Are Jitterbugs still great?

[Muddy]

Hey Fellas; I believe you are all fishing the 5/8 ounce Jointed Jitterbug. I just checked several Muskie Tackle Sites and then the Lurenet site( Lure net makes Arbogsat now) and they all only list a straight bodied Musky Jitterbug.

[Big Tom]

I would classify them as great.  There is nothing fancy about a jitterbug and there is no special technique required to use them.  Just cast them out and reel them back in nice and slow and steady.  I hadn't used one until last season and I caught fish the very first time I threw it.  If that doesn't give you confidence in something then I don't know what will.  I would suggest adding one to your topwater arsenal again because they still work and I think they are probably so old many fisherman ignore them for more fancy offerings.

[CWB]

Muddy is 100% correct. The musky jitterbug is not jointed and has 3 hooks, one on each side in the middle and one in the back.Outstanding night bait for monsters.

http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/nav_id/26/page/1/id/85/name/ArbogastMuskyJitterbug

[Catt]

If you ever want to check your heart out throw one at night during the new moon

P.S.: nothing will ever replace Jitterbugs

[Blue Streak]

Buzzbaits are great, but I like the Jitterbug because you can bring it into cover and stop it and the bass will blow up on them.

[Muddy]

Hey Blue Streak: Something not mentioned here yet. Especially in and around cove. If you get a blow up but miss a Jitterbug strike, always have another rod with a worm 9 I like to use a trigged/weightless rig. Throw it a little beyond where you got the missed hit and slowly work it, you know there is an aggressive fish there and frequently the worm will do the trick.

[moby bass]

have had some of my best heart attacks fishing a jitterbug at night.

X2  The warm serene summer night, crickets chirping, soft glug glug from the glass smooth pond or lake, and then...the water explodes when you're least expecting it.  

[Raul]

Are Jitterbugs still great?

It 's not easy for a lure to stand after 50 years in the market.

[dave]

Hey Dave: Do you have a link for the jointed Musky Jitterbug, all I can find is the straight and all they list in the current catalog is straight I would love to try a Jointed model, I didnt know they even made one

Thanks!

He is a flea market junky. He goes to every fishing flea market in the area during the late winter.

[wavewalker]

jitterbugs . but they get to many small fish to you get into the bigger lures. like muskie size lures .

[Muddy]

I live in Eastern PA, and I get more than my share of chunks with a 5/8 ounce size.

[eyedabassman]

jitterbugs . but they get to many small fish to you get into the bigger lures. like muskie size lures .

OH, NOT TRUE!

[Stasher1]

I picked up a black one about a year ago and the cup/bill is screwed on crooked. I tried using it a couple times, but it just pulls too hard to the side for me. It's now sitting in my collection of cranks that'll never make it back out to the water. Maybe I ought to email Arbogast about a replacement.

[Steven Ladner]

Well Blue Streak, I think the answer is obvious, jitterbugs are still great. After 3 pages of posts, I can't find really any negative feedback. The jitterbug is a lure that will never get old and go out of style. They have a 4.8 rating out of 5 on Bass Pro, and that's with 70+ reviews there. Everyone reading this topic that doesn't own, go out and buy one. It will be your best investment in bass fishing.

[eyedabassman]

Well Blue Streak, I think the answer is obvious, jitterbugs are still great. After 3 pages of posts, I can't find really any negative feedback. The jitterbug is a lure that will never get old and go out of style. They have a 4.8 rating out of 5 on Bass Pro, and that's with 70+ reviews there. Everyone reading this topic that doesn't own, go out and buy one. It will be your best investment in bass fishing.

X 100, well said!

[SkilletSizeBass.]

The old Jitterbug will always be in my box, although I rarely fish it like I use to, I'm not sure why...... because I use to do fairly good on it and man was it fun watching em hit it ;D

I guess part of it is I don't do much night fishing anymore.

Run that Jitterbug parallel and close to the bank at night time and hang on  

[Muddy]

Actually they are way more effective over submerged weed beds at night, bigger fish!

[=Matt 5.0=]

I picked up a black one about a year ago and the cup/bill is screwed on crooked. I tried using it a couple times, but it just pulls too hard to the side for me. It's now sitting in my collection of cranks that'll never make it back out to the water. Maybe I ought to email Arbogast about a replacement.

Bend it back with your thumb and index finger.... I have to tweak mine all the time. I carry 6 of them in my box, and sometimes they need to adjusted.

[A-Jay]

Are Jitterbugs still great?

It 's not easy for a lure to stand after 50 years in the market.

No question - My Dad gave me his "favorite topwater bait" some where around 1970ish

(I'll let you do the math - I'm in denial

The cool thing is, it Glows in the dark - a few minutes in front of my headlamp and I have some crazy exciting night bass action. I am also a big fan of the black model as well, and I think the black one is the more consistant producer, but there is something seriously wild about watching that eary green glow crawl it's way along. On those very calm dark nights you can see it for most of the entire retrieve. It just kills me with anticipation all the way back to the boat. Every bass on this vintage bait always reminds be of my Dad. He started it all. Thanks Dad.

A-Jay

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I picked up a black one about a year ago and the cup/bill is screwed on crooked. I tried using it a couple times, but it just pulls too hard to the side for me. It's now sitting in my collection of cranks that'll never make it back out to the water. Maybe I ought to email Arbogast about a replacement.

They are offset for a reason not by much

[Muddy]

I picked up a black one about a year ago and the cup/bill is screwed on crooked. I tried using it a couple times, but it just pulls too hard to the side for me. It's now sitting in my collection of cranks that'll never make it back out to the water. Maybe I ought to email Arbogast about a replacement.

They are offset for a reason not by much

Geez,That's news to me. I am sitting in front of quite a few right now, been using them for a while and the lip is one piece, and not off set.

 Your problem may be caused by a bent lip, use your fingers the lips are very pliable and easy to manipulate , bend it until it runs true.

[Stasher1]

It's not as simple as bending the lip, unfortunately. The cup was mounted to the body crooked. If I remove the forward screw and rotate the cup to make it line up, it's off by roughly the diameter of the screw hole. I'm going to have to elongate the hole in the cup so it'll line up. Simple solution, and cheaper than the postage to ship it back.  

[Maxximus Redneckus]

one screw is up and one down its a visual trick actaully lay it flat on a table yall will see what i mean. Measure the lip from one side to the other from the middle its slightly smaller

[Muddy]

It's not as simple as bending the lip, unfortunately. The cup was mounted to the body crooked. If I remove the forward screw and rotate the cup to make it line up, it's off by roughly the diameter of the screw hole. I'm going to have to elongate the hole in the cup so it'll line up. Simple solution, and cheaper than the postage to ship it back.

Hey Dawg I have a few extras, PM me with your addy and they are on their way

[=Matt 5.0=]

It's not as simple as bending the lip, unfortunately. The cup was mounted to the body crooked. If I remove the forward screw and rotate the cup to make it line up, it's off by roughly the diameter of the screw hole. I'm going to have to elongate the hole in the cup so it'll line up. Simple solution, and cheaper than the postage to ship it back.

Oh bummer...