All of our tackle has improved greatly over the years. A few things I bought years ago have proven to be very good, and are still going strong.                                  1. Any Japanese made Shimano casting or spinning reels that I bought between 1980, and 1990. Heavier, fewer bearings, etc, but are still smooth and working well.                     2. ABU Royal Bonyll monofilament line. I wish they still made this line. Dark brown color, very durable, and handled well on cast and spinning reels.     3. Original Berkeley Lightning Rod. I still have one in retirement now. Fished it hard years ago. Never had one break or any problems with this stick. Great value for the dollar.                      4. Original Johnson Beetle Spin. The older ones had a different head shape, and had a longer body. Still have a couple unopened from years ago.                     With rods/reels Ive bought newer ones because I like the lighter weight. The other items are no longer made, at least not like they were years ago.                        Are there any things you bought years ago that you wish were still available today?                     BTW. I still keep my eyes open for any of the Japanese made reels from this time frame. Anything that last that long and still works, is an outstanding value.

The Johnson Century 100 spin casting reel. 
I have a 100A and 100B but would love to get my hands on the original patented in ‘58
 

 

Mike

I really don’t have any old baits or setups.  I generally sell mine off and replace them every few years.  

Some Things I Wish Were Still Around

 

Grass on Toledo Bend ?

 

Gene Larew 8" hooktail worm (hand poured)

Berkley power jig with the rattle built into the head.

My youth . . . . .

A-Jay

I still have an older 7’ Berkley lightning rod that I use all the time for big spinnerbaits for aggressive smallmouth. It is the perfect flex to throw them a long ways, and get a good hookset as well. A bit heavier than the newer rods but it doesn’t really matter much when throwing a big spinnerbait. 

I wish some of my old friends were still around,  my father falls in that category.

Mann’s  Auger Tail Lizard. Those things were deadly to the extreme on pre spawn bass. Matter of fact I did a search a couple of years ago and someone was looking for a some to make a mold so he could start producing them again. Don’t know how that ever worked out.

 

John

4 hours ago, A-Jay said:

My youth . . . . .

A-Jay

Man..... I don't know about that one. I was a wildman. I didn't think I'd live to see thirty until I was twenty nine. Seriously. I wouldn't mind middle age lasting a bit longer than it does though. 

Solitude

Uncle Josh pork rinds.

Stazo flex jig

 

I'm still fishing a cache of these from the '90s, have an ebay search set up, and buy a few more now and then when they turn up. 

13-inch Hawg Hunter worm by J.W. Lures of Jacksonville, Florida,

11 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Uncle Josh pork rinds.

they are back and available right?

6 minutes ago, ATA said:

they are back and available right?

Yes

Old Spice Burley aftershave…

 

Oh fishing things we wish were still around. That would be the Vibra Bat lure for me.

Gene Larew salt craws in Tequila Sunrise color those things just work.

The old cotton Cordell blue stripers for me. 

Meat at Taco Bell ?

Mr. Twister Silk Worm 4.5

 

Berkley Crawler PowerWorm 4” (not whatever is floating around these days)

 

Lucky Strike Razor Worm 4.5

 

Mann’s Dragon worm (not what is on market these days)

 

I’d like to have 10 cents for every dink, runt and respectable river smallie I caught on these. 

Edited February 14, 20224 yr by Spankey
Added

On 2/13/2022 at 8:18 AM, Captain Phil said:

13-inch Hawg Hunter worm by J.W. Lures of Jacksonville, Florida,

 

This worm first came into prominence in the 1973 B.A.S.S. Florida Invitational on the St. Johns River.  After a 10-2 was weighed, seven more bass weighing better than 10 pounds were weighed in on Day 2. Leading the way was Bob Tyndall of Greenfield, Missouri, with a 12-pound 13-ounce Florida giant. The 13-inch "Hawg Hunter" that Tyndall was throwing was made by J.W. Lures of Jacksonville, Florida, and featured two built-in 5/0 weedless hooks.  Those that tried it, liked it. They either caught or hung the largest bass of their lives.

 

Before that tournament, my largest bass from the Everglades was 6 1/2 pounds.  When news of the St. John's Tournament was printed in Bassmaster Magazine, I bought a dozen of those worms.  Within a month, I caught an 8 1/2 pound large mouth in L67 canal.  Shortly thereafter, I gave one to a customer and he caught a 9 pound bass in Okeechobee on that worm.  I took it back to the St. John's River and won my next tournament with a five fish limit over 30 pounds fishing the same worm.   This was before flipping became mainstream. 

 

I haven't seen one in years.  I can't even find a photo of one.  I would love to have one for my collection.  If anyone knows where I can buy one, please let me know. 

Storm Sub Warts.  

On 2/12/2022 at 11:04 AM, Jig Man said:

I really don’t have any old baits or setups.  I generally sell mine off and replace them every few years.  

Interesting....

Since this is the section for rods, reels, and lines, I'd say any Daiwa TD-Z platform reels.