Have you replaced your LC Sammys?

[snake95]

When I started bass fishing a few years ago, I got the impression that Sammys were the walking bait of choice.

 

These days, I feel like there is more chatter about Vixens, Rovers and other walkers.

 

I had good luck myself with larger Sammys on ponds in late evening outings as things were heating up here in Georgia late last spring.

 

Not really going to change my mind about Sammys capabilities one way or another, just curious about why this bait may have fallen from favor.

Or... has it?

[A-Jay]

No doubt the Sammy is a fish catcher, I just never got any.

And while I think there is at least one LC Gunfish hiding in there somewhere,

The rest of my walking bait box is a mix of Strike King Sexy Dawgs, Duo Realis Pencils, Evergreen Shower Blows, Megabass Dog-X Diamante, Reaction Innovations Vixens, a River2Sea Rover and one 6th Sense Crush Dogma.

#topwaterisaddicting

My prized walker, and one that accounted for several very respectable Brown Bass,

 was a Paycheck baits Repoman which was stolen by a Gator Pike a couple of years back.

I was very hurt by that too. 

 

A-Jay

[MGF]

I have a couple of spooks laying around but that's about it. Maybe I'll try one out on the river this season.

[MN Fisher]

Never had any Sammys - couple Puppies, couple Spooks and a couple Super Spooks...that's it for walking baits in my collection.

[roadwarrior]

I still like the Sammy.

[Angry John]

I love walking baits and the duo is the best I have found.  I still use my Sammy's but they are not as easy to work.

[CountryboyinDC]

If they're talking about the Vixen or Repoman, they're probably talking about how they go for over $100.  I still like the Sammy, especially when the seem to want a pause in the retrieve.  Sammy's start walking easier than Rovers or Spooks, in my opinion.  Now when you need the bait moving, the Sammy doesn't do so well for me.  

[Quarry Man]

I really like the ima skimmer in clear water. Ive also had good luck on the sexy dawg. Im gonna diversify this year and buy some other brands. sexy shad and chrome are my go to colors.

[928JLH]

Only thing bad about the Sammy is how fast the hooks have to be replaced from so many fish. 

 

If you can find one highly recommend the Jackall Bowstick, if they're munching larger topwater.

[Deleted account]

Wait, baits come and go out of fashion? Hadn't noticed...  

 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, BassWhole! said:

Wait, baits come and go out of fashion? Hadn't noticed...  

 

Ya - all dependent on which manufacturer has the larger advertising budget.

[padon]

sammy still catches fish just like it always did. there are other good walking baits too. i like the tactical bassin guys and i watch all their videos too and i think they are honest guys but remember their job is to move move product for manufacturers and tackle warehouse. culprit and powerbait worms still catch fish like they did 25 years ago.

[snake95]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

The rest of my walking bait box is a mix of Strike King Sexy Dawgs, Duo Realis Pencils, Evergreen Shower Blows, Megabass Dog-X Diamante, Reaction Innovations Vixens, a River2Sea Rover and one 6th Sense Crush Dogma.

#topwaterisaddicting

@A-Jay that is a thing of beauty.  Thanks for taking the time to post the pic.

I just told my fishin buddy that its fine trying to figure them out now in early prespawn, but what I am really looking forward to is topwater in Georgia starting about mid-May.

 

1 hour ago, padon said:

remember their job is to move move product for manufacturers and tackle warehouse.

Good point, I haven't forgotten that.  But not enough noise about the mighty Sammy these days.

 

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - all dependent on which manufacturer has the larger advertising budget.

Another good point.  I don't see a lot of LC advertising but it seemed like they did a lot back in the mid 2000's.  I was focused on going back to grad school and not on fishing in those days.

 

3 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

Wait, baits come and go out of fashion? Hadn't noticed...  

This is one aspect of bass fishing that never ceases to amaze me.  And yet some proven things don't really catch on or get adapted to new scenarios. 

[Sphynx]

I think a lot of times regional pressure plays a part too, if the lake is invaded by every angler in 500 miles all throwing one bait in the same 2 or 3 colors I expect that bait to drop off quickly in effectiveness, so as the Rovers and whatever grow in popularity and see a larger share of the walking bait market in terms of both sales and time in the water, the Sammy, Spook and others are all going to become more effective in the right situations until the pendulum swings back and people start wearing them out on those baits again 

[Bluebasser86]

Sammy still catches fish, but they never were a really impressive bait for me.

[Revival]

I have a friend that kills it with a Sammy 100 every year.  I prefer the gunfish.  My walking bait of choice now is the Duo Realis pencil.  

[Alpster]

17 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

I still like the Sammy.

Me too. I have a box full of them. I also have a spook collection. Great top waters!

[roadwarrior]

My biggest smallmouth caught on topwater was with a Spook. 

[king fisher]

I prefer the Rebel Jumpin minnow.  It is inexpensive, casts far, easy to walk, sounds great, and catches big fish including one bass over 10lbs., rooster fish, yellowfin tuna, snook, jacks  and even a striped marlin.  I own a Sammy, and have caught bass with it, but it mostly just takes up space in my tackle box.

[craww]

Tactical  bassin is great, but alot of the nuances Matt rattles can be a bit much in my opinion. 
 

Ive thrown them for years and have had some of my most productive days on them. I legitimately got tired of catching bass one day with an 85 in MS American shad. Maybe its anecdotal, but since they’ve changed the packaging around a decade ago Ive yet to replicate the success I once had. I honestly dont know if they’re in fact different. I dont think its the bass in my waters have been smartened up to them.

I still throw them, but have gravitated towards larger lures in this style. I never liked the bigger sammys as much as the medium and smaller sizes.

[Bankbeater]

I don't have any Sammys, but I have a bunch of spooks in different sizes.  I will change up the sizes until I find the one that the bass are going after.

[moguy1973]

My first walker was a Sammy, but I've found I like the horizontal resting position of the SK Sexy Dawgs more.  They are just as easy to walk also.

 

At one point I found a small walking bait that I really liked called the Daimiki Dolphin, but they don't make them anymore.

[scbassin]

No, why would I replace something that works?

[Team9nine]

Singular - “Sammy” for me, because I bought only one to try about 10 years ago, and yes, it has since been replaced - long ago. Didn’t live up to the hype for me. Spook Jr. is a “go to” in this regard, and original Vixens.

[Munkin]

Gunfish 95 and Sammy 100 are my two best walking top waters. I  have others I use and try different baits but nothing has dethroned these yet.

 

Allen