Greetings All,

Recently I've had good fortune in stumbling into opportunities while on my angling adventures. I'm typically picking up rubbish where I can to improve the places I go fishing. While there is mostly rubbish there are those occasions where it is salvage. Recently during a couple of my latest angling adventures I have managed to salvage a number of interesting lures. OK, interesting to me as I typically don't use these types of baits.

 

While out on the kayak I noticed a bit of braid stuck in a tree limb. As I collected it I realized the other end had a chatter bait attached. The bait must have been recently lost as there were no indications of exposure on the hook or soft plastic portion which was the newer type of durable material.

 

At one of the city park lakes during some high winds I noticed something floating along nearby. It was not quite within reach of my fishing rod. After a couple of well placed casts I managed to capture one of the hooks and drew the floating bait in. It was a short billed crank bait of sorts. Again in good shape.

 

During the past weekend angling in the canal systems I was again making a cast in the windy conditions when I noticed something floating near by again. This time it was a top water bait. So I collected it. This time upon returning home I did some research and was astonished.

 

 

A closer look at one of them.

 

 

Doing a search, the results returned retail pricing around $26 for a new one. Golly! I had no idea regarding the value of some of these hard baits. I am astonished. Over the years I have collected a large number of hard baits. Most I have some intentions of trying, eventually. Some I have cleaned up and replaced the hooks, again with the intention of eventually using. The last time I even looked at the price of a hard bait it was sub $10. Wow, times have changed and I'm guessing the quality of the baits have too.

 

While I'm excited to be able to try something different. I can only imagine the level of regret and loss of such an expensive bait. It appears these hard baits are in a similar price range as the large realistic swim baits that many tout virtues of using. I have much to learn and more fish to catch. Guess I'll have to try some hard baits and that chatter bait too. Have a good day! Cheers!

 

Take a look at the Found Lure thread in this forum.

Tom

Hi @WRB Tom,

Thank You! I should ha ve guessed there was an established thread. Very interesting finds while reading through the initial group of pages. Wow, amazing the quantity and variety. Cheers!

Hey. That's my Rico. I can tell by that scratch on the top.?