One of the most underrated bass fishing lures not in production today. The “Original Bomber” series from Bomber Baits. This lure still holds the current world record for Smallmouth Bass. You’ve probably heard of another Bomber lure, the “Model A”. Today the Model A is amongst the most popular bass fishing lures. However, for 34 years the “original Bomber” series was Bomber’s premiere lure.

The Original Bomber boasts a balanced, tube-shaped body that sails through the air for long, accurate casts. Available in five sizes and numerous finishes over the years, it offers bass fishing anglers plenty of variety. Its biggest strength is its deep-diving action—a fast, tight wiggle driven by a sturdy metal lip that helps it avoid snags.

Versatile by design, it could also be fished as a topwater or shallow jerkbait. Let it float, give it a few sharp twitches, and watch it come to life. (all but the 200 series float at rest)

Size Chart

Original Bombers aren’t hard to find—especially the plastic versions from the 1980s and very early ’90s—but rarer wooden models or unique colors can fetch top dollar. Most fishable examples go for $3–$19, though the elusive 600HD (Heavy Duty) size is tougher to find.  All are great for bass fishing!

Billed as the “Successor to the live minnow,” the Lazy Ike first hit the water in 1938. Each lure was hand-whittled until 1945, when production switched to lathes. Over the decades, it racked up awards and repeatedly appeared in “Top Lures” lists in outdoor magazines.

The Lazy Ike’s simple curved design delivers a tight, lifelike wiggle that mimics a distressed minnow. It’s incredibly responsive, effective at almost any retrieve speed, and it shines for trolling; a big reason it gained fame in the Midwest. With six sizes and a decent variety of colors, it’s capable of producing in any water

Because it was so popular, Lazy Ikes are still common at garage sales (especially in the midwest), flea markets, and online auctions. Wood models tend to fetch more, while plastic ones are typically more affordable.

Introduced in 1933, the River Runt Spook was one of the first plastic lures ever made—and one of the best-selling in history. Its production run spanned over five decades, ending in 1989, but its reputation lives on.

Most sizes of the River Runt will be shallow wide wobbling bait. The Runt is very responsive to retrieve speed and it requires little speed to get the wounded baitfish like wobble action going. Something unique about the River Runt is the variety: Jointed, diving depth, rest action, size, color. This lure has so many variations that whatever condition you're fishing, there’s a River Runt for that. There's so many combinations of this bait that collectors can spend decades and still have an incomplete collection. Despite all of the variations they all excel for game-fish and especially for bass fishing.

The River Runt was so widespread that odds are you’ll find one in any well-used old tackle box. However, because they’re heavily collected, even common versions can be a little pricier.

These lures may have disappeared from store shelves, but their fish-catching power never went out of style. Whether you’re casting them for bass or adding them to your collection, they carry the charm and craftsmanship of a bygone era.