Which Classic Plugs Would You Still Fish?

[cornmuse]

Playing a thought exercise, it seems it would be kind of cool to put together a small box of truly classic fishing plugs and hardbaits. Lures that might have been fished in the post WWII fishing boom of the 1950's and 60's. Lures that belong on a casting rod. Let's keep the list to stuff one can actually purchase and use (as old vintage tackle or new and still available) rather than impossible-to-find rare collector's items. What would be in your box? Assume fishing for bass/pickerel in ponds, lakes and rivers, and please list the color you'd carry.

My list includes a black jointed Jitterbug, frog pattern Hula Popper, white with red head River Runt. What would you add to that list?

Joe C.

[Bronzeye]

Crazy Crawler (Red head/yellow)
Lucky 13 and Zara Spook (both Bullfrog)
Smithwick Devil's Horse (chrome w black back)
Johnson Silver Minnow (Silver)
Mepps #3 (Silver)

[Reel Old Geezer]

These classic plugs (and spoons/spinners) are still in my largemouth tackle box:

Arbogast Jitterbug
Arbogast Hawaiian Wiggler
Johnson Silver Minnow
Herb's Dilly
Heddon Zara Spook

[holden234]

Hog Stick in pearl with red eyes.
Midget digit-white with red head.
Rebel Deep Wee R with weighted bill in silver and black.

[yosemite17]

Fred Young. Big-O.

[Bronzeye]

Fred Young. Big-O.

That was on my list, too, until I recalled that it wasn't available until the mid-1970s.

[smalljaw]

The Zara Spook, the one with the hook hangers, Smithwick Rogues, Arbogast Jitterbug, and the Fred Yound Big O!! I used to use A lucky 13 and still have 2 of them but last year was the last time I used one.

[21farms]

i wasn't even alive in the 50s and early 60s so my list of "classics" is from the late 70s and 80s when i started fishing:

1) bomber waterdog

2) johnson silver minnow
3) bagley's crankbaits (foiled shad and the ones that were shaped and painted exactly like bluegills)

4) bomber bushwacker spinnerbaits (i know you said 'plugs' but i thought i'd throw these in as they were fish catchers extraordinaire!)

[Heronimo]

Don't forget the Original Rapala Floater. F5, F7 and F9 for me in silver/black, gold/black and perch color.

[21farms]

oh man, how could i forget. there's a vintage bomber crankbait that actually looks like a bomb

[Bassmar]

Heddon Dying Flutter
Heddon Crazy Crawler
Heddon River Runt
Heddon Lucky 13
Hula Popper
Jitterbug

I used all these as a kid in the 70's but must admit that except for the Dying Flutter I hav'nt used any of the others in years. Most are on the mantlepiece Might be an idea to put them back in use. Show the bass something they have probably never seen before

[DUZBASS]

The Bass Oreno

What a great bait, I need to fish them for bass more, but it is a go to bait for pike still, especially in the red and white. Pop it, chug it, rip it, crank it, it works every way... and you want to talk about erratic hunting action?? beats any squarebill ever made...

[dragon1]

Good list of oldies thus far.

BTW, I wonder what ever became of the Megabass commissioned Zara Spooks and Jitterbugs?

For me:

Jitterbug
Floating Rapalas
Zara Spook
Lots of different spoons/spinners
Rebel Craw
Original Bagleys Bs and Honey Bs

[mylobass]

The Dalton Special
Nip a dee dee
Bagley Bang o Lure
Heddon Lucky 13
Heddon River Runt

[cornmuse]

The Dalton Special

I had to look that one up. Wow, what a cool, old bait! Clearly a Florida regional lure http://www.oldfloridalures.com/dalton.htm, this is an interesting "skip" bait with a tail prop. It certainly looks like something that would work today! I may have to get one of these just to see its action in the water. Thanks for sharing something completely unexpected!

Joe C.