10 Of The Most Underrated Baits Of All Time

It’s easy for bass fishermen to get distracted by the latest and greatest. We see something in the news, in a tournament report, and we have to have it. Unfortunately, that obsession with what’s trending in baits has left us with a whole arsenal of “oldies-but-goodies” just sitting around in our tackle boxes. Well, we’re here to tell you that those oldies are now underrated, and can often get you bites when you struggle with the latest trends.Here are 10 of the most underrated baits of all time.

1. Inline spinners

like the Johnson Min-O-Spin are some of the most classic baits around. They come in an abundance of sizes and colors, and are flat out underappreciated. For some reason, despite the fact that countless anglers caught their first fish on an inline spinner, they seldom get much appreciation in the press. That’s just wrong; inline spinners are one of the best baitfish imitators around and will load the boat for anglers willing to give them a shot.

2. Curly tailed grubs

like the Big Bite Baits Fat Grub have been catching fish of all species longer than many anglers have been around. By changing colors and rigging methods, a curly tailed grub can be made to imitate just about any prey species there is, from shad to crayfish. They also come in a huge array of sizes, allowing anglers to target anything from panfish to walleye or musky.

3. Floating worms

were one of the first successful plastic lures, and although they’ve been relegated somewhat by all the fancy new plastics on the market, baits like the Gambler Floating Worm still catch tons of bass for anglers across the country. Try twitching one weightless around laydowns or submerged grass, or Carolina rig one and drag it along offshore structure. Their floating profile still gets bites when other things don’t.

4. Spoons

like the Johnson Silver Minnow still adorn the shelves of most tackle retailers, but for some reason they don’t adorn nearly enough anglers tackle boxes. They didn’t stop catching fish; and their combination of wobble and flash will draw interest from just about anything that swims.

5. Bucktail Jigs

like the Charlie’s Worms Bucktail Jig do an excellent job of imitating baitfish. For years, they were outclassed as deep water structure lures, but recently they’ve seen a resurgence, and now many top tour pros are employing them to catch massive stringers of offshore bass. They are about as simple as it comes, and for that reason – they still work.

6. Wake baits

like the River2Sea V-Joint Wake Minnow can sometimes take a back seat to the fancier walk the dog topwaters and chuggers – which is a shame, because the subtle disturbance of a wake bait is sometimes just the ticket for drawing strikes on pressured waters.

7. Floating minnows

like the Matzuo Kinchou Minnow didn’t stop catching fish; they just became passé because anglers are obsessed with what’s trending. Well, the same tight wiggle and buoyant rise that caused floating minnows to catch fish 25 years ago still catches fish today. They are also excellent when twitched on the surface as a topwater.

8. Safety pin spinners

like the River2Sea Crystal Spin combine the best attributes of a jig and plastic with the flash and appeal of a spinner. They also come in tons of sizes, from tiny panfish models to larger ones designed to target gamefish. Try working a safety pin style spinner around gently sloping break lines, docks, and brush – you never know what you’re gonna catch.

9. Tail spinners/underspins

like the Fish Head Spin are designed to offer the profile of a baitfish with the flash of a spinner, but in a package that can be fished at any depth. Although they’re maybe less gaudy than other presentations, there are tons of pro anglers that prominently rely on underspins, particularly in clear water and for spotted bass.

10. Pre-rigged baits

like the Egret Baits VuDu Jumbo Shrimp make fishing a breeze. Just tie on a swivel, then the bait, and get to fishing. They don’t look particularly attractive with their gaudy colors and weird action, but they still get bit. Try winding a pre-rigged worm slowly along a weed edge.