller Spro sizes being released soon, I think the rats are on their way to becoming topwater category that will stick.  If one of the major lure companies can introduce an effective floating topwater rat under the $10 price point to compete with frogs, they'll hit that "canon" status as most everyone would be able to afford one.

[Felixone]

If one of the major lure companies can introduce an effective floating topwater rat under the $10 price point to compete with frogs, they'll hit that "canon" status as most everyone would be able to afford one.

 

This right here.  If they would make one that is under 1 oz (would that be more of a mouse?) and costs less than $20 I would definitely get one.  Given the semi-aquatic nature of rats it should be a no-brainer.  Perhaps I need to work on creating my own...  Might be a good winter project.

 

Update - I just looked at the TW site and they have the smaller versions of the Spro BBZ-1 slated for December of this year.  The smallest only weights 1/2 oz.  Next size up is 1 oz.  Definitely doable with my gear.  I will have to put these on my list for Christmas.

[Heron]

Bass anglers are a gullible crowd if you appeal to their belief "it's the tackle not the angler"!

Got my hinny chewed for posting that

Agreed totally. 

[Catt]

The most dramatic change has been electronics. Today's anglers can find fish in deeper water

that were once almost "uncatchable". Ledge fishing in this part of the country is everything during

the hottest part of the year.

Down/Side imaging is almost cheating

[ErikMon Bills Fan]

I love the livetarget mouse it has a tight walk the dog action and has cuaght me the most fish this summer. The mouse baits are growing popular. Another is the backwards craw that falls away from the angler. I seen jackell has one and a few other companys from japan have very similar models. I guess they are good for glideing under docks or a canopy of vegatation. Maybe the fat ika by Gary yama was the first. One thing I noticed after I started using keitech fat impacts is every company now offers a ribbed paddle tail swim bait. Again all of these lures arent new just the new hot item and companies want to chase sales like clothing and fashion is bringing back styles from decades ago.