It was a shallow-running Rattlin' Rogue, model RB1200 to be exact. It would do what he wanted it to do -- catch fish. Its Butyrate paddle was softer than most modern plastics and thus gave the lure a little more action off the sharp, violent jerks coming from VanDam's rod. Along with that, the rattles were lead -- almost a thing of the past -- which offered a duller, softer sound in the water.

Now, there are a lot of shallow-running jerkbaits on the market. Many of them made to more exacting standards and with better materials. For certain, most of them show the fish a more lifelike finish. But in this case, the old one got the job done. And as you might expect, that old Rogue is now being reintroduced and should be available by the time you read this.

VanDam isn't the only serious bass angler to appreciate the utility of old lures. Kevin Wirth, a successful touring pro in his own right, admits to owning "quite a few" old lures. They have served him well over the years. He is especially fond of the old wooden Poe crankbaits, the ones made before computers allowed every lure to look and run identically.

Most of Wirth's baits are in the 300 and 400 series. He likes the wood because, "There are no two wooden lures the same. They just aren't. All are different and unique." He typically practices with a dozen or more -- sometimes as many as 30 or 40 -- and selects only the very best, the ones he knows will catch the most fish. "I throw them all and then fine-tune the best to run exactly the way I want them to run," he said.

After that, he'll only throw that lure in tournaments. The reason is obvious: It can't be replaced, not only because it's old, but also because it's unique and can never be replaced no matter how advanced the manufacturing process or how many others he finds. Also, he practices and pre-fishes the tourney with those lures that didn't make the final cut.

Another group of favorites he keeps carefully secured in his boat is a collection of 25-year-old Bagley lures and a handful of original Rebel Wee-Rs. He likes them for the same reasons and treats them the same way -- tournament fishing with the best and practicing with the rest.

Note that none of these lures are considered "hot" now. When was the last time you saw an angler tie one on at the dock? But they all caught fish in their day and can do so again if given the chance. Professional anglers feed and support their families by catching fish. They don't throw old lures because they are antique freaks. They throw them because they catch fish.

Of course, consistency and quality control aren't all bad. They have made our fishing lives a lot better in many ways. Still, each lure being different and unique can have its advantages. It offers the fish something they haven't seen, heard or felt before.