With so many new lures hitting the market every year, anglers tend to be on the lookout for the latest red-hot baits, but with so much emphasis on what is new and trendy it becomes easy to overlook the old classics.
There are plenty of classic lures out there that have been catching fish for decades, and chances are good, they will continue catching fish for decades to come. Here are six classic lures that every angler should carry in their tackle box.
6 Classic fishing lures
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Johnson Minnow
Few lures can match the effectiveness of the flashy Johnson Minnow fished in heavy weed cover. With its weedless hook, it can reach fish tucked in to the toughest cover. It can go through the weeds, but can also be effective dragged on top of the weeds. Whether it is bass, northern pike, walleye or trout you are after, the Johnson Minnow can catch them all, and has been for many decades.
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Dardevle
When you think of fishing with spoons, the first thought that may come to mind is the classic red-and-white Dardevle. This lure is a must-have for anyone fishing for northern pike, but it will also catch bass, walleye, trout and panfish. With its deadly flash and wobble, the Dardevle has been catching fish for more than 100 years.
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Rapala
The classic black-and-white floating Rapala remains one of the best lures ever designed. It imitates a minnow as well as anything and can catch fish on even the slowest day. Its all-around attraction makes it effective for northern pike, bass, trout or walleye. It can be fished in any type of water, throughout the season. MSRP $7.99
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Jitterbug
When fishing surface baits, there is nothing that feels better than seeing a big largemouth bass hit a Jitterbug as it chugs across the surface. Many decades after its creation, this classic lure remains effective, with its hypnotic motion and gurgling sound as it crosses the water. No bass angler should be without one.
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Hula Popper
Like the Jitterbug, the Hula Popper is an amazing surface bait. The popping sound it makes seems to be irresistible to big bass, because it has been catching them for decades. This bait is great for heavy cover and going places other baits cannot. This is a must for bass anglers.
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Mepps Spinner
Any angler who does not carry a selection of Mepps spinners is missing a lot of fish. This classic bait has been deadly for generations. It can work on a wide range of gamefish, from largemouth bass to rainbow trout. Anywhere fish can be found, Mepps spinners can catch them. Some anglers might reject the classics as old fashioned or out of date, but it is hard to ignore baits that have proven themselves over and over again, for generations. If you want to catch fish, the classics are a great place to start.
