The BEST Trophy Bass Lure EVER!

Episode 44
Over the course of bass fishing history, several baits have been a force behind catching trophy bass. Over the past 20 years, the swimbait has become the go-to bait for anglers fishing for their personal best. But swimbaits are a genre of lures with several manufacturers making baits that cover a wide variety of lengths, rates of fall, and even actions.
In this episode of The Big Bass Podcast, we cover one specific bait, made by only one manufacturer. The company is Fred Arbogast and the bait, is the Musky Jitterbug. Since its introduction in 1940, more trophy bass have been caught on this one lure more than any other.
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[@Stumpjack]

Just when I think you cats couldn't make a better show, you come along with an episode that is at least equally fascinating, loaded with historical trivia, humorous and with an awesome guest to boot! This is like an intravenous shot of joy and mental stimulation. Can't believe The Big Bass Podcast doesn't have at least 54.5 million subscribers (supposedly the number of active anglers in America)...yet! Outstanding!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Stumpjack, the kind words are always appreciated! This was a fun one for sure. Terry

[@Huge4Fish]

This lure was responsible for me winning several anglers of the year in my club as we fished two night tx in our schedule and it was a total weight based measure for year. It was a must to catch big bags at night

[@davidblake5199]

Ken, good morning. Your friend, David Blake from Atlanta here… On 12/11/2023 Monday I caught four bass at 6 pounds each. 28.9 pounds on all five bass caught. It was a good day my friend 😎

[@coeymccollum9465]

Rolland Martin also mentions the musky jitterbug in his book 101 bass fishing secrets and goes through the modifications to make it weedless.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Yes he does Coey! Terry

[@edwardcowan7012]

Every Tuesday 6-9 there is a one fish tournament on a local lake. Once we get into September it’s dark for half of it. I’ve won a bunch of them with a black musky jitterbug! Another great show.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thanks Ed, we appreciate your support! Glad to hear you're still throwing the 85 year old bait! Terry

[@jimliechty2983]

I purchased a black muskie jitterbug about 30 years ago, and think it is still on the top shelf of my old tackle box .... not sure if it is wood or plastic! I bought it new and never threw it much, so it likely has only box rash! I am positive that my purchase was inspired from the 1980's Bassmaster articles!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Throw it Jim!!!! Terry

[@scottstuckey715]

First bass, yep, a red and white 3/8 jitterbug. I now throw a black Musky model. With thousands of dollars of tackle I still love the gurgling sound of the Arbogast Jitterbug. (The Mudbug is another great.)

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thanks Scott! Terry

[@secretbassrigs]

Seriously though, i think a significant factor to the effectiveness of the Jitterbug is the sound it makes. wobbling gurgle

[@thebigbasspodcast]

secretbassrigs, that's for sure! Terry

[@lelandwarmoth3049]

Spent many nights throwing it into the darknes. Holding my breath on every cast!

[@chrishampton8842]

Jason knows his big bass history also, great show as always guys, thanks so much

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Yeah, Jason is a stud. Thanks for watching Chris! Terry

[@fiSHINsanity]

Ive been following Jason Flesher's body of work for a couple of years now through the swimbait community, and that man is as passionate about big bass as anyone I know. Great episode fellas!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Jason is a stud both in the fishing and history part of big fish! Terry

[@jflesh.bassin4948]

Thanks for the kind words, Fellas!

[@kevinatwell9781]

This, Keith Thomas and the Alan Cole episodes are my favorite! Great content! My PB is only 6.5 lb, was caught at night on a Jitterbug, great bait and great name for a bait too.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Kevin! We appreciate your support! Terry

[@drinkthekoolaidkids]

A 6.5 lb bass isn’t an only , that’s a trophy bass . I guarantee you that there plenty of pictures of 6.5 bass that are being shown around as 8/9 lb bass 😂

[@lelandwarmoth3049]

Great articles from the ole days. Thanks. Mr. O'Connor w his 12" Delong worm

[@af4od02]

Are you referring to the “Hawg Hunter” worm? I had one as kid. Always thought I would catch a ten pounder with it.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Leland! Terry

[@thebigbasspodcast]

af4od02, He's referring to DeLong and their Witch I believe. JW's Hawg Hunter was 13 inches. You can check out an article I did on it a few days ago here. bass-archives.com/jw-lures-hawg-hunter/

[@DsTackleBox]

Aw man! Them jitterbugs are killers!! Nice video man!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thanks D!!!! Terry

[@tommiks5649]

Another great show bringing us the juice of Big Bass knowledge and history. 👏 Terry and Ken rock!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Tom!!!! Always appreciate the kind words! Terry

[@Huge4Fish]

Interesting thing I noticed. With the original line tie…right before it is about to come through the hole and ruin your night…the bug will have peak sound

[@FunkE.Fisherman]

Just wow. This brings back memories. I remember reading about this cat back in the late 90s early 2000 ish when I was enamored with chasing big bass. After reading about him I made up my mind that to be a true big bass hunter you had to be a little bit crazy. Another fantastic documentation gentlemen. Thank you.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you FunkE! Yeah, these big bass guys are a little different. Lunker Bill, Kadota, Brasher, all look at the fish differently. Thanks for watching, Terry

[@winstonrocco1981]

Though I have never fished the musky jitterbug I have fished 3 inch black jitterbug s at night here in Texas. Have caught 11 from 9 to 9.14 at night on black of course. Have caught no telling how many 5 and above . Great video guys I’m new to your channel

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Rocco and we appreciate you spending the time to watch! Terry

[@dustingrant2062]

Thanks ken .. terry an Nathan I love this stuff you guys never disappoint

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Dustin! Terry

[@dustingrant2062]

I've found myself watching this several times already I enjoy all bass history but the tackle an rods an reels company history I can't get enough thank you all

[@academicmailbox7798]

Episode 533 with Trey Combs, of the Wet Fly Swing, well worth a listen to. Fishing in centuries past.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Not sure where to find this. Does it have to do with the Jitterbug?

[@academicmailbox7798]

@@thebigbasspodcast It started as a steelhead podcast years ago, David Stewart. Five hundred episodes later, and five years after Trey's initial interview with Dave, he returned and spoke again about a new book. But that conversation turned into one about the hat-making craze of Queen Victoria's era. And how it affected bird populations, habitats and how the early fishing lure industry spun out of that fashionable hat industry of the second half of the nineteenth century. Trey explained how Canadians rediscovered this tradition, a half a century after it was dead in Europe. And revived it, mostly for reasons of nostalgia and wanting to believe that Canada was really Scotland. In the mid part of the twentieth century (which led to Trey's book, which barely took a snapshot of that angling generation before it had disappeared). In the book from 1971.

[@academicmailbox7798]

Of course what few understand is the way that these respective strands of a story to do with rivers, water, urban expansion and native salmonoids, small mouth on the west coast, and indeed large mouth populations are interwoven. In the episode with Trey they talk about how steelhead had existed as far south as Mexico at one time. Recently I listened to Chris Zaldain or someone question why the rainbow trout feeding programs (which bass species on west coast had benefitted from), had been tapered off in lakes. To use a phrase that Ken has used, trout were like floating candy bars to Florida strain bass in California. The other side of the coin being, was perhaps the dilemma of when native migratory rainbow habitats overlap with new water infrastructure projects and ecosystem. What wins, or what gives? Is the floating candy bar the priority, or the migratory fish species? And the story of the west coast, told fully in the round. Is that kind of a one. Lots of former steelhead systems now better known for west coast small mouth.

[@williamsonnett8970]

Now this was GREAT show. Men out enjoying fishing, innovating new techniques. Not one mention of tournaments.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Bill! I had a feeling you'd like this show. :-) Terry

[@af4od02]

Mr. LJ Brasher lived in my community. I never met him. I was a young teenager during the peak years of his fishing. I remember seeing the bass mounts hanging on the wall of his “Mr. Transmission” repair shop. I saw his little aluminum boat behind the shop in the fenced in area. I believe a local bass club member tried to fish with him on one of the Florida trips. He told me he spent most of his time sleeping in the truck while LJ was fishing. I heard he would take off work like on a Thursday evening at 5:00 pm, drive non stop to Lake Jackson, arrive at 10:00 pm, then start fishing and fish non-stop until Sunday afternoon. Then LJ would drive home. I never heard what lures LJ used. I had always heard the buzz bait was very productive on Lake Jackson. Very similar to a Musky Jitter bug. I have heard but can’t confirm, when Lake Jackson dries up, then refills itself from the underground sink hole aquifers, bass travel those underground caves and repopulate another lake down current. Thats why anglers catch lunkers just years after refilling the lake. Excellent video.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you af40d02! Terry

[@andywilliamson7846]

Thanks for this, Terry, Ken. I LOVE my Jitterbugs. I've never thrown a Musky JB, which, apparently has now been renamed the Jitterbug XL, by PRADCO. My go-to Jitterbug is the 5/8 oz. and if you get dense fog, and can keep from catching coontail, milfoil, etc. on the hooks, it is deadly. In the past 4 years, I've been fortunate a few times to get the "Big Bass" in club tournaments, often using the Jitterbug.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Andy!! Terry

[@toddsmith3418]

My first bass was caught on a jitterbug at lake Cumberland in late 70’s. I’ve been hooked ever since!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Another first! :-) Thanks for watching Todd! Terry

[@trailerrick]

The jitterbug is also responsible for my bass fishing passion. My grandmother would tie one on a cane pole and walk around the pond and "jitter it" as she called it, just in front of the moss line. There is no telling how many bass she caught that way..

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Oh man, that must have been a heart-stopping experience when one ate it! Terry

[@trailerrick]

@thebigbasspodcast Yea, huge blowup then she would hollow, O RICKY COME HELP ME, some of my fondest memories. I have he cane pole hanging behind me desk ❤️

[@bobbycolson1957]

One of my favorite shows so far...I knew nothing of the history of brasher

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Bobby! Terry

[@jamesadams1357]

Fantastic show as usual gentlemen. But I grew up fishing a jitterbug at night in small creeks with my dad. They actually called it jitterbuggin. My uncle severely sprained his wrist from an alleged vicious smallmouth strike in the late 70s. My dad and others swear it's true. But big creek smallmouth, (19 inches and over)do hit harder than reservoir fish no doubt. They're more aggressive because the food supply is limited and competition from other fish. However I never seemed to do as well in our local lakes compared to those creeks and rivers. God bless gentlemen and keep up the excellent work

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you James! We appreciate the kind words! Terry

[@MrFishhook]

Love the Show as always, When I think of old big Bass baits I think of the Devils Horse . Ken I don’t know if you ever interviewed Charles Orme ( Top Water Charlie ) He fished the old regional Florida/Georgia tournament trail . He attributed all his fishing prowess to the Devil Horse. He would bring a half dozen rod and reel combo’s all rigged the same way with a devils horse . The lures would be modified in different ways to get different actions. If a recall me conversations with him , they were all the same color lol…. He literally would have any other tackle in the boat ! He won like half the tournaments one year lol…..I believe he died in 2013 .

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Hey MrFishHook, I've heard of him and Ken and I have talked about him in the past. Pretty amazing guy! Thanks for watching, Terry

[@tedlincolnsfishinglife]

I was just talking to @retrobassin about the jitterbug the last time we were fishin.. I tied one and mentioned that it’s definitely a big bass catcher still!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Ted you guys need to throw the thing! Do a show on it. At night!!!!

[@tedlincolnsfishinglife]

@@thebigbasspodcast we can also prove/disprove Ken’s fear of gators eating baits at night. They definitely with go for big rats (day or night) 😂🎣

[@rogerdudra178]

I've got 2 jitterbugs in my tacklebox at this time. A frog colored one and a gizzard shad color.

[@BobbyBalsaRNM]

Caught a few bigguns night fishin a black jitterbug! Great show as always gents!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Bobby! Terry

[@dariusking2927]

Great show guys great to have Jason on 👍👍👍👍💯💯💯💯

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Darius!! Terry

[@bigearl791]

I went fishing with the kids when they were little 20 years back .. i stopped in a bait shop i asked the lady hay i want these kids to catch fish what do you recommend..... a hand full of jitterbugs later we all got fish that day ... 3 bass 4 northerns . I throw them every time i fish .... bad day out I pull the JB out and most likely ill get hit ... plus i like modifications ive done to a few

[@fiSHINsanity]

You guys need to also have my man Brandon Burks on for having what I believe, is arguably the greatest run of Double Digit largemouth Ive seen this side of the Millenium. He has either caught or put clients on OVER 50 DOCUMENTED Double Digit bass in just the past few months out of Texas!

[@texoma_outdoors]

Just put in an order for the last three black jitterbug xl midwayusa had in stock 😎

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Let us know how you do with them! Terry

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

👏👏👏 awesome show gentleman and I’m with you Ken about when to fish,I just fish when I can and never over think the situation ❤👊

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

Oh I didn’t know about the Rhode Island Record 😮I want to hear about that show and if you need a video of the pond I would be glad I do a drone video for the show 👍

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Ken, are you in RI? Dang, we may hit you up on that offer! Terry

[@kenmccarthyfishing]

@@thebigbasspodcast Terry I live right the line of Rhode/Massachusetts,whatever I can do just let me know because I believe Johnson Pond is where the record is from

[@ClayWilliamson]

That’s was a impressive collection of skin mounts! Great show guys!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Clay! Terry

[@johnnywhite4341]

Not all Jitterbugs are equal in performance. There's a BIG DIFFERENCE in action when comparing the newer plastic body baits to the old school wood body baits. The wood body baits are far superior in flotation and action compared to the inferior plastic body baits.

[@Huge4Fish]

Facts

[@bigbaldfish]

Excellent show…and audio. 👍🏼😎

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you BBF! Terry

[@paulenglish1741]

Terry and Ken, Will you ever do a show just on the iconic Mann's Jelly Worm? Don't forget, according to Mr. Randy Blaukat bass are super fast evolving fish that have passed down genetics not to hit these classic lures anymore. As he says"They have evolved past them"!!!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Paul, probably not on TBBP. But that is a topic ripe for my Bass Fishing Archives channel. I'm in the process of getting that sorted out and for sure would cover not just the Jelly Worm but Tom Mann in general. Thanks! Terry

[@benonem]

Another amazing amazing episode, so much history you guys have and funny it came out of NE Ohio!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Ben! Terry

[@kylenorris587]

What a great episode. Maybe my favorite!!! O-H

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Kyle! Terry

[@johnmango6056]

I was born in 1990 and I’ve never caught a bass on a jitter bug…. Sad I know lol. The heddon tiny torpedo was my go to top water. I use to smash em on that thing as a kid.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Add one to your arsenal John! Thanks for watching! Terry

[@Huge4Fish]

Anyone that fishes at night a ton knows New Moon is best for Bug

[@slabslapper8507]

Did LJ get those mounts as replicas? Or did he devestate a double digit population? Great info though, grateful for this podcast

[@rvinson]

Hula Popper is very overlooked/under rated IMO

[@secretbassrigs]

to save money i fish the used moon

[@andywilliamson7846]

😂

[@littlerich2644]

(It’s) a wake, dear heart, a wake. Thou hast fished well. A wake

[@thebigbasspodcast]

LOl LittleRich! Thanks for watching! Terry

[@LucasBoone318]

Another awesome video guys👍 Thanks for the info, and Happy Thanksgiving

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Lucas! Terry

[@bryonshepherd]

Born after 1990? I have spools of mono that old . 😮 oddly enough though I fish a Rico or a Yellow Magic around Ohio more often , I find Jitterbugs and Hula Poppers that others have broken off every year .

[@thebigbasspodcast]

LOL Bryon! I do too. ;-) Terry

[@Huge4Fish]

Rio Rico is a catcher

[@RyanSmith-fb8rf]

I think it absolutely would be considered the first wake bait

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Thank you Ryan! Terry

[@donweiss6031]

Great show! Do you have info on Mr . Jimmy Zinker . Jason mentioned to contact him to modify a wooden Musky jitterbug like Mr. Brashers . Hope he help me. Thanks

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Don, I assume you've seen the Zinker episode by now. If not, let me know and we can put you in contact with him. Sorry for the late reply. Terry

[@rvinson]

Are any of the articles mentioned on the bass fishing archives? If so would you be able to help out with some links in the description?

[@thebigbasspodcast]

rvinson, no, I haven't done anything about Brasher on the BFA. I should. I'll get that done this week. Thanks! Terry

[@andywilliamson7846]

Were the "Jackson 5" all caught on the same outing or collected during various outings?

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Yes, they were all caught the same night!! Terry

[@coeymccollum9465]

Can't find a wooden musky jitterbug? Take a plastic one for the lip and hardware and just go and cut the top off of your neighbors cedar fence post. Wittle it down and get your buddy down at the body shop to paint it black. Reattach hardware and go hawgin. If you know this story then your in the know.😂

[@alanrasmussen4097]

I bought a Deps NZ Crawler this year and the first night i used it, I caught a big ass owl. Is the Jitterbug a good owl bait also? LOL!

[@thebigbasspodcast]

LOL. I'm sure it is! Thank for watching Alan! Terry

[@secretbassrigs]

Terry is da OG Crupi Groupie

[@thebigbasspodcast]

LOL. On a sad note, I heard this weekend that Bob passed away?? Is there any truth to that? Terry

[@secretbassrigs]

@@thebigbasspodcast yup. CALIFORNIA’S TRUE TROPHY-BASS ICON PASSES AWAY AT 70 By WON Staff -November 19, 20230

[@secretbassrigs]

@@thebigbasspodcast RIP BOB 🎣 I can't imagine how many lives could be the same without ever having heard his name.

[@secretbassrigs]

@@thebigbasspodcast I didn't know until you mentioned it Terry. He passed away last Tuesday. Thanks for the heads up.

[@andywilliamson7846]

@@secretbassrigs Thanks for the info. Sad. Met him in 1991 and 1993 at the Big Bass World Championship at Nashville. On Aug. 29, 1991, which was the practice day, he was tossed out of the boat at 65 mph and broke his back. He never got to fish that event, but came back in 1992 and 1993. He was selling his Bodacious Bass videos there as well as fishing the tournament.

[@jameskeim8912]

Buzz Bait was talked about being made illegal after it came out it beat the jitterbug no comparison check how many years it been out chatterbait been out 25 time flies boys jitterbug like whopper plopper crossover bait

[@secretbassrigs]

instead of using grass for cover at Castaic Lagoon, the bass use 40 years worth of snagged fishing line.

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Oh man, there is just so much wrong with that! Terry

[@secretbassrigs]

@@thebigbasspodcast I wish it wasn't halfway true.

[@secretbassrigs]

KEN DUKE on the Evening News Boise Idaho Idaho largemouth bass record proven after 75 years KTVB7 Ken Duke and The Big Bass Podcast uncovered old magazine records to prove the decades-old record, and recognize the rightful title owners name. NICE JOB KEN tv star

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Pretty cool huh? Ken is getting fan mail from Boise now. LOL. Terry

[@secretbassrigs]

@@thebigbasspodcast Boise Groupies ! Woot! Woot! Wait till they see him in his smoking jacket. They'll think he's a reel "Duke" (or aire to a vast potted Fern in Scotland)

[@secretbassrigs]

@@thebigbasspodcast the best trophy wife lure ever!

[@rogerdudra178]

He sounds like a North Dakota dude when he pronounces Opelika wrong.

[@secretbassrigs]

BOB CRUPI 1953-2023 🎣 🌄

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Yeah, we heard. Such a bummer. Terry

[@secretbassrigs]

@@thebigbasspodcast let's hope and pray the new guard isn't like Ben Miliken 🙏 Please God no! I promise I'll be a good boy. Anything but a rapping big bass legend. Nooooo! 😣😖😵

[@stevenjohnson9855]

Great show and yall always have great guests on , KEN, I sent you an article on messenger. Maybe y’all can interview this guy, he’s still making fishing lures

[@stevenjohnson9855]

Oh he’s 91 years old

[@thebigbasspodcast]

Steven, did you send the msg to TBBP messenger? I haven't seen it? Terry