Found an Original Jitterbug

[Largemouth21]

I was fishing in a local lake for northern pike and I found a original jitterbug, snagged in a grass mat.     the hooks were rusted and the paint faded but the action is still way better than my new jitterbug. probably not worth anything but still cool. I will probably try to catch a fish on it sometime 

[OCdockskipper]

Picture?

[Bassin' Brad]

Yeah we need to see a pic.....

[wdp]

Put some new hooks on that bad boy & let it rip. That's kinda always been one of my beefs with jitterbugs, tiny torpedos, hula poppers & other old school baits. They have great action & get the bites, but they have terrible hooks. And those old style hook hangers are horrible for changing out to high quality trebles. 

[Bluebasser86]

I found a really old Jitterbug with the stamped face plate a couple years ago, in great condition too. It's hanging in my shop, doubt it ever sees the water.

[Largemouth21]

side by side of the old and new jitterbugs

[WRB]

You put split rings on the hook hangers, that helps the action.

The newer shorter, fatter Jitter bug looks like a different size?

The original bass size Jitter bugs were plastic like the one you found, the larger musky size were wooden lures and I have several.

Thanks for posting the photos!

Tom

PS, you can soak the Jitter bug in warm water and baking soda to remove oxides from the line tie eye etc.

 

[scaleface]

That lure has a smiley face on it .

[Largemouth21]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

You put split rings on the hook hangers, that helps the action.

The newer shorter, fatter Jitter bug looks like a different size?

The original bass size Jitter bugs were plastic like the one you found, the larger musky size were wooden lures and I have several.

Thanks for posting the photos!

Tom

PS, you can soak the Jitter bug in warm water and baking soda to remove oxides from the line tie eye etc.

 

thanks for the tip, will do. They may be different sizes I'm not sure. the old one is definitely bigger 

[WRB]

The Jitterbug you found is a G650 3" 1/2oz  #206 Leopard Frog color, 1980-1992 vintage.

The newer is a G600 2 1/2" 3/8 oz 06 Frog, not sure of the vintage, 1950- today, but has a different shape bill than the other Jitterbugs.

Tom

[RoLo]

1 hour ago, scaleface said:

That lure has a smiley face on it .

 

That would suggest that it's never been lambasted by a bass  

[Largemouth21]

12 hours ago, WRB said:

The Jitterbug you found is a G650 3" 1/2oz  #206 Leopard Frog color, 1980-1992 vintage.

The newer is a G600 2 1/2" 3/8 oz 06 Frog, not sure of the vintage, 1950- today, but has a different shape bill than the other Jitterbugs.

Tom

wow, thanks for finding all of that info for me!! I appreciate that. What does the vintage number mean? 

[Adleyfishes]

My dad was throwing those one night he caught some quality fish.

[WRB]

2 hours ago, Largemouth21 said:

wow, thanks for finding all of that info for me!! I appreciate that. What does the vintage number mean? 

The years the lure was in production; from 1980 to 1992.

[Crestliner2008]

You know, I hope, that you can bend and re-cup those lips to create various actions and sounds. Give it a try, but only the new one! Save the old one as is. Both are very reliable fish takers.

[Largemouth21]

8 hours ago, Crestliner2008 said:

You know, I hope, that you can bend and re-cup those lips to create various actions and sounds. Give it a try, but only the new one! Save the old one as is. Both are very reliable fish takers.

wow I never thought of that, it makes sense. thanks!!