Visiting here from the Crappie Forum. I had my best bass fishing tackle box stolen out of my boat house the end of May. (See the "message for boat house thieves" on the crappie forum.) It contained all of my best bass lures, many of which were vintage ones inherited from my Pop. Somewhere around 75 or 80. Now I have to re-gear. Outside of plastics, (worms, grubs) jigs, spinnerbaits, etc., what do y'all say are the essential top waters, crank baits, and other lures a well equipped bass fisherman needs in the box? Input appreciated.

Sorry for your loss I hate to hear that

Some shad pattern square bill cranks, some mid divers, some deep divers. A couple swim jigs and a few football jigs. Red craw trap for fall and winter, a Zara spook, spro frog, pop r, I could go on and on but it depends on how you normally fish.

That's terrible, sorry to hear those thieves took those vintage lures
I'll try to make my list of "essentials" as cost effective and brief as possible. I'll lean toward the classics even if there are some new and improved versions. The ones I list will be widely available at wmart and/or academy
All you really need are a couple of topwaters, a 1/4oz and 1/2 oz rattle trap



Topwaters: Spook, Pop-r, Chug Bug, Hula Popper, Jitterbug, Pencil popper, scum frog, Spro frog
Wake baits: Mann's minus 1
Lipless crank bait: Cordell spot or rattle trap
Jerk bait: Cordell redfin minnow or rogue.
Shallow square bill crank baits: bomber square A
Mid depth crank baits: bandit 200 and wiggle wart
Deep divers: Norman Deep little N and DD22
Some CC spoons and little George's
Hart tackle jig , strike king swim jig and heavy cover jig, shaky head jig, chatterbait

Man, that SUCKS! Post a description so others (myself included) can at least be on the watch for your tackle.
May not help but sure won't hurt.
Good luck shipmate...
God Bless

I have many old ventage lures from back in my days. I also build custom spinner baits, spooks and jigs. It would be an honnor to help you get back on your feet with some of my baits.

Please PM. me with what you are looking for. I am with customers on the Tenn. River and will be home on Monday night.

Loosing all your best lures is a hard pill to swallow. I hope I can give you a few baits that will never replace the memories of fishing with your Dad, but will surely help you catch some good bass.

Thanks for the input guys. All solid advice. The old drawer type Plano box with an upper compartment was brown and tan. My Creme Lure worm bag probably dates back to 1972 - Red and Black. Some of the vintage stuff I lost were: Herb's Dillys, sidewinders, early, early Long As, Model As, Chuggers, Yellow Magics, Spooks, Rapalas, Big Os, Hot Spots, Jitterbugs, Crazy Crawler, Rogues, Devil's Horses, Frogs, etc. Not so old were my wide variety of divers ranging from +5 to +20s - brands I can't remember. 2 Umbrella rigs with Storm Swim Baits. Bunch of Bomber Slabs in various weights and colors. Rods and reels (26 at least) were variety of Shimano, Shakespeare, B&M, Wally Marshall, Cabellas, BPS, Quantum, Daiwa, most with matching brand reels. However, I had one Shimano Curado 200 from about 2001, a Lews Speed Spool BB-1 from 1977-78, several Mitchell Spidermite reels on my crappie poles.
Wish I could remember more. Thanks again.

Donald, thanks for the offer. PM sent.

I found an older wooden top water plug while bank fishing this past weekend. I'm not sure what it is, but is you're interested I'd love to offer it up to help restore your father's collection you had. It's a neat looking bait, not sure if it's worth anything but surely worth more sentimental than to me at all if it'd bring you any fond memories.... kind of looks like this thing but in a baby bass color

^^^^^^ Is that an old LJ Bass-o-reno?

I dunno, I'm a youngster... I just spent 5 minutes on Google trying to find something that looked like what I remember finding Sunday haha
That said the image is "Vintage-ABBEY-IMBRIE-Wooden-FISHING-LURE-Bass.jpg" for what that is worth to you

That one has different hook connections but the body is right. The one I found has two of the metal strap type hook points that screw into the body, like my hula poppers, that keep the hook shank pointed backwards. I'll take and upload a photo later tonight if I remember after I get home.

The one you found sounds like a Heddon.

The text on the back looked like heddon font as did the hook keepers but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what it said... neat find for sure. Part of what I love about bank fishing is all the cool stuff I find. from tow ropes and rod holders to tackle and some interesting wildlife, like my tiny baby snapping turtle shell in pristine condition... never too old to enjoy a good adventure around a lake. I take my little nephew (he's 4 now) and he thinks all the dead fish and turtles and birds and snakes are dinosaur bones, has a great time with his Uncle on his adventures for sure!