Old Standbys

[MontclairDave]

Poking through an old tackle box and came across a bunch of lures with rusted hooks I haven’t used in years, including a Storm Rattlin Chug Bug and a Rapala Jointed Minnow (J11). Used to slay em on these lures, just kinda forgot about em with all the other newer stuff I’ve gotten over the years. Put new Stinger trebles on em and went to my local pond tonight. Mirror calm, no wind and I’m thinking, ooh, perfect conditions for both of those lures. Start with Chug Bug, hits water, one twitch, boom, fish on. Caught 5 more, then the light mostly gone, switched to Rapala, crawl it SLOW so it makes that v-wake that bass love, boom, fish on. Lost count of how many more I caught before the skeeters chased me out of there. Nothing big but boy was it a blast on 10 lb straight braid and a medium spinner. So guys, what do you have lying around that used to slay for you and maybe you’ve left for the new shiny lure, only to realize that newer is not always better?

 

Next trip, it’s time to break out the Hula Poppers and Tiny Torpedos and leave all of my Megabass bling at home!

[Jar11591]

The Storm Chug Bug has always been one of my favorites, but often gets benched in favor of the Pop Max or X. But whenever I throw it, I’m quickly reminded what a fish catching machine it is. On smallmouth water, the 2.5” rattling Chug Bug is deadly. 

[GRiver]

I have always liked the rapala jointed lures…..I always did well with the j-9 silver and black. The torpedo was a good one too, don’t know why they kept getting overlooked. Theses have be tried and true for a long time, going to tie one on next time I’m out.

Thanks

[Captain Phil]

Two of the most effective bass lures of all time are the Rapala minnow and the Heddon Tiny Torpedo.  They catch bass under the worst conditions.  Both need to be thrown on light line.   I use 8 pound mono on a spinning rod.  There are very few new lures that can top these baits.  The only thing really new are soft plastics which are truly amazing.  

 

[padon]

i still use tiny torpedo all the time for river smallmouth. they love it.

[MontclairDave]

3 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

The Storm Chug Bug has always been one of my favorites, but often gets benched in favor of the Pop Max or X. But whenever I throw it, I’m quickly reminded what a fish catching machine it is. On smallmouth water, the 2.5” rattling Chug Bug is deadly. 

x2! The Pop Max and PopX have been the reason why all my other poppers, including the Chug Bug, get left in the box. They’ll stay in the rotation but my Chug Bug isn’t gonna be benched any more. 

[Deleted account]

Bass don't know how old your lures are or how much you paid for them. A good lure is a good lure. Speaking of which, they like the $1.25 LIDL popper.

[king fisher]

One I should fish more often is the Bomber 7A.  I will fish a half dozen new crankbaits for nothing, then tie the 7A on and I get bit.  I am not sure why I don't just start with the Bomber to begin with.

[the reel ess]

I still use the Chug Bug, Spook, occasionally a Torpedo or a Devil's Horse. It doesn't get much more old school than a worm, though we have a lot of varieties to choose from now.

[LrgmouthShad]

25 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I am not sure why I don't just start with the Bomber to begin with.

Bait monkey

[Catt]

20 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

It doesn't get much more old school than a worm,

 

I still throw Mr Twister Phenom Worms 

[Mobasser]

1 minute ago, Catt said:

 

I still throw Mr Twister Phenom Worms 

One of the best Catt. A good bait is a good bait for a reason. They work.

[the reel ess]

5 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

I still throw Mr Twister Phenom Worms 

I have a Heddon jointed Pikie that I've thrown.I bought it at an antiques store after watching people jigger poling on YouTube. Haven't caught anything though. LOL.

[Mobasser]

I have  the smaller Storm Chug Bug in shad color. I think I've had it for twenty years. It's been a great lure. The Heddon Torpedo is an all time classic also, and is a favourite.                                            Another great old bait is the Heddon Moss Boss. I like to throw it right over moss or any weeds. Wal Mart was selling them for .99 cents a couple of years ago and I bought several. Around here, white has been the best color.

We can never disregard any of these classic old baits. I'm one who thinks that there's really nothing new in bass plugs. Most were invented decades ago. They caught lots of fish years ago and will still work. I've known guys who looked at them as beginners or baits for a novice fisherman. I say nonsense. New baits have much better hooks and paint jobs, but it's the action that catches bass.

[MontclairDave]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

I still use the Chug Bug, Spook, occasionally a Torpedo or a Devil's Horse. It doesn't get much more old school than a worm, though we have a lot of varieties to choose from now.

I bought a vintage Devil’s horse on fleabay after seeing Roland Martin tout them on his YouTube channel. Not sure I have the technique down with that one, not too productive for me so far. Gotta put more time in with it.

[Captain Phil]

34 minutes ago, MontclairDave said:

I bought a vintage Devil’s horse on fleabay after seeing Roland Martin tout them on his YouTube channel. Not sure I have the technique down with that one, not too productive for me so far. Gotta put more time in with it.

 

The Devil's Horse is a killer bait in Florida.  For some reason big bass seem to be mad at it.  It's common to have them blow the lure out of the water on the strike.   I fish it faster than most people.  Watch carefully behind the bait as bass will follow this bait for some distance. To get the most from the Devil's Horse, throw it in cover.  It pays to be fearless. 

[the reel ess]

54 minutes ago, MontclairDave said:

I bought a vintage Devil’s horse on fleabay after seeing Roland Martin tout them on his YouTube channel. Not sure I have the technique down with that one, not too productive for me so far. Gotta put more time in with it.

Yeah, that's the problem with videos from Florida. I went to FL one winter for two very warm days and bass practically lined up to get on my hook. Came home and zeroed twice. Most lures work better there. I had some good luck a few years ago with the Devil's Horse in postspawn situation, near week edges. But it's not a bait I'd expect to slay them on every time out. In fact, I was giving the lure a rip-rest-rip retrieve. Roland just twitches it. On my best day with a Tiny Torpedo I was retrieving it steadily, like a small Plopper.

[Cdn Angler]

Love the jointed Rapalas. Those, Mepps, countdown minnow, Cotton Cordell Big O all get bit. 

 

My biggest complaint is that they don't cast that far and need better hooks usually. Get bit as well as anything new and shiny though.  

[Catt]

Still a killer ?

 

[PaulVE64]

At 16 yrs of age a buddy of mine got me into wilderness camping, like 2 wk trips in Algonquin Park.

On our 1st  trip north we were about 5 days out & at the end of one portage their lay two fishing rods, reels and a tackle box.

We hadn't seen anyone in days so we spent another fortnight eating lake trout.

I still have that Garcia Mitchell 300 and use the 2pc 6'-6" Shakespeare ugly stick SP 1100 01A13CM.

They're at least 42 yrs old.

[river-rat]

 

I still use several "old" lures - because they still produce. Just to name a few:

Smithwick Devil's Horse

Whopper Stopper Hellraiser

Heddon Baby Torpedo

Fliptail Worms

Johnson Silver Minnow

Hildebrandt Snagless Sally (always with an Uncle Josh #11 Pork Frog)

Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw

[DitchPanda]

The past few years I've been throwing the paint off of poppers..specifically the Rebel Pop R. Threw them when I was younger then went years picking a walking bait or a frog over them. Now they are one of my most consistent baits from about June thru September... Sometimes into October.

[WRB]

Still using the hair jig and pork trailers for over 50 years.

Kept Bomber 7A’s custom painter ghost, Smithwhick wooden Buck n Brawl shad color, 90’s vintage LC Ghost SP Pointers, Balsa original Sammy, Michael popper, Zoner Hunter and a few structure spools make up my hard baits today.

Sold hundreds of antique and  vintage wooden lures, diving crank baits, spinner baits, buzz baits, spoons, swimbaits, etc., etc. to BR members.

Still catch bass on the old hard baits, they are new to the bass.

Tom

[scaleface]

Ive been throwing a vintage Rebel Popper "Not PopR" some  this summer .

[Captain Phil]

15 hours ago, PaulVE64 said:

I still have that Garcia Mitchell 300 and use the 2pc 6'-6" Shakespeare ugly stick SP 1100 01A13CM. They're at least 42 yrs old.

 

Here's my Mitchell 300.  This reel changed bass fishing forever.