History of the Rebel Ultra-Light Critters (1978-present)

[@Stumpjack]

So glad you made this ultra-light episode and highlighted those ultra-creative Rebel creature baits. I remember when ultra-light became very popular in the mid-1970s. A lot of us added those short, thin, buggy whip rods and small reels to our arsenals and, for a while at least, fished ultra-light almost to the exclusion of regular fishing gear. We didn't have a ton of small lure options back then so we gravitated towards spinners and live bait, like nightcrawlers (hooked in the old "Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers" tip of the head fashion), or we just tied on our regular heavy-weight baits. Man, when you hooked into a bluegill or small smallmouth it was crazy fun. Forget about it if you hooked a really nice fish or northern pike, it was like fighting a rollercoaster with a spaghetti noodle! What a blast! Rebel introduced those wonderful bug baits, but at the time we viewed them more as curiosities and gimmick lures, they were so unusual, and when we did buy them we did it mainly because they simply looked cool, like kids' toys. We rarely fished them. Thank goodness they introduced tiny minnow lures. Those were serious fishing baits. Ha!

[@markburnstein5546]

Carve a piece of plastic worm. U have it!

[@af4od02]

You should give BFS casting rods and reels a try if you haven’t yet. They are a blast to use and often save my day on the water when fishing is difficult.

[@armandorjusino]

Started fishing in the mid 70's, Rebel lures were a staple in my Plano tackle box, 50 years later they still are.

[@TylerSnyder305]

Now you're speaking my language. my old Fenwick lunkerstik, Shakespeare 2052EC or Mitchell 308 reel, and a rebel super teeny wee R in fire tiger. I like the micro series as well, I've got the micro craw, micro pop-R, and the micro series crickhopper.

[@RetroBassin]

Forgot about the micro Pop-R!

[@TylerSnyder305]

@@RetroBassin I had no luck with mine the last time I fished it but I still really like it. I also really like the little Creme spoiler shad.

[@bobr7380]

One quick note, that grasshopper lure is still available and it still destroys panfish and bass.

[@RetroBassin]

Yes it is!!!

[@TheSouthernBird]

The tadfry is a fish slaying machine..lol I have 1 left and rarely throw it, scared to lose it. I really wish they would bring it back. It will out fish the micro Chinese crank baits 10 to 1.

[@RetroBassin]

Still bummed I lost mine to Father Time!

[@stevebrockway4738]

I hopped on the ultralight band wagon in the very early 80s. Jigs and twister tails were my main baits until I bought some Bagley Snap Beans that are currently made by Yo-Zuri and were probably also back then. They were hard to get the hang of due to their size. Now I always have several of the Crickhoppers and Teeney Wee Craws with me. Nice job.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Steve! I forgot about the Snap Beans!

[@benworsham1466]

My grandmother had a lake that Rebel crawfish and grasshoppers were great. That lake has now been drained and filled in.

[@RetroBassin]

Glad you found RB, Ben!

[@mikecook4298]

memories! .... a fishinkid's good innocent fun learning about the nature around me .... great memories!

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks for tuning in, good buddy!

[@jasonlopez4855]

I like the micro popper hopper. I think the little ones are just fun to use. Getting back into it a few years ago and now last year Bass fishing with my son got me to go. A lot to do with Bass fishing.

[@bs431980]

I remember the first rebel crickhopper I ever saw my, uncle had a yellow one & I had to have one. To this day the yellow crickhopper is one of the best stream / river baits for smallmouth and panfish in my area

[@RetroBassin]

And luckily they still make it!

[@everettsmithhotspot8404]

The crickhopper! Money bait! Toss it out and let is settle/twitch on top then reel. Caught so many bass, crappie and bream on it my son dubbed it the "devil cricket:.

[@RetroBassin]

Devil cricket…love it!

[@richardsantillano7153]

Wee Craw and wee cricket and bumble bee are my favorites!

[@RetroBassin]

Throw them on 6lb?

[@johnstandfell9458]

I would like to find a old style retro fishing tackle box because they were built to last a lifetime! Plus you could actually sit on them

[@RetroBassin]

eBay has boatloads!

[@steves7345]

Just added you to my saved ebay sellers cause I'm always searching for old tackle!!

[@RetroBassin]

Need to get some more old school gold up there!

[@anglingarchaeology]

Great vid! I just picked up one of those late 70’s minnows at an estate sale yesterday. That thing is the size of a micromachine

[@RetroBassin]

Killing it at the estate sales!!

[@anglingarchaeology]

@@RetroBassin eBay is great, but doesn’t match the thrill of finding vintage gold in the wild

[@thomasmartin8202]

I have the 1979 BPS catalog and the same Rebel F-49 was offered, the page layout was essentially the same though the photo background is different, and the price had gone up 20 cents. Like now, those were inflationary days...

[@odslsm]

I absolutelly like the rebel tiny creature lures, i caught many fish on them. I remember picking up that classic critters kit at walmart on sale and not thinking much about it, until I gave the teeny wee crawfish a chnace in the river 👍🏻

[@RetroBassin]

I like that little Classic Critter kit!

[@robinallen8773]

I remember when all those came out and own every single one twice over, lol! I’ve caught about every freshwater fish here in the continental U.S.

[@RetroBassin]

What’s your favorite, Robin?

[@robinallen8773]

@@RetroBassin my favorite lure is the crickhopper. The black and fire tiger are my favorite colors! If you have the origami ones like I do the black one is different than the new ones and the. Line tie is not on the bill, it’s on the nose of the body! I’ve caught 4 and 5 pound bass on these lures! On the show you forgot one, the tadpole one which can be a killer!

[@bayouburner281]

When I moved to Round Rock in 1990, I resided on Brushy Creek and I used a fire tiger crickhopper to smash the catfish in there. Love that little bait.

[@RetroBassin]

Need some good spots to fish in Round Rock!

[@southmark]

I have that same Rebel frog bait, I bought it new in '88. I lost it once on a snag in 1993 but found it later that day. Love your channel.

[@mojondro]

O yeah I have some for myself,i have a bfs combo and im slaying fish left and right with this set up

[@nunyabusiness102]

I remember all those but never used them. We used a lot maribu jigs and flies for panfish. Never went the hardbait route. Way cool baits though.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks for tuning in, Nunya!

[@jebar01]

Amazing video. My grandchildren and I fish alot with the bumble bugs and crickhoppers! Thank-You very much, Jim.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Jim! My two Bassin’ Buds had a great day on the water with those lures, too!

[@RaidersX95]

Nice lures as always keep those lines tight boys

[@RetroBassin]

Yeah buddy!

[@wilmawife]

I fish my ultra lite lures on a Quantum micro lite combo , MS-54SUL , rated for line 1 to 4lb.I think they're discontinued, but i have had fish to 4lb. Great video as always .

[@RetroBassin]

Sweet setup, David!

[@chipyeahoo]

The Teeny Wee frog was one of my top baits for bass, crappie and bluegill in some ponds I used to fish. They went nuts for them. I sure miss fishing those ponds…Funny though, I haven’t caught one fish on any of my Crickhoppers. I’ll keep trying but it’s hard to use them much when those Wee frogs catch them so well. I also have a 1.5 inch Naturalized Minnow in a rainbow trout pattern that has netted my quite a few stream trout. Thanks for the trip back in time Rebel ultralight style.

[@RetroBassin]

How do to fish the frog, Chip? On top or cranking?

[@chipyeahoo]

@RetroBassin, I just cast and retrieve. I would vary my retrieve speed some and I’d reel just fast enough to keep it just under the surface. Those ponds had cattails along a lot of the shoreline so I’d find an opening, wade out just far enough to cast parallel to the shoreline along those cattails and they’d come out of them to hit it. Those ponds did have a lot of resident frogs.

[@mikebass2236]

My favourite ultra kite lure is the cotton Cordell wee shad, when the bass aren’t biting I tie on a wee shad usually in a natural colour and it’s go time, never fails. Sadly they are not available in Canada anyway, I only have a couple left, always on the look out for more.

[@tendernessforthemonster4517]

This is inspiring I still have my old Plano and old lures even some 80’s Mexican made lures, I’m going to refresh everything and get an ultra light rig!

[@mopathfinder77]

these rebel tiny shallow runners very useful for bounce rigs!!

[@RetroBassin]

What’s a bounce rig??

[@mopathfinder77]

@@RetroBassin bounce rig, it looks like a drop shot rig, and that using heavy stick sinker, and put floating shallow runner lures. it's very useful for rock area on bottom. and tiny crankbaits are fitting just this rig.

[@thereever3187]

Loved the review, putting together my own "Ultimate 80's" tacklebox compiled from my old baits in a big Plano Phantom. Let me know when u put some Rebel Talkin Spoons out for sale!

[@RetroBassin]

I need to dig those out, but yes, maybe need to put up an OG Rebel lot.

[@BornAgain717]

I've caught everything in the river on the bumblebug. I mean everything pickerel, gar, specs, bream, Bass... every once in a while I'll take the old Cricket Hopper out and vibrate it on top of the water when it don't seem like you can get a bite that thing will draw it in.

[@spinningrodfisherman]

Thank you every much for the information. Your channel is amazing. Also great intro song. Also sounds great at 1.5x

[@RetroBassin]

Never listened to it at that speed! Now try it backwards…

[@kerryparks1979]

Bubble Bugs and Wee Craw are great Pan Fish catchers.

[@RetroBassin]

Wish they reintroduced a few!

[@ryanbroughton5174]

Just got a couple Foxy Shad Pop Rs, can't wait to throw em.

[@RetroBassin]

I have a Pop-R tied on this very moment!

[@ryanbroughton5174]

@@RetroBassin that's awesome. I'm 50 and grew up fishing Rebels and Rapalas. Good luck out there and God bless.

[@raymondjohnson6496]

In them baits by rebels bumblebee I got that bait the other day

[@leechatterton6150]

Great video man !! I'm over in England and have been rebel UL fan for many years .

[@georgeclayjr.2499]

Bro! I'm loving the shirt! I'm loving the hat! I'm loving the sunglasses! Thanks for sharing this retro perspective on fishing and appreciating some of the older lures and tactics. I'm a fan! Keep doing your thing man.

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks for tuning in, good buddy! Threads available in the video description!

[@audiohaven5751]

got the horsefly bumblebug today and boy they bit the hell out that thang. great lure

[@reavisstockard5339]

Very cool video. I'm a ultralight geek.

[@waddell7354]

I am glad I was able to help with this episode, seeing the craws I sent popping up made me smile. Now for the h&h coastal tackle episode!

[@RetroBassin]

Yes! Felt bad opening the one, but had to do it. Check out that Teeny Wee Craw catching fish in this week’s episode!

[@raymore544]

Really cool lures you got a great dam collection good sir

[@davidparker9022]

I had 13 of these mostly the older USA made ones and had them listed on Ebay for months with a buy it now price.The day or two after you made this video the lot sold.Thanks for the sale!!!

[@lets_fish_already_9345]

A video about the rebel minnow would be amazing. The rebel minnow was such a big part of bass fishing for people in the south and lower midwest.

[@brianwilliard1819]

I want the buzz tail frog on the page opposite the wee craw!

[@RetroBassin]

They still sell that one!

[@0017Bulldog]

That wee craw has been a killer for me. Fish want to crush that thing. I've replaced it several times from fish destroying the lure.

[@CrackerJack256]

The Rebel Jumping Minnow (top water) Will ALWAYS hold the crown as the king of baits…. For me…

[@RetroBassin]

Do you fish that like a Zara Spook?

[@CrackerJack256]

@@RetroBassin Yes Sir. It’s small size ( 31/2”) make it perfect for spotted bass

[@winstonrocco1981]

Caught lots of panfish on live crickets

[@JohnJames.]

Illegal where I'm at, but do they ever work

[@carlmchale8341]

Good video

[@RetroBassin]

Thanks, Carl!

[@JohnJames.]

My ul set up Is a old renegade 2-6 with a Shimano custom 1000 , been tossing spinners, have some rapalas I want to try

[@RetroBassin]

Honey of a rig!

[@brandona2945]

wished they still made some of them only can find craws a crickets any more

[@RetroBassin]

Bumble Bugs as well!

[@relopez-k2]

Regards from México ¡¡¡ Nice video 🤙🎣

[@ChristopherWhite-ic5ye]

I had seen a few of those on Amazon

[@robinallen8773]

When are we going to see you honor Heddon on your show like the River runts?

[@RetroBassin]

Ok ok, I need to ASAP.

[@dalestevens7734]

you left out the tiny pop r and the tiny rattle trap type bait they made in the 1990's how old does a rod need to be before you consider it old school. I still use some of my Shimano sensilite spinning rods from the early 1990's befoe they discontinued them and brought them back under the compre casting and spinning rod brand?

[@RetroBassin]

Great question! I’d say the minute it gets discontinued it becomes old school!

[@LowBrowFishing]

I know some guys who would pay through the teeth to get those little baits....and then go to a creek and immediately lose them.

[@RetroBassin]

We shall see!

[@海辺の村のオッシーゲ]

Yes I have thats all lures. All Made in USA lure??

[@henryschmidt636]

Didn't Rebel have a ultralight lure that mimicked a catfish too? Tomcat or stonecat.......maybe that was Bagley......

[@victorremick9721]

You know when you are afraid of loosing a bait there is never any fish in the area. It has to be a chalange to let them work

[@sewerfish3672]

Hi