A bassin' buddy of mine and I were discussing baits that we used to catch tons of bass on, but now rarely, if ever use. We couldn't remember how or when it came to be that we quit using these baits, but it seems that as other new and "better" things came along, we gradually shifted away from what we were doing and really never went back to some of these baits. Just wondering how many of you have done the same thing, and what baits have been forgotten in your tackle box.

Motor oil colored worms I'll never forget the first time I bought a bag of trick worms in that color I went to the lake cast a fish every cast went back the next day bought every single back they had in stock I bought over 200 bags of that color and every lake I went too I caught fish after fish now it's near impossible to find the trick worms in that color! I also miss the old bagleys and pre rapala wiggle warts the new ones are junk! I also miss the original vixen the first run they produced would out fish any other top water it was night and day when you tied that thing one! RIP

Arbogast Jitterbug - still make them, but my grandfather's from 46 years ago works and the one i bought to replace it does not...scared to lose it, but it works better and my grandfather would be fine with me losing it while using it...

I'd say buzzbaits for me. When I first started fishing it was all I knew how to use. My dad was clever and knew it was simple for me to use and he knew if I got hit on it I'd be sold for life. And I did, I threw it out in my pond all day, every day and loved every strike I got. I built up quite a buzzbait arsenal having every buzzbait brand within a 150 miles radius of the Mississippi/Tennessee border. This past year I started throwing buzzbaits again. I was throwing a green pumpkin colored Vision buzzbait one night (if y'all can find the actual Vision brand, they're money!) and caught a 7 pounder, so I stuck with it. I kept catching fish on it the rest of the year too!

For my dad himself, I'd say the Lunker City Slug-Go. He used to throw the Arkansas Shiner color a lot!

Bagley hardhead worms and Mann's jelly worms (grape firetails)... And a small Arkansas Fatback topwater!

Mann's jelly worm...motoroil marmalade
H&H
Bagley balsa B
Gilraker ribon tail worm
Producto craw worm (with the ribon type claw) This was a fantastic bait to use on a C-rig then they were no longer anywhere to be found. I learned several years ago they were still in business, the son took over but changed to a different craw mold that looked like all the other craw type baits on the market at the time. Now the Wild Thang craw from V&M is pretty close to it.

Zarogosa, and I'm probably not spelling it right, It's a hard jointed bait with no lip, I have two left.

Slug-o

Small Hell benders, all you can find now are for trolling for stripers.

Tequila sunrise. Tiny torpedoes. Pink slug o. Caught so many fish as a kid on Fork.

I used to fish these a lot and still have some. These made way for the development of the Senko type bait.

Yep...TRUE DAT INDEED. Gene Ballard introduced me to the Sluggo in '91. Back then, I would not go without fishing a Sluggo. I used mostly "some purple color (?)", and Salt & Pepper. Every year, I keep thinking I'll dig them out of retirement.

River Runt and Heddon Sonic used to fish those a lot because at the time they were the only 2 lures I had but did catch a lot of fish on them.

Mudbug! still a killed bait that catches big fish and provokes a bite when its tough.covers lots of water just keep it in contact with cover,rocks,wood or bottom.

My personal best pure northern strain largemouth was caught in 1969 on a Heddon Sonic. It weighed 7.25# on certified scales. At the time, before Florida strain introduction, that was considered quite a trophy.

I decided to buy a small supply of Sonic lures a couple of years ago when I came across the opportunity. My reasoning is that the rattle sound of those is different than what anyone else would likely be using today. I wondered if that could make a difference, so I bought some to try it.