Greatest lure ever made?

[Jeff H]

3 hours ago, Team9nine said:

 If we're talking in general, then I'd choose the leadhead jig.

With a worm on it!  Jigworm!

[bassguytom]

Plastic worm. Ribbon tail if I must pick a  style. 

[N Florida Mike]

Plastic worms .Specifically,Creme, Manns,Culprits,and GY senkos.Oh yeah,and zoom trick worms.

 

[Columbia Craw]

Worm by Nick Creme. 

[Catt]

With the invention of the plastic worm Nick Crème forever changed bass fishing; the wide array of shapes, colors, and techniques available to the plastics angler can not be matched by spinner baits, crank baits, jigs, spoons or top water lures.

Plastics can be fished at any depth, during any season, under any weather condition and still produce bass no other lure holds that distinction.

 

I've researched all B.A.S.S & FLW tournaments (Pro & Amateur), all amateur tournaments I could find results for (2001-2017), and the Texas Share-A-Lunker program. What I would have to mention is under the category of plastics would be T-rigs, C-rigs, Wacky, Drop Shot, ECT which are techniques. This list includes all worms, craw worms, lizards, creatures, tubes, Fluke type, & Senko type baits; which is why it's listed as plastic lures.

After looking at my data I was slightly conservative with the data actually showing a staggering 5 to 1 ratio.

 

[Davidhorowitzski]

Creme's are a close second to me.  Growing up a 4" curly tail tequila sunrise Culprit on a Carolina was king right befor the Sluggo showed up.   Atleast in my part of Connecticut! Still a favorite of mine.  

[RoLo]

For my money, it all began in 1949 with the Creme Scoundrel by Nick Creme.

During the 1950s, I caught more bass on plastic worms than all other lures combined.

 

Roger

[SUPERHOT]

Any lure that is productive and pulls out big fish.

[tholmes]

On 2/20/2017 at 8:39 PM, RoLo said:

For my money, it all began in 1949 with the Creme Scoundrel by Nick Creme.

During the 1950s, I caught more bass on plastic worms than all other lures combined.

 

Roger

 

^ Yep! I still catch more bass on a T-rigged worm than anything else, and it ain't even close.

 

Following the plastic worm, at least for me, would be in-line spinners, jigs and spoons.

 

Tom

[ww2farmer]

As much as I hate to say it.................the senko (and it's 10,000 clones)

 

This one bait has turned more fisherman who couldn't catch a cold in winter, standing outside with wet hair and no clothes on, into KVD over night just by opening a pack, sticking it on a hook, and casting it to a spot that "looks" good.

 

If senko style baits were banned from tournament use around here, 3/4's of every field would come in skunked.

 

The amount of people who only fish senkos around here is comical........but you know what? They do OK most days with them.

 

I say this semi tung-in-cheek, as I am a fan, and user of stick baits.......as a tool, not as the end all be all.

[RB 77]

For Bass, another vote for the plastic worm. No doubt about it!

[Turtle135]

[Jaderose]

The plastic worm in all it's various forms is number one.  But no love for Bill Lewis and his lures he sold out of his old Ford Station Wagon...aka.....The Rattle Trap?

[S. Sass]

 T-rigged Mann's Jelly Worm. Paul Elias said so.  

[Oklahoma Mike]

I would also agree that the plastic worm is king, and I don't think it's even close. As Catt pointed out, it has been proven to be the only bait to which a bass does not get conditioned.

 

Behind that I would rate the jig #2, then the spinnerbait, then the squarebill crankbait, then the buzzbait, then the popper... and that's about as far as I'll take it. These baits are universal producers in nearly every body of water (minus the topwaters maybe) and, for me at least, they have consistently produced over decades in the order I've listed here.

[bigfruits]

On ‎2‎/‎20‎/‎2017 at 5:41 PM, Catt said:

Doug Hannon's Answer

Plastic Worm (Texas rigged) It's a long, thin shape resembles the profile of a wide variety of forage in the world of the bass, including earthworms, snakes, eels, and baitfish.

 

I wonder how many earthworms Doug has seen being eaten by bass. The ones where I live drown in sidewalk puddles.

 

another vote for the plastic "worm".

 

 

[J Francho]

14 minutes ago, bigfruits said:

 

I wonder how many earthworms Doug has seen being eaten by bass. The ones where I live drown in sidewalk puddles.

 

another vote for the plastic "worm".

 

 

 

There's a ton of species of Annelid worms (earthworms are part of this family) that are aquatic, and forage for bass.  I guess it's kind of funny to call them "earthworms," but they are superficially similar.

[ww2farmer]

16 minutes ago, J Francho said:

 

There's a ton of species of Annelid worms (earthworms are part of this family) that are aquatic, and forage for bass.  I guess it's kind of funny to call them "earthworms," but they are superficially similar.

Yup....my home lake and it's mostly mud bottom is loaded with them.

[Jaderose]

I still throw (and catch fish on) Lazy Ikes, Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers, too.

[RoLo]

"Greatest Lure Ever Made"

 

It's a tossup between a 'Live Minnow' and a 'Hand Grenade'     

 

 

 

 

[The Bassman]

1 hour ago, Jaderose said:

I still throw (and catch fish on) Lazy Ikes, Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers, too.

 

How many nights I remember listening to the unmistakable gurgle of a Jitterbug in the darkness.

[bmac31]

Rapala floating minnow! 

 

 

-Brian

[fishindad]

Most productive? For largemouth bass, I agree with a plastic worm, 6" in black. Close second for me is the 5" Senko, green pumpkin.

 

Smallies are tougher to decide. Mepps #3, Rapala floater or countdown, or tube/Gitzit are 3 classics. Gotta go with a 3.5" tube in watermelon.

 

Never fished for Spots.

[Guest]

Rebel popr 

[2tall79]

You don't specifically mention a bait for bass.  So for the best all-around bait for all species I'd have to vote for some variety of Mepps spinner.   A close second would be a Daredevil  or Flatfish.