Classic Baits That Perform

In today’s market, the newest lure is hyped over all others. People overlook the classic baits that perform in place of modern baits. If you do not have any of these lures in your box. You need to consider adding a few. These lures catch fish and have done so for decades.

These lures are mimicked by many manufacturers. You can find many versions available in stores today. People need to take caution when buying these lures. China has flooded the market with cheap knock-offs. The major brands make lures in China also. The difference lies in the design and quality. Big companies set specifications for both aspects.

Reading Time; 11 minutes

Classic Jerkbaits and Crankbaits That Perform

These lures have been around for many years. During that time, they have helped many anglers catch fish. These lures are a household name among anglers. A few lures are popular today as they were decades ago.

Floating Rapala

A Rapala is unique to many other jerk baits. Balsa wood in the body adds buoyancy, increasing the action and making the lure float easier. A Rapala will wiggle and roll with control during the jerks used with this type of bait. Few lures use wood, yet it has a different action.

Rapalas are Classic Baits That Perform
  • Wounded minnow action
  • One of the most popular lures around
  • Maybe fished in many ways

Rapalas come in lengths from 1 1/2 to 7 inches. You can catch trout, walleye, bass, and pike with the lure. The jerk and pause technique fools fish into seeing an injured minnow. The lure works well in shallow water or above submerged weeds. The running depth is 1-3 feet for this lure.

Price at Bass Pro

Smithwick Rogue

The Rogue comes in a suspending jerk bait model. Once you rip it down to depth it hangs in the water column. This keeps the lure in the strike zone. There are floating versions also. The lures do have limited sizes available but they catch fish.

  • Cast far, run true and offer unmatched durability
  • Unique scale pattern
  • Realistic eyes
  • Counterbalance weight system
  • Productive cast or trolled

A Rogue runs in the 6 feet depth range. The line will affect the depth and suspending aspect. Mono can cause a slow rise. Braid or fluoro keeps the lure at the depth. Water temperature has some effects also. In cold water, the lure will sink.

These lures use sliding weights to help with casting distance. The Rogue is slightly heavier than other jerk baits of equal size. The weights create rattling sounds also.

Price at Bass Pro

Rapala Shad Rap

The Shad Rap is more popular than the floating Rapalas. The lure has a larger profile with plenty of flashes. It reacts to small movements of your rod tip. You can go aggressive or finesse this lure. On the pause, the lure has a very slow rise. This helps trigger strikes.

Classic Baits That Perform with a lot action
  • Mimics a larger shad in trouble
  • Agonizing, slow-rising habit on the pause
  • Horizontal struggling action
  • Broadside profile with textured scale body
  • Quick left-right turns
  • Produces plenty of flash
  • VMC thin wire black nickel hooks

The VMC hooks have good penetration on hooksets. You do not need to jerk excessively hard. A quick hard snap does the job. The hooks are thin wire. Using a heavy line, set the drag a little lighter to prevent them from bending. A 10-12 pound line is not an issue.

Price at Bass Pro

Rat-L-Trap

The Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap is often duplicated but rarely matched. This lure has been around for a few decades. The design creates a vibration fish find alluring. The flash gives a visual aspect for the fish when close. Plus it is very easy to use. You cast it out, count it down to depth and retrieve it.

  • Flat-out catches fish
  • Flashing, shimmering shad-like profile
  • Super-tight wiggle
  • Calibrated to emit Liv-N-Sound
  • Tough Durashell finish

The lure is effective in the spring and fall. It has the tight wiggle action mimicking a fleeing baitfish. This triggers strikes. You can fish it in many depths. The retrieve speed controls the depth.

Price at Bass Pro

Classic Topwater Baits That Perform

Long before the modern tail spinning top waters. A few lures ruled the topwater class. These are classic baits that perform as well today as in the years that have gone by. In some cases, these lures outperform modern lures.

Jitterbug

The Jitterbug is the easiest and most productive topwater lure ever made. In the summer, cast it out and retrieve it in the early morning or evening. If any bass are present you will find them after a few casts. The wobble and gurgling sound drive the bass to strike it violently. The lure comes in 2, 2 1/2, 3, and 4-inch sizes. The small and middle-sizes work well for all bass. The bigger model is known for lunker largemouth and pike.

classic Jitterbug an all time bass producing lure
  • A deep, gurgling rhythmic action
  • Hard for fish to resist
  • Casts like a dream

A jointed model is available also. The lure comes in a fair amount of colors. Yet black is a popular choice for many anglers. The sound and color making a good silhouette are all the lure needs.

Price at Bass Pro

Heddon Zara Spook

The lure was created in 1939. It was written about more than any other lure. The thick round body makes an easy-to-see target for fish. It has two 1/0 hooks providing solid hookups on a strike. The con of the lure is technique. It is a walk the dog style lure. You use rod twitches with some slack line to make the action.

one of the best Classic Baits That Perform
  • Walk the Dog lure
  • Two 1/0 hooks
  • 4 1/2 ” and 3/4 ounces

Once you know the technique. The lure will get strikes from leary and active fish. It fills the niche for a finesse topwater lure. The lure creates little to no sound. The slow-moving zig-zag motion is what draws the fish in to strike.

The shape and weight allow you to bomb a cast. This keeps the lure in the water longer during a retrieve. This helps with pike and musky. These fish will follow a lure for a distance at times. The lure works well for big bass also.

Price at Bass Pro

Snagless Soft Body Frog

The soft body frog has been around for decades. Throughout the years, this lure has improved and gained more popularity. The lure can work over weeds and brush without hanging up. The double hook is turned up and along the body. Avoid a frog with a single hook. They have poor hook-up ratios.

  • Lifelike molded soft-plastic body
  • Weedless design
  • Double hook for positive sets
  • Many variations available

Working with pops, twitches, and pauses gets a bass’ attention. You work across the cover with pauses at the open spots or pockets. When the fish strikes, wait to feel the bite and set the hook. The soft body frog is a popular classic bait that performs very well.

Price at Bass Pro

Hula Popper

The Hula Popper is a lure many started topwater fishing when young. The lure is twitched to create a popping sound. It is simple to use the lure. The rubber tail adds action by gently swaying behind the lure. You fish the lure slowly. It will draw fish out of cover to check it out. Bass are curious when sounds are present.

  • Creates a loud, popping noise and a bubble trail
  • Seductive skirt
  • An all-time favorite for big bass

A Hula Popper comes in 4 sizes. You can find 1 1/4, 1 3/4, 2, and 2 1/4 lengths with the lure. There is a good selection of colors. Plus this lure comes in a multi-pack with 3 colors at a lower cost per piece.

Price at Bass Pro

Spinners and Spoons

Spinners and spoons are some of the first lures invented. When the first ones were made is uncertain. What is known is they catch fish. The lures have changed in shape and a few other aspects little over the years. The lures are popular and effective for many species of fish.

Johnson Silver Minnow

The Silver minnow was a breakthrough in 1920. It had a weed guard added to prevent weeds from being caught by the hook. It was weighted to prevent spinning also. The center is made heavier than the edges. This helped with the weedless use of the lure. Since that time it has caught many pike and bass.

  • A classic go-to spoon
  • Completely weedless design
  • Versatile and deadly, with or without a trailer
  • Silver coated for a brilliant flash, it is not chrome

The lure is a casting spoon. Cast into an area with weeds and retrieve. The flash of the silver coating brings fish to the lure. The lure is coated with silver and not chrome. This gives it a brilliant flash compared to other spoons. That is how it got its name. It is a classic bait that performs.

Price at Bass Pro

Mepp’s Aglia

Mepps is known for spinners and the Aglia is the classic spinner. This lure comes in small sizes for trout up to larger lures for pike and musky. A spinner is good for searching to find active fish. The flash and vibration make spinners suitable for all water conditions.

  • Visible in any water
  • Glow in the dark
  • Single hook included
  • Emits continuous vibration and maximum flash
  • Solid brass bodies

The lure will cast well due to the brass body. It comes with a treble or single hook. This makes it able to be used in areas with hook regulations. Some places ban treble hooks.

Price at Bass Pro

Daredevil Spoon

The Daredevil is a timeless classic bait that performs trolling or casting. The lure style is made by many manufacturers. The original and a few other makes perform well. I suggest avoiding the low-cost Chinese knock-offs due to quality issues.

The well-made versions flutter on the fall and wobble on the retrieve. The cheap version often spins creating a line twist. The lure works for walleye and pike mainly. Yet, bass and musky will hit a spoon if run by them.

  • Slender profile
  • Wide wobble
  • Can be cast or trolled

People overlook spoons. They are a basic lure with good results. If you do not have a few, try a couple. At times, other lures are not productive, try a spoon. You may be surprised what happens using a lure few try to catch fish with today.

Price at Bass Pro

Conclusions Classic Baits That Perform

The lures listed are a small sampling of classic lures. These lures are as productive today as in years gone by. You will find most are low price and easy to use. Plus the lures catch fish. Having a few lures fish rarely see can make or break a day’s fishing.


Posted

in

by

Tags: