The Ditto " Gator Tail".

[Mobasser]

When Larry Nixon won the 1983 Classic on the Ohio river with a blk/ blue Ditto Gator tail worm, myself, and many other anglers took notice. This win was followed up by Rick Clunn in 1984 on the Arkansas River, who used a gator tail along with crankbaits, and George Cochran on the Ohio river in 1987. All Classic wins in part due to the Ditto Gator tail worm. This worm was first produced by Bobby Ditto in 1980. The company was sold to Peter Allen in the 1990s and was out of business by 2003. For several years the gator tail, along with a straight tail worm, usually a Creme Scoundrell, we're the only two worms I carried. The 5.5 inch baby Gator Tail was my all time favorite. I always felt like it was unique among worm designs. Not a round body like most worms, but a different body shape, with the large tail that gave it great action. It caught fish for me in ponds, strip pits, and on large lakes all the same. The Zoom G tail is about as close as I can get these days. I also understand that pro angler Terry Scroggins has bought the original molds and pours this worm himself, giving them out at tournament events. I'm sure there are many other fans of the Ditto Gator Tail. Do you still fish them, or their imitations? I leaned towards dark colors. Blk/blue and grape were especially good. In my humble opinion, one of the all time best of the plastic worms. Thoughts, opinions, or stories? Who remembers or fished the Ditto Gator Tail?

[MIbassyaker]

I still have about 8 worms left out of an old pack, circa 1990, of purple gator tail worms.

 

Evidently, Terry Scroggins has the molds:

https://www.***.com/fishing-rigs/big-shows-baits-ditto-gator-tail-worm/

 

(EDIT: OK, blocked. Google it if you're curious, I guess)

 

My favorite of the style, though, is the Mister Twister thunderworm, which had a longer tail portion and a shorter body, more like a ribbontail version.  They are discontinued as well, but have been brought back temporarily a couple times. I stocked up last time.

 

 

[Catt]

Got a sack of em round here somewhere ?

[crypt]

still have about 20 of the black and blue tails.

[BoatSquirrel]

I have bags of them left including some 12” black that are going to be swimming through some Tennessee milfoil soon!  

[Team9nine]

Got several packs still left in both 5.5” and 7”, the larger being my favorite night time worm. The first tournament I ever won, a club event back in 1983 or thereabouts was on a Gatortail worm ? They had some interesting color combinations back in the day, some that achieved near cult-like status regionally.

[J Francho]

I used them, along with Culprits.  They both fell to the wayside when I discovered PowerBait.

[scaleface]

I ran out a long time ago . They were effective for me too . I caught several lunkers with them fishing a culvert that went under a road . Back when I had good balance I would walk down the sides which were about 4 to 5 inches wide and flip the worm to  trees that had washed up on it   . I never fell in . No doubt there are big bass waiting there today but I would fall in now .

 

[river-rat]

I've still got several packs of the 5.5" and 7" and use them frequently. I wish they were still made. It is still my all time favorite plastic worm.

[Spankey]

I fished a lot of very productive worms fishing river smallies over the years. Admittedly not as large as the size most of you guys throw. My range is generally 4”, 4 1/2” and 5”. But they become obsoleted and discontinued. I guess it a business that has to change to stay in business. There are a few Mann’s, Mr Twister and Lucky I’d give a left ******** to get a few bags of.  

 

I do know of an old mom and pop shop not far from home that may just still have some of them hanging. 

[HeyCoach]

I don’t know if these are new or not, but Zoom has a G Tail worm that looks similar to these gator tails.