Most bass fisherman, if they've been fishing very long, develop favourite baits over time. These, I've been fishing with success for 25yrs. Mann's Jelly Worm 6" or 8", grape, black, and motor oil. Culprit 7.5 " ribbon tail worm, blk/ blue, or junebug. Baby Guido Bug plastic crawfish. The Guido Bug is hard to come by now, so, I've mostly replaced it with the Zoom Critter Craw in blk/blue. Bill Lewis Rattletrap, 1/2oz chrome. These for baits have caught a lot of bass for me through the years. The solid black 6" jelly worm my own PB years ago. I fish other baits but I always try to have these baits along on every trip. What are some of the baits that you've used for a long time, that keep producing fish each year?

Plastic worms, lizards , creatures, jigs, spinnerbaits, and  diving plugs. buzzbaits and topwater plugs  are my main ones. I like to throw chatterbaits but other than these I just don’t try to keep up with all the new stuff.

I don't know what it is with me and chatterbaits. I've tried a couple, but have caught nothing so far.

Zoom trick worm in watermelon, weightless Yamamoto senko, bream colored jig.  Theres probably alot more old standards. But those are my panic baits.   Maybe a war eagle spinnerbaits in 1/2 oz too

I actually have lures that are 25 yrs old  ?

 

Stanley spinnerbaits 

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps 

Smithwick Rogues 

Various Alphabet baits

Rebel Pop-R

 

Plastics to many to name 

I dont buy many  new baits anymore because  what do I then do with the old ones that have  proven to be real fish catchers . Jelly Worms still catch them but I dont think they are even being made anymore . The 6 inch ones are not even on the Manns web site . I still use my last Rogers Big Jim square bill . Rebel Deep Wee R's , Rapala Fat Raps , Storm Wiggle Warts , Bomber Long A Minnows , Bomber Model A's , Original Lunker Lure . There  are times when a new bait comes along that I see a need for . The Berkely Dredgers are depth hogs for their size . The Red Eye Shad wiggles on the fall .  If there is a niche to be filled then I may try it  otherwise the old lures just keep on catching them .

9 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I don't know what it is with me and chatterbaits. I've tried a couple, but have caught nothing so far.

Well for me they just dont go through wood like spinnerbaits . So far this year I have caught 44 bass , every one on a spinnerbait . I tried a chatterbait for a few cast  and the first limb I tried to go over , it flipped and snagged . I just havent found a niche for it .

5 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I dont buy many  new baits anymore because  what do I then do with the old ones that have  proven to be real fish catchers . Jelly Worms still catch them but I dont think they are even being made anymore . The 6 inch ones are not even on the Manns web site . I still use my last Rogers Big Jim square bill . Rebel Deep Wee R's , Rapala Far Raps , Storm Wiggle Warts , Bomber Long A Minnows , Bomber Model A's , Original Lunker Lure . There  are times when a new bait comes along that I see a need for . The Berkely Dredgers are depth hogs for their size . The Red Eye Shad wiggles on the fall .  If there is a niche to be filled then I may try it  otherwise the old lures just keep on catching them .

Well for me they just dont go through wood like spinnerbaits . So far this year I have caught 44 bass , every one on a spinnerbait . I tried a chatterbait for a few cast  and the first limb I tried to go over , it flipped and snagged . In just havent found a niche for it .

Same here. Lots of guys love the chatterbaits, but they havnt worked out for me. I might be wrong, butI think TW still sells Jelly Worms, at least the 8" size

I was wondering if anyone still likes the Culprit worms? Good action on a slow retrieve. I love them in hot weather and at night

1 minute ago, Mobasser said:

TW still sells Jelly Worms, at least the 8" size

I'm trying to use up my existing supply of soft plastics, it will never get done . I have a couple hundred 8 inch blueberry jelly worms which is another oldie that catches bass . That translucent Manns blue is a producer  that just doesnt  get used these days . 

21 minutes ago, scaleface said:

I dont buy many  new baits anymore because  what do I then do with the old ones that have  proven to be real fish catchers . Jelly Worms still catch them but I dont think they are even being made anymore . The 6 inch ones are not even on the Manns web site . I still use my last Rogers Big Jim square bill . Rebel Deep Wee R's , Rapala Fat Raps , Storm Wiggle Warts , Bomber Long A Minnows , Bomber Model A's , Original Lunker Lure . There  are times when a new bait comes along that I see a need for . The Berkely Dredgers are depth hogs for their size . The Red Eye Shad wiggles on the fall .  If there is a niche to be filled then I may try it  otherwise the old lures just keep on catching them .

Well for me they just dont go through wood like spinnerbaits . So far this year I have caught 44 bass , every one on a spinnerbait . I tried a chatterbait for a few cast  and the first limb I tried to go over , it flipped and snagged . I just havent found a niche for it .

What are your favorite spinnerbaits?

Just now, BlakeMolone said:

What are your favorite spinnerbaits?

Anymore I make pour my own but any brand works . I'm not too picky with spinnerbaits .

As long as they have a good ball bearing swivel, and a good hook, I can fish most any spinnerbait.

Top....

Pop R

Spook

Scum frog

 

Middle...

Speed Worm

Cut R

Fat Max ribbon tail

Skinny Dipper

 

Bottom...

Rage Bug

Sweet Beaver

Jelly Worm

 

 

 

 

Mike

42 minutes ago, Mobasser said:

I don't know what it is with me and chatterbaits. I've tried a couple, but have caught nothing so far.

You fishing clear or stained water? What about trailers?

 

If I'm fishing stained/dirty water, the chatterbait really shines for me. 

Rebel pop r

Hula popper (don't throw them like I should but still do)

Double willow spinnerbaits

Berkley havoc pit boss...for flipping and trailer

The pit boss is kind of a bummer to me...they stopped making the havoc line and I personally don't like the powerbait version near as much. Last year I started using the D bomb in its place and while it's not the same bait I do like it.

3 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

You fishing clear or stained water? What about trailers?

 

If I'm fishing stained/dirty water, the chatterbait really shines for me. 

That may be the problem. I've only fished them in a quarry lake. Waters pretty clear

Oh and the chatterbait thing is certainly very specific for me. I like at least stained if not dirty water. The two times they shine for me are leading up to and right after the spawn...they move alot of water and must imitate a bluegill better than a spinnerbait. Also I have had success in cold water a few times when they wouldn't touch another moving bait. Otherwise I'm a spinnerbait guy 90% of the time.

25 years ago would be 1995, seems like yesterday. I would say most of the lures I still use are at least that old. I have Roboworms older then that!

Tom

The chatterbait outperforms a spinnerbait at night - especially when it comes to bite/hookup ratio.

Generic 3-4" tubes on a slider head (many brands have worked for me but old Trigger X tubes were my favorite, soft but durable)

Kalins 5" single tail on a slider head, jig head, or swim jig (new for me over last 3 years)

Bandit 100

Yum small Crawbug on slider head

 

All the above have been used as long as I can remember and the top 2 even longer than that lol.

 

Within the last 3 years the Rage menace and baby menace just need more years to be an old standard but are highly trusted.

10 years or 25 it's the same for me 

Spinnerbait Buzzbait Jig. Also a popper although i rarely use these for largies anymore just smallies.

1 hour ago, Catt said:

I actually have lures that are 25 yrs old  ?

 

Stanley spinnerbaits 

Bill Lewis Rat-L-Traps 

Smithwick Rogues 

Various Alphabet baits

Rebel Pop-R

 

Plastics to many to name 

Same here and will add Bandit crankbaits.

I still catch fish on Mann's jelly and augertails, it will be a sad day when I run out. I have lots of 8", not nearly enough 6".

I also use a lot of Poe's baits, wiggle warts, mud bugs and Bomber lures my dad bought in the 70s.

The original poster mentioned Guido Bugs, I have less than 50 left. Used to catch a lot of spots on those down south.

The top 3 classic bass baits of all time have to be:

 

1. The Dance's Eel

2. The Helicopter Lure

3. The Flying Lure

 

I don't see anything topping the flat out fish catching goodness of these three. 

1 hour ago, TAFKABCF said:

The top 3 classic bass baits of all time have to be:

 

1. The Dance's Eel

2. The Helicopter Lure

3. The Flying Lure

 

I don't see anything topping the flat out fish catching goodness of these three. 

1 hour ago, TAFKABCF said:

The Flying Lure

My dad gave me a box of these . I never used the bigger bass size ones but have used the smaller panfish size ones along bluffs . They work just like advertised and go backwards . Caught a lot of fish on the bluffs as the lure went back into it . Green sunfish , crappie and small bass .