I got out on my favorite lake this past week-end and was reminded why I prefer fishing during the week. Every 50yrds. there was a boat working the weed line. Reminded me of some of the tourneys I used to fish.  Every other angler was throwing either a buzzer, or a Whopper Plopper.  Top water was working, but the fish were seeing a lot of those two baits, so I dug out a Crazy Crawler  https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/heddon-crazy-crawler-lures got in line and proceeded to pick off six bass on my first pass. The last one put a hook in my hand as I landed it and I headed to the nearest dock to get it out.  Two boats followed me in and offered assistance. I had the hook out in no time and was getting ready to head back out. 'What the f kind of lure is that?' one guy asked when he spotted what I had tied on.  I explained what and how long that lure has been around and these guys had never heard of it, or seen one before.

Jitter Bugs and Crazy Crawlers produce fish as well as some of today's high-end baits and offer the fish something they don't see very often. Give some 'old school' baits a try. Your pocket book will thank you and you may 'discover' a hot 'new' bait.

Agreed. I've been catching a lot of fish this season on a fairly pricey wakebait.  It occurred to me while retrieving it that it's just a jitterbug that isn't quite on the surface.

When you look at many newer baits on the market now, it's easy to see how many are just slight variations of lures that were invented years ago. Some are derived from plugs that are 50+ yrs old. The whopper plopper is no exception. New improved versions? Not always. The older baits still work good too. It's hard, if not impossible, to come up with a totally new type of lure, without borrowing from the past.

The bass haven't changed and the old school lures that catch them still work but the lure makers have got to keep us fishermen buying baits.  There are some worthwhile updates and innovations but for the most part it's marketing pure and simple.   

Everybody and their brother will have one of those baits by this coming weekend now?

Don't have any Crawlers, but have a few Pompadours.  Those crawling type baits have a killer action, and can excel on a retrieve that might otherwise be too slow for a plopper.

I was catching fish on jitterbugs and crazy crawlers 50+ years ago ( still have a couple from back then ). worked then, work now.

12 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

 'What the f kind of lure is that?' one guy asked when he spotted what I had tied on.  I explained what and how long that lure has been around and these guys had never heard of it, or seen one before.

 

That's kind of crazy to me, I'm only 20 and know what these are, I think I still have one lying around somewhere. 

Pompadour is a improved crazy crawler, better hooks, tail flasher and cast very well.

I have several old wooden Crazy Crawlers from bass to musky size and they are retired.

Tom