Is there still a place for the good-old Slug-Go?

[07Rapala]

I picked up fishing again last year after about 25 years out of the game. As a result, I have a couple bags of 30 year old Slug-Go's. Wondering if I should bother buying new ones when these run-out.

Between flukes on one side and senko's on the other, Is there a niche for the Slug-Go in there somewhere?

 

Little story to go with this post: Its been a cold spring up here in Southern WI, smaller lakes have had ice-off for a couple weeks, larger lakes are still iced-in. Did some fishing at a local shallow lake, and searched all-over looking for fish. I was expecting some pike too, so I had a steel leader. Tried a range of lures; spinnerbaits, spoons, jerk baits, jigs, Rapala floating minnow, and I spent about half my time throwing a white super fluke. Not a nibble. With 10 minutes left I decided to try something that had worked for me in early spring many years ago. I removed the steel leader and directly tied-on a "perch" Slug-Go. Found some well preserved dead standing lotus in a slightly deeper hole (probably 5' deep) than I'd been fishing all day and sure-enough, within a few casts, I hooked a nice 18"er. A few more casts and another 18"er (perhaps her sister). Wish I'd been catching them all afternoon, but at-least I ended the day on a high note.

It got me to thinking of why this all came together at the end when nothing was going for the rest of the day. The fluke in particular is pretty similar. Maybe this spot is the only deep-ish spot I came across, and that's where all the fish were... but really, not a SINGLE fish was anyplace else? Maybe the fluke's action was messed-up by the leader. Maybe the white color of the fluke didn't match the forage in the area well. But it's got me wondering if the more subtle action of the Slug-Go is more appealing to a bass in cold water who is not particularly active, and maybe a fluke is a bit too much. But it could have been a lot of things.

[casts_by_fly]

Let me get this right.  You made a couple casts and within 10 minutes caught a pair of 3 lb fish.  And you're asking if the lure you were using has a place in your box.  Seems the fish answered your question for you. 

[Bankc]

I fish a lot of things that are out of favor at the moment with most anglers.  I have a belief that if it's something the bass has never seen before, they're more likely to bite it.  I don't know if that belief is true or not.  But that's what I believe.

[WRB]

Ideal trailer for Scrounger jigs, both forgotten by anglers not bass.

Tom

[Fishingmickey]

It very well could be that they didn't start biting until the afternoon sun had a chance to warm up the water a bit. The Slugo is still an excellent bait, like flukes, SK caffeine free shad or Lake Fork Magic shads.  It falls under the class of soft plastic jerk bait in my book.  Can be very good dang near anytime of the year.

FM

 

[NorthernBasser]

Gosh, I remember being 16, loading my 10' jon boat into the back of my hatchback Horizon TC3 (little longer version of the normal Horizon...I'd say about 5' were inside the car and 5' sticking out the back. It was quite the site) and heading to the local lake with a few rods and a handful of Slug-Go's. The bass absolutely destroyed that bait! 

 

I have no idea why I don't use them still today. Obviously more options today, etc. You may have inspired me to buy a pack. 

[Reel]

Just look at a Strike King Ocho.  A very popular lure today and it looks like a Slug-O on a diet.

[WRB]

Glenn has a Sluggo video?
Tom

[padon]

the slugo absolutely hammered fish 30 years ago and under the right conditions it still will today.

[07Rapala]

7 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

Let me get this right.  You made a couple casts and within 10 minutes caught a pair of 3 lb fish.  And you're asking if the lure you were using has a place in your box.  Seems the fish answered your question for you. 

? Casts, I suppose you have a point!

Come to think of it, I caught a pretty nice smallie on a bubblegum punk Slug-Go on a pretty hard day early last summer. 

I'm trying to take a relatively minimalist approach to tackle these days, but I suppose I have room in my box for a few old friends. 

[DaubsNU1]

Caught my personal best largemouth on a rainbow trout colored Slug-Go in Missouri about 30 years ago. Still keep an assortment in my tackle box. 

 

Love them! 

[KP Duty]

Love'em.  I just don't fish them fast, and I'll usually try for a squarebill bite first. 

[Ski]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

Glenn has a Sluggo video

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/slug-go-lure.html

[Mike L]

One of the most underrated and forgotten plastics made. 
Either as a trailer or as a stand alone. 
 

If you’re into exploring and trying new things try one with a jig skirt!

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Deleted account]

If by "Is there a place" you mean will they catch fish, then yes, there is a place.

[07Rapala]

9 hours ago, DaubsNU1 said:

Caught my personal best largemouth on a rainbow trout colored Slug-Go in Missouri about 30 years ago. Still keep an assortment in my tackle box. 

 

Come to think of it, I caught my PB on a Slug-Go too!

[Big Swimbait]

22 hours ago, WRB said:

Ideal trailer for Scrounger jigs, both forgotten by anglers not bass.

Tom

The 6 inch in Pro Blue Shiner is money on a Scrounger jig!

[Glenn]

Slug-Go's?  You betcha!

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Slugo is good stuff, my old timer buddies in Alabama always called them French fry worm. I caught my first ever 3+ lb bass on one Texas rigged