This week I bought some Mann's Razorbacks on Ebay. The were an early seventies crankbait. One knockers that were really good when you bounced them off of stumps. They were discontinued in the Mid 80's. Then I tried to buy some Bomber Speed Shads and found out that they have been discontinued too. So many good lures have been discontinued by the bean counters for the big corporations that buy the smaller lure companies (Pradco). Did the Mudbug or the Bomber or the waterdog stop catching fish? Not for me, but the only metal lip still out there is the Hot n Tot and I never caught a fish on that! So what are your favorites that aren't sold any more?

I haven't been bass fishing long enough to have used any lures that were discontinued! Lol!

My favorite that got discontinued was the L.A. Slider by Megabait.

Afterwards a relaunch was tried but they were just not the same. Six inch trout pattern swimmers that the bass at the Lagoon would really go for.

For Crankbaits:

Heddon Sonic and the old Cotton Coredell Lipless which was quieter than the one-knock baits they are coming out with.

For Worms:

There used to be a handpour company back in the early 80's and their molds are the same as what Roboworm uses nowdays, called Smitty Worms.

Another company more recent California Worms, due to health reasons (possibly worse)

I would say a couple of old Virgil Ward inventions, the Taratula and Scorpion spinnerbaits. I have two Scorpions left for special occassions, no Tarantulas. Sad! Good topic.

I know that they still make them, but the Storm Wiggle Wart has never been the same since they changed it's design. Don't know why, but the old ones just catch more fish...

and as for "discontinued lures"... If trailers count, I'll have to say that the Strike King's "Bo-Hawg Pork" was about the worst SIN that bass fishing has ever seen... there is nothing that has ever compared to that slimy piece of magic when placed on the business end of a jig... (No offense Uncle Josh fans)

I still sleep with my last jar under my pillow!

Johnnie,
You would have to pick my all time favorite spinnerbait!! Gurgle it, helicopter it, bounce it off the kitchen sink, that Scorpion caught fish! Sloan's copy has too heavy a wire, but Bassdozer's looks like it's got a little lighter wire. I had some that the head was soo loose it would rattle! Black and yellow vinyl skirt! I liked the 1/4 and the 3/8. I never did much with the half or the tarantula, but I knew guys that swore the tarantula was the best coldwater spinnerbait they ever user dress with an uncle josh eel. I've also got a stash of new scorpions in 1/4. Got any speed shads in good colors??? I might think about swappin.
My second favorite and third favorite and fourth favorite spinnerbaits were discontinued too. The big old Bass Buster double with the two manhole covers for blades. Caught my biggest bass ever on one of those. 26.5 inches in NY!! The bush hog was another and Billy Phillips Little Jewel was my Number 2. It went away when Billy passed away in 2008. I make a version of his bait, but its not the same.
What soft plastic do you miss? I wish fliptails were still around, great worm! So was the 4" jelly worm.

You know? There really wasn't any wrong way to fish the Scorpion. Super l;ittle bait. Mine too have loose heads, but it doesn't seem to hurt the action, maybe even enhances? The Tarantula was for larger fish mostly I think. I used it alot after I'd catch lots of small to medium fish.
I never have really had a favorite soft plastic bait that's gone. Always used Creme Lures and they are still around.
On the Speed Shads-I think I just gave away two-fire tiger ones to a friend. Figures right? JC

So what else have ya got Johnnie, Mini R's, Thin fins, Manns Pigs? I love those little fat baits, Just keep bouncing them off of something. What was your all time favorite crankbait? I fell in love with the Rebel Deep Wee R and we're still very good friends.

Well, my favorite all time crankbait is still going strong. Bomber Model-A and Storm Wiggle Wart.
Of the old discontinued baits, probably the Deep Jim. Caught lots of fish on them. And the Mud Bug deserves a mention. The originals I used didn't rattle and I loved them. I have one left. I believe they are still being made but they're just not the same.

The Rogers molds seem to get passed around, Its as if an investor reopens the company every five years but they are not the same as the original. I have some old big Jims, still use them , damnnear snagless. I used to use a spoon called a barney by PT Lures in Ohio. It was a buzzing spoon that I fished the heck out of in heavy weeds or over moss. They went out of business years ago. Now bass pro markets the same spoon. The good ones seem to come back once in a while. PM your address to me and I'll send you something! I see your from Iowa, had one of the best steaks of my life in a place called pleasantville. The name of the restaurant escapes me , "Shorty's" Maybe. First time I ever had a range fed steak. Unreal.. Some pretty good quail and pheasant hunting too.

Frank, I tried the pm messaging-nothing, then tried your e mail off your pro staff page-nothing? You apparently don't exist. We also rank very high for whitetail deer-big corn-fed bucks and does. Johnnie

The secret is out now! Try encon102atyahoodotcom. Secret codes for emails to prevent spam!!!! You guys export some pretty women too!

Frank, I do have a couple of older Thin Fins, tho not a big fan. Hard to cast with bait cast equipment.
One of my favorite keep-sakes is two Burke Frogs still in the old mailing box with a 10 cent stamp for postage. Wow, times have changed.