Jackson: Classic fishing lures beat the flavor of the month

My wife and three daughters are always keeping me abreast of the flavor of the month in neighborhood ice cream shops.

I'm relegated to the sugar-free or no-sugar-added stuff so I can keep a sharp eye on my daily sugar readings.

But most of my family starts smacking their lips once I pull into a parking spot close to the ice cream palaces.

Their hunger for a sugar rush reminds me of some fishermen when they walk into a tackle shop and discover their eyes bulging out of the sockets. Pavlov's dogs would have nothing on the angling community.

I've mentioned George Johnson's name in previous columns.

He's the Orland Park angler who religiously reads this column on the Daily Herald's website. He doesn't always agree with the stances I've taken regarding various issues that pertain to the political side of Illinois' outdoors. I ask the question again: Can't state lawmakers invest a few bucks when all other bills are paid, to convince the outdoors people to stay home and fish and hunt here? George Johnson tends to agree with me.

Back to the main theme.

Johnson is as opinionated as myself but is also levelheaded, especially when choosing fishing tackle and specific lures.

Like ice cream flavors, lure styles, colors, shapes and action may just appeal more to the person buying the stuff and fishing with it than actually whether or not that lure appeals to a fish.

And here's where Johnson makes his case.

Johnson wonders why most fishermen ignore the older lures secreted in their tackle boxes while subsequently dropping some bucks on the counter to buy what's been hailed the latest and greatest bait and lure creations?

Over the years I have written about my personal outings using 60-year-old surface lures made by Heddon, South Bend and Creek Chub.

I've shared with you my personal excitement when a largemouth bass came up and under a Lucky 13 and got a mouthful of hooks. I assume George would pat me on the back in recognition of my stick-to-it-ness.

I love bait casting and fly fishing, but there's nothing that compares to running a lure on the surface and watching a fish create that wonderful explosive scene right in front of one's eyes.

And yes, there are some new lures that have been designed to impart a super wiggle and vibrating buzz. In fact, I admit to having quite a few of these newbies because I'm really no different from many of you.

One tackle box is plainly marked "Rapala Floaters," while another small container houses Rapala sinkers.

And if push came to shove, I'd rather fish the surface with an older, beaten up, tooth-marked surface plug while eating a double scoop of the month.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.