Discontinued Baits = Fishing Treasure

Here are a few discontinued baits to keep an eye out for! How to find them and what to look for.
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I was born and raised in Chicago, but after working 12 years in the financial Industry regulating the futures and options markets at the CME/CBOT I decided to pursue my passion fishing professional tournaments and left my full time corporate job. At that point, I moved to Junction City, WI with my wife Sara and two boys Hank and Duke. I've been fishing professionally since 2011 and full-time since 2015. I've qualified for six MLF Championships and won roughly a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.

[@seancline8130]

You have me digging out all my old baits from the 80s and 90s. Such great memories fishing.

[@MattStefanFishing]

That's awesome

[@danluther1741]

This is one of those rare vids that I wish was an hour or two long!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I'm thinking about doing more of these!

[@seancline8130]

​@@MattStefanFishingdo more please!

[@seaotter992]

Dad was in the local Bass Casters when I was younger. We would always do “Horse Trading” as he would call it. Where I would get to pick one thing from his box to put in mine. I recently went through an older tackle box of mine and found some old Rebel blackstar and lil craw plus some Rapala hardbaits. We once walked the shore on a low water year. He found a wood plug with a metal L bill and 1943 was stamped by the manufacturer. Enjoying your channel, Andrew Southwest, MN

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats a good find!

[@bassfishingasia]

Back in the 70s.. I remember being super proud of my tackle collection, which was basically.. ~ Big O ~ Heddon super sonic ~ Johnson silver minnow ~ Deringer devil spoon ~ Mepps aglia & another with rubber minnow ~ Jitterbug ~ Lazy Ike ~ Creme pre- rigged worm!

[@MattStefanFishing]

All good baits!

[@thomasmartin8202]

THAT is a quintessential '70s collection, right there....!

[@bojudd1965]

Hey Matt I really like what you got for content it helps a lot. Keep it up, best of luck on the trail.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@gboat77]

Ya, IM starting to watch Matt more, he doesn't treat us like idiots with 5 videos a week about secret lures like some others I wont mention LOL

[@everttebenn4925]

Matt I go to lure maker for plastics soft and hard baits also buzz baits spinner baits it's name is lost lures in Richmond I'll on walnut st. As always tight lines and God bless.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks

[@harryestep2488]

Love the old school wiggle warts and Bagley. Have a bunch of the phantom craws wiggle warts in boxes not opened as well as the box that I use.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats gold you got there!

[@B.A.Bassangler]

Just a thought, have the "Retro Bass'n" guy be your co-Angler. He can raffle off old gear from the back of the boat with one of those old hand-crank BINGO cages.

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha! that would be funny!

[@patricknoll4637]

Love the Xcalibur One Knockers!!! I bought a ton for $2 each when they discontinued. Great fish catcher. broke the bill on my DT3 flat last summer. couple other common ones Pre Pradco Bandits and the terminator (titanium frame) T-1 spinnerbaits are also awesome! I love that you love the technical side of fishing! Keep up the videos!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing those two golden nuggets! so many good discontinued baits!

[@richardmajewski4104]

I just remembered I have a basement full of those types of baits. Maybe it will be a winter project to sort through them and put some back in service next year. I also have found some at rummage sales near local lakes. Also, congrats on the great showing in La Crosse.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@tommymckiddy7872]

I have 4 old Bagley baits that belonged to my grandfather. They are the most realistic looking crankbaits I've ever seen. A shallow running shad, and deeper diving bluegill, crappie, and baby bass. The baby bass has the lead molded in the lip. I'm pretty sure it's a pretty special collection and you couldn't pay me enough money to actually throw them. I do wish I had a few old killer baits that just catch the hell out of fish, unfortunately I don't. I'm always keeping my eye out though.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they are nice!

[@terrytresemer2864]

Don't forget to check into yard sales and estate sales. Ten or so years ago a buddy of mine went to a yard sale and really scored. A woman's father had passed and she was clearing all his things to sale the house. Patric saw this lady carrying a box 14" square from the garage, in it were old fishing lures and bobbers. Lures in the old paper box's from the 30's & 40's ! She said $2, after looking in it he gave her $20 saying he didn't want to take advantage of her. After I looked at it, I told him he was sitting on a bundle. In total he had 25+ very old lures. I go to a yard sale I find zebco's.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i find lots of zebcos as well haha

[@ronciuffreda3132]

Great topic I’ve been waiting for someone to talk about discontinued lures I really miss the heddon sonic lures. They are great lipless lures that will catch any gamefish especially big bass

[@MattStefanFishing]

They are great little baits!

[@williamwheaton8614]

Bomber used to make a model 2A, I actually believe they still make the model, but they have quit making quite a few good colors. One of my favorites was the Baby Bass orange belly, I’ve weighed in a lot of five fish limits on that bait, I’ve also got a mortgage payments worth of them hung in rip rap, brush and everything in between. When I find them in that color I pick them up, i recently found some and paid 15 bucks a piece for them. Cool video! I’m new to the channel but am definitely enjoying the content! Randy Blaukat is where I heard about you! Good stuff!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! Thanks for joining us!

[@rousefire]

I have a lot of the baits you mentioned . The Rapala Crankin Rap series , originally Storm , is a discontinued series I catch a lot on .

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@morganheberling]

HAVENT COMMENTED IN A WHUKE, JUS AYIN HI MATT. THE PRICE OF GAS HAS KILLED MY FISHING TO A CPL TIMES A MONTH INSTEAD OF SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK... SO I'M LIVING VICARIOUSLY THROUGH U AT THE MOMENT. THIS NEXT MONTH I WILL SELLING OFF ONE OF MY JEEPS FOR A LIL COME UP. AND OF COARSE GAS MONEY. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK MY BRUTHA. CHEERS, LOVE.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for the support! Gas is killing us all

[@nawinchester]

Matt, you are not kidding when you say that the Xcaliburs and the Booyahs ARE NOT the same bait. I picked up over 50 of the XR/XRK 50s/25s in Rayburn Red, Pearl Melon, Black Chrome and Blue Chrome. And the Xcalibur XCS100 Squarebill Cranks, in the Rayburn Red, Pumpkinseed, Black Shad, Foxy Phantom and Foxy Shad. All great baits and they all work as well if not better than the new stuff.

[@MattStefanFishing]

100% agree

[@cerebraltackle]

Finding discontinued baits is a superpower I have. I've found baits that were off the shelves for 20+ years (IE Berkley Powerbait Spinnerbait and Jigs). When Excalibur rolled over to the new brand, Ebay and I were good friends....like I made $75 off a Zell Pop good friends. 😁

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha! love it!

[@cerebraltackle]

@@MattStefanFishing although I do wish I had kept a couple of the Zell pops. That's a good popper. As far as the man Zell goes, I think he's forgotten more about fishing than we'll ever learn. The guy is brilliant! He's also a great guy. Smart, humble, down to earth, all around good dude.

[@romaloboda2280]

@@cerebraltackle Can't find any Xcalibur Zell Pop on eBay or whatever, it's strange.

[@cerebraltackle]

@@romaloboda2280 yeah, when they went, they went fast! I don't have any more left.

[@romaloboda2280]

@@cerebraltackle Yesterday I have brought one in Ukraine, 1/4 oz., for 3$ and Jimmy walker. Before that have found five Xr50 and Rapala Dt flat 3 in Yellow perch and couple of Spit'n'Image jr. I will try them for pike/perch fishing, anyway there is no one need them in their collection or whatever, because in Ukraine most of the guys use Japanese stuff. Thanks.

[@jakeblaha9233]

Ohh man, the good ole eBay days... Glad we got to experience it at least.

[@MattStefanFishing]

ebay used to be amazing!

[@ata1421]

From your list, Uncle Josh is back.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yes it is...but not the same unfortunatly

[@plitz]

Amazing topic... I remember staring at the wiggle wart in Fleet Farm,in my younger years and thinking that looks stupid... Lol If we only knew!

[@MattStefanFishing]

shoulda bought everyone of them haha

[@19empire85]

Found 6 excaliber xcs100 squarebills new in box in a store last week, marked down to between 5 and 6 dollars no less, now they're on my wall haha also found 5 new bagleys which aren't to impressive but can't beat 3 bucks new in box from a yard sale. Got my materials to build that chatterbait rod with the actual tools coming in today and a small order from tackle warehouse yesterday... oh and a few new jackhammers and mini max chatters at retail since around here ya gotta get em while the shops have em... last week was a real good week lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome find!

[@alcav54]

I still have a few old Poe’s Cedar cranks I’m afraid to throw but man they are fish catcher’s

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes they are

[@jeremyjohnson8243]

I love old tackle and I'm really into jdm at the moment. But I buy and sell alot on ebay I'm addicted!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds like a hobby to me!

[@roysprouls3509]

i know of a shop that has thousands of crankbaits. a whole lot of them are from the 70's. the rebels which are discontinued i bought about a hundred of. and they have many more. poes, bagleys, and probably those you spoke about too. going there in november and making another big purchase of these discontinued baits. best part is they havent repriced them. still original prices.

[@MattStefanFishing]

wow!

[@19empire85]

@Roy Sprouls You're welcome to private message me the name and location on Instagram! I promise I won't clean them out!! Lol

[@frankkoepp5351]

More great information!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@eagleeye9549]

Matt, are they still worth anything if they are not in the boxes? Like I mentioned in another video, I have been out of fishing for 20 years, so I still have the baits that I used to throw in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, but I have them in my storage boxes. Lol one of my faves was what I called the great white wiggle wart. Lol heck, I still have some, a handful, of Rapala lures, jerk baits, that have never been thrown, from the 50s! That I bought in an old tackle box from a yard sale for twenty bucks! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and love for fishing. Cheers.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes the most definitely are worth money without the original packaging. If it is a bait that has value because anglers want it for fishing then the majority of the value is in the lure itself. If it is a bait sought after by collectors there can be significant value in the original package as well,

[@davide.8176]

Lucky Craft discontinued the RC after the second Brinks truck unloaded at Clunn's place. It was a very lucrative deal for Rick.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha!

[@ryanbuckley3314]

Yes! Here's my secret, topwater, toad-hauler. Get yourself one of those old Berkeley Blade-dancer, with the paddle tail minnow on it, in black. This bait (on my homewaters, Georgian Bay) makes a top water presentation a bit like a fast jitterbug. I pulled smallmouth out of 15+ ft of water, largemouth, pike & musky. The blade dancer didn't do well, but holy cow, in black, it is a killer topwater. Call me crazy, if you like, I would buy 50 of them in black, if I coud find them!

[@MattStefanFishing]

wow! great info! Now im on the lookout for a blade dancer. one lure i dont have

[@truthsleuth271]

I’m another blade dancer fanatic. I caught so many pike and bass on those things years ago until I lost all I had on snags over the years. I was able to find one on eBay in box and bought it. It’s great as a top water especially over weeds. When you hit an edge in the weeds, just let it fall on slack line. People used to make fun of this bait because they tried using it as a crank bait. No…it’s a top water/finesse bait. If you know how to use it, you will catch fish.

[@Glock-1]

Do you know anything about the Larry Nixon bomber A or the Mike McClelland Wally Driver?

[@MattStefanFishing]

not a whole lot

[@normanrobinson7459]

The bagleys chartreuse and black👌

[@MattStefanFishing]

good one

[@gboat77]

Hey Matt you probably already know that uncle josh frogs are back with tackle warehouse. I hear the quality is not good. I am always looking for old bomber 8A gold eye screw tails in baby bass. Never new what I had growing up, they catch big ones and are really hard to find. Would pay good money if anyone has any.

[@MattStefanFishing]

those old bombers are money. im disappointed with the new uncle josh

[@riverhound9649]

With Bagleys it's all about color rarity, next is circa because the later Dominican made Bagley's aren't worth much

[@andrewowens6754]

I like some old baits. Ive used Bagleys, old Rapalas, and others. Im definitely an Abu Garcia man.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Cool!

[@andrewowens6754]

@@MattStefanFishing you know your more educational than half the other folk on KZbin, and Im subscribed to more than 20. I fished local tournaments with a coworker at Lake Wappapello in southeast Mo. We actually won one outright, and come so close many times, fishing out of an Allweld 15 footer, and 35 horse Nissan, so we had to fish harder than most contestants. He was my Bass Mentor, his name is Tom Whitehead. We havent fished together since 1997 probably, but in the 2 years we did, I learned more about that lake than I had in the previous 20 years, his goto's there was Rattleback jigs, Horizon spinnerbaits, Superflukes, and Rattletraps and RC1. I have the ABU crest tattooed on my belly.

[@MattStefanFishing]

@@andrewowens6754 That tattoo is dedication! As the abu phrase goes "For Life!"

[@andrewowens6754]

@@MattStefanFishing yes it is.

[@spencerchurchill3736]

Teckel kicknocker I believe

[@jamescaspersamanthalintner4767]

Wish this was two ours long I'm a old tackle junky. Bagley's and bombers, and old wiggle warts. Also original big O's love them . Got to be careful buying on eBay lots o scamish tackle

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yeah its unfortunate theres so many scammers

[@normanrobinson7459]

Great late summer bait…

[@MattStefanFishing]

You got that right!

[@B.A.Bassangler]

Add lure-making to your repitoir'e...research and make Uncle Josh frogs...the ole'fashioned way, 1 at a time. Personally, if I could make a 1/2 dozen from a cut of meat I get from the Butcher...done deal. Please excuse my Pittsburgh French!

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha

[@jasonmoyer743]

thank you sir for the great content, yozuri hardcore and the original imma skimmer was alot better than the new ones.

[@MattStefanFishing]

those are both good ones

[@davehorn1422]

Awesome video, recently found your channel from Randy, made video about top 5 KZbin channels. Subscribed.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks!

[@brib_brib_brib_bri]

The Sub Wart. Incredible wake bait, impossible to find.

[@MattStefanFishing]

A good one!

[@DEADKING624]

Love hunting down discos (Discontinued) at every shop across the country...be careful of knockoffs.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Its a bummer people are making knockoffs.

[@joeyhewitt7724]

Back in the 80s, I used to fish the Mann’s Augertail worm. I would just slow, but steady retrieve like the swim worms today. Haven’t seen an augertail in decades. I also used to fish Producto tournament worms and had great success. I can’t find them in SC anymore, but U can order straight from Producto. It’s funny how fish evolve and quit hitting baits they would one time crush. Maybe it’s due to a different manufacture and/or different material? Interesting topic!

[@ronciuffreda3132]

I still use heddon sonics for a lipless crank baits. Amazing lure for all gamefish

[@thomasmartin8202]

Yes, Producto! I used to fish them a lot and still have some in the original package.

[@Boyers-baits]

The stuff off eBay or so cheaply made I bought some one time they ended up in the trashcan soon as they came in off the UPS truck

[@MattStefanFishing]

I know the feeling

[@bassfishingasia]

Thanks for the great content.. always enjoyable. I'm in Korea these days and every now and then run into some old classic baits.. such as the Cotton Cordell Big O. Any thoughts on that bait?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Its a proven fish catcher!

[@edgarmelton8091]

I love going to yard sales and grabbing up hidden treasures for dirt cheap people not understanding what they have fishing lures and video games are what I keep my eyes open for sometimes I’ll find other things

[@normanrobinson7459]

You seem. To understand that bass love ding on bluegill..

[@kerryschallon8879]

Aren't the R.C. baits made by Lucky Strike???

[@MattStefanFishing]

they were originally made by lucky craft when rick clunn was part of their team. he left and went to lucky strike and created a new line...the lucky craft are the sought after ones.

[@wbshuskies]

I personally drive the market up on one. Norman top dollar.

[@MattStefanFishing]

That's a good one

[@brianprice7645]

I'm 64 with no one to leave anything to so if I find anything I'm going to use it or sell it to buy more tackle to use

[@normanrobinson7459]

Natural color

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

What I dearly miss: Daiwa original Fuego spinning Daiwa’s Sol spinning Original Daiwa alphas bc Original shimano bantam bc Original glx jwr and bronze backs Original wiggle warts Original mud bugs Berkeley saber tail tubes Berkeley 4 in hard nose tubes Berkeley tourney 7 inch ribbon tail worm Jackal 79 squirrel dd And too many more to mention.... lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

lots of good ones you mention there!

[@normanrobinson7459]

1awesome crankbait

[@riverhound9649]

The RC's been discontinued for almost 10 years now

[@jeffabbey1057]

Matt, You O.K.? You seem like you are not feeling well.Take care...

[@MattStefanFishing]

im doing just fine!

[@normanrobinson7459]

Chartreuse and black bagleysbalsawood

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good one!

[@matthewwood110]

sorry, late to this viewing, but i see some recent comments. i've got bagleys and wiggle warts going back to the late 80s and early 90s. also have a lot of lucky craft RCs. crazy. one discontinued bait that I wish I could find is a double blade buzzbait by Hart. I have caught countless bass on it. it makes the perfect squeal, in my opinion. if any of y'all have one, please send it to me ASAP.

[@matthewwood110]

i also have several of the flat sided rapalas that matt was showing. wha't amusing is the amount of crankbaits that i own, and i hardly ever use them. i took inventory a couple years ago and i have like $3500 worth of crankbaits.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats a lot of cranks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats a hard buzzbait to find!

[@matthewwood110]

@@MattStefanFishing yar, and i was on a lucky craft kick for awhile => $$$$$

[@riverhound9649]

A pre rap wiggle wart sold for $3,500 bucks in 2016

[@MattStefanFishing]

That’s awesome!

[@riverhound9649]

@@MattStefanFishing yea man it was wild...it was a unopened box in the blue mackerel color...very rare but the funny thing a few months after that the same bait sold for $600

[@MattStefanFishing]

@@riverhound9649 wow!

[@riverhound9649]

The 2nd RC 0.5 you showed is made by Lucky Strike not Lucky Craft...after the original Lucky Craft RC's discontinued Rick Clunn made a similar line of cranks through Lucky Strike...there alot different then the Lucky Craft RC's and generally cheaper made and there still being made...that Lucky Strike RC 1 is a few dollars bait...the Lucky Craft RC 0.5 in that splatter back color I've seen sell for as high as $89+

[@brianwareham7783]

If I wanted to sell or trade some of the baits you mentioned where could I do that?

[@MattStefanFishing]

Facebook has a lot of groups that center around buying and trading tackle. eBay is also a good place

[@carsonpark14]

You can contact me haha I’m looking for some depending which ones

[@19empire85]

You could private message me on Instagram under the same name, just sayin🤷‍♂️ haha

[@toptoad7149]

Pork is coming back

[@MattStefanFishing]

For some of us it never went away haha

[@peteremerson4777]

I have some really old pork that doesn’t smell good (to me). Still usable?

[@MattStefanFishing]

@@peteremerson4777 could be if it’s still soft. If it’s dried up probably not

[@normanham6142]

I never left!

[@shawnwhalen8314]

I always a fear....the lure you love and really knock them down with....disappears. I try to buy more than 1 or 2. My Great uncle left me an old take box, it was metal, when I was a kid.... I'm 49 now. It's probably 50 yrs old. Still got a few lures of his in the basement. I Give my buddy who has 3 young boys my old lures I don't use anymore or don't like.....so they can cast them into the trees... like he says...I may have to stop giving them away! LOL!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yeah it always seems the baits you love disappear at some point

[@davidmiller9363]

I have to disagree with your eBay comments. If one is patient and watches closely, you can get just about any tackle and gear for half or less of the price. My boat is loaded with gear that most would be envious of!

[@MattStefanFishing]

I agree, but the fastest and easiest way is normally ebay

[@normanrobinson7459]

Uncle josh pork trailer bad momma humma

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@Mr4twitch]

Where's the hell bender

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha