I'm sure I'm not the only one here on BR that's noticed this. Sometimes, a worn, chewed up, partially torn plastic bait will catch more fish than a brand new one.                                                                I've seen it happen quite a few times, and for this reason I'll continue to fish them, and patch them back together until they're completely unfishable.                                  I've got a 1/2 oz chrome Ratlletrap. It's so old I can't remember when I bought it. Almost all the paint is gone, and it looks rough. I've knocked it against wood, banged it against rocks and concrete, and reeled it into thick weeds many times. It's a miracle I still even have it, and havnt snagged it or lost it years ago. But, despite it looking like a piece of junk, it's one of the best producing lipless baits I've ever owned.                                                          Another one is a small, light jig, I've used for a long time. It's made by Lindy, and called the Little Nipper. It's a small marabou jig, and it's not really sold as just a bass lure, but a multispecies jig.                                                                I usually fish it under a quarter size round weighted float, and it catches all sorts of fish. After several fish are caught, the Nipper starts to look a little ratty. The marabou is roughed up, some might get torn out, and even the head wrap thread may start to become unraveled.                       I've glued it back on and kept throwing it, because, once it gets that " ratty" look, it works better than a new one, fresh out of the package.                                           Lots of bass guys are picky about how they're baits look. They want the best looking colors, paint jobs, and detail. I like the way new baits look too.                   But, it's a strange thing, that some of the most chewed up, banged up, rough looking baits will outproduce new ones.                  Have you guys ever noticed this? Do you have any explanation? Do you have baits like this also?

I had a magic shad rap years ago that out produced others by a large margin. I fished it until it broke in half. That was a sad day. I have no idea how many river smallies that thing caught. Enough that I had to change the hooks out a couple times. The bill was worn down visibly smaller by the time it broke but it kept producing.

I keep a stash of Killer Rattle Traps.  Some of these are twenty years old. I kept them for use in tournaments.  Not all Rattle Traps catch fish the same.  If you find one that works, hang on to it.  

Smithwick's factory rep swore they never made a Rogue in this color pattern.

 

I got 2 of em ?

 

 

4 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

I keep a stash of Killer Rattle Traps.  Some of these are twenty years old. I kept them for use in tournaments.  Not all Rattle Traps catch fish the same.  If you find one that works, hang on to it.  

Those are good ones right there 

Some particular lures even among their duplicates are just magic. Don’t that just drive you crazy with stuff like that? That’s why I’m a lure fanatic!!! Crazy and I like it lol

My best producing Rat-L-Trap EVER is now safely kept on my keychain.

 

 

I tie alot of hair/feather jigs and on more than one occassion ive noticed the rough ones do well.

 

Its still surprising everytime it happens. Normally after heavy use a hair or feather jig will look like crap even if they dont catch fish.

Yes I've noticed it. I think the predatory fish actually target the imperfections. I've got a rough looking 1/4 Rat-L Trap in Gold that's missing alot of it's paint that I reach for when the bass are chasing shallow.

Pet hard lures we all tend to keep because they catch bass.

Remember the paint being scraped away comes from hook tip swinging at hitting the sides. Check those hooks and replace them.

Back a few decades Iovino had a soft plastic Worm welder* he sold to repaid torn up soft plastics. This was better then glue.

Sometimes you just can’t get a specific color lot that bass prefer and need to repair what you have on the water.

I learned to rig hand pour reapers and worms flat side up because they were torn originally rigged flat side down. My catch rate doubled flat side up.....who knew the hydrodynamics allow the worms to to glide better upside down. 

Tom

*Pro Weld Wormizer

 

Back in the 1970's and 80's there was a local guy who dominated tournaments here in south Louisiana. His attitude was never change a winner.

 

He would fish a spinnerbait until the skirt was almost completely gone. Same thing with a crankbait. If a crankbait consistently produced he would fish it even if all the paint was gone and it was a plain bone color.

 

I was fortunate to fish with him quite a few times and I have to admit I will do the same thing.

 

 

I have noticed this with some of the older Bandit baits especially in the Louisiana Shad color. I have one I retired after a lot of the paint was gone and it was getting pretty beat up. I think I need to get it back out put new hooks and O rings on it and use it again.

13 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Sometimes, a worn, chewed up, partially torn plastic bait will catch more fish than a brand new one

While this may be true, every single lure or plastic was “new” at one point too. Not like you buy them all beat up or ripped or worn out on the shelf lol. Unless of course your dog got a hold of it before you starting fishing with it.

I agree that beat up baits often times have magic. But I think part of that magic comes from your confidence in it and the technique you've dialed in with it by the time its tore up.

Got one buzzbait that's an absolute champ for me. Caught many many fish and still going strong. It's a Nichols Reflex. Far outproduces all my other buzzbaits. Can share a picture of it after fishing this weekend; it's in my truck right now. Its screech and squealing is downright eerie. Sounds like something is dying. 

Fish live in water.  Sound waves travel faster and more effectively in liquid.  Fish use movement, vibration, and pressure gradients in the surrounding water to locate their food.  No two lures are exactly alike. In a lot of 1000 same lures, these factors can vary.  Thickness of the plastic, hardware variance, hook balance, number and placement of the sound makers, even the location of the line tie can change.  With spinnerbaits, the thickness and bend of the wire is significant.  Fishing with cheap knockoff lures is like playing Mozart on a toy piano vs. a Steinway.  Both make sound, what reaches your ears is somewhat different. ?

Something about them just seem to hunt better. I never seem to buy those ones for some reason. 

21 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

Got one buzzbait that's an absolute champ for me

Here she is right before I fished with it today. Paint long since gone, blade starting to get scratched up. She's a beaut