most underrated lures/baits

[jeremyt]

I will have to second/third or tenth for the beetle spin. In my young and short freshwater days its the first lure my dad bought me and it seemed like the fish would hit it as soon as it hit the water.

The biggest bass I ever caught though was on a red shad culprit. Well maybe not classified as a catch. I was about 11 years old fishing with my buddy at his dads pond. I cast out and get a back lash. As I am pulling the birds nest out the line seems to get tighter and tighter. I set the hook and pull up a 4# bass. I sure wish they would just bit the hook like that today.

[bassman00012]

I would have to say lizards. I never hear anyone talking about lizards. THEY WORK GREAT

[fishing=life]

i love fishing with rooster tails and lizards i catch fish on both all day long! ;D

[fish-fighting-illini]

Storm 3in swimbaits,  with the flat paddle tail, color doesn't matter

Crappie type underhung spinners approx 1/8oz when it gets hot out I downsize to these. Have caught several 4lb bass on them.

[Taliesin]

I agree about the inline spinners too but for me they are just under-sized.

I used to think they were undersized as well. I often use 1/8 oz for panfish, but never really saw much use for them for bass.

Then I started catching bass while fishing with them. Then I saw (and bought) some 1 oz. It's a good 4" long and matches the shad around here wonderfully right now.

As far as rattle-traps being under-rated, not around here. I hear about them all the time, as well as lizards. Just goes to show that lure ratings will vary by your location.

[Infidel.]

I don't know about the rest of the country but down here in southern california the most underated lures are any of the OG baits like jitterbugs, Rebel Cranks and pop-r's, Bomber long A's and model A's and the like.

So many people out here are so caught up with Lucky Craft and the like that they think a bait that costs less than $15 wont catch fish. Which is fine with me, their loss.  

Personally I think the most underated baits across the board are the Berkely Frenzy baits.

[rp_carr]

As others have said: Spoons. I've caught many decent bass on red and white daredevils. I've also caught many smaller bass while fishing for trouth with really small pheobe's.  Spoons aren't that "cool" but will catch a lot of fish. They really do have great action. Catch lots of other fish too such as pickeral, pike, panfish etc.