Lure of the Month: Bobby Garland Lures Head Turn’R
by Terry Madewell
With a name like Head Turn’R, one would certainly expect a thing of beauty that must live up to some serious hype. But in this case, we’re not talking about pretty girls… we’re talking about pretty crappie lures.
Why else would you, our readers, turn your head to check’R out?
The Bobby Garland Lures Head Turn’R is the December 2024 CrappieNOW Lure of the Month, based on fish-catching results. But the name doesn’t hurt either.
And our accolades are well-timed as the unique lure just won top honors at the recent Pittman Creek Dealer Show in the Best Terminal Tackle category of the Product Showcase Awards, with voting done by independent tackle dealers in attendance from across the country.
The judges said, “The Head Turn’R jighead is a first of its kind for the crappie market.”
Skylar St. Yves, Bobby Garland brand manager at PRADCO Fishing, said the design advantages built into the Head Turn’R address issues that long precede live sonar technology.
“Single-blade underspin lures have long been the standard for bladed jigheads,” said St. Yves. “Typically, the blade is set on a fixed point, limiting an angler’s ability to use them effectively across broad techniques and situations.”
The Head Turn’R offers a unique solution: free-rotating dual willow blades. The balanced head has been bored horizontally to allow the blades 360 degrees of rotation.
The jighead comes assembled with silver willow blades. Willow blades offer natural flash and shape, making them the ideal pairing with soft plastic jigs.
Here’s some underwater footage of the Head Turn’R to view the lure in live action.
St. Yves said the design concept was the brainchild of legendary Mississippi crappie angler Brad Chappell. Chappell came to prominence in the crappie community as a master long-line troller, and his initial product improved his success.
Chappell recognized the need for a versatile jighead that produces when fished behind the boat and viewed on the FFS screen.
St. Yves said the Head Turn’R has incredible visibility on the FFS screen because the lure creates pronounced bubble lines on each side of the bait from the blades when retrieved. The bubble lines increase visibility for the angler watching on the screen and the targeted fish.
St. Yves said lure testers at Bobby Garland Lures were surprised to find how well the jighead worked when fished by itself with a bare hook, especially when dipped vertically with a long rod.
“A subtle rod shake and slow lift approach worked best for strikes,” he said. “In these situations, the jighead paired best with subtle action jigs like the 2″ Slab Slay’R, 2″ Original Baby Shad, and 1.75″ Live Roam’R. When trolled, cast, or spider-rigged, the robust tail action jigs like the 2.5″ Stroll’R, 2.25″ Stroll’R, 2″ Hyper Grub, and 2″ Swimming Minnow are ideal pairings.”
The Bobby Garland Head Turn’R (MSRP $6.99, per package of two) was designed to use with multiple techniques and is effective in many crappie fishing scenarios. It can be rigged for long-line trolling, casting, retrieving, vertical jigging, and dock shooting. The jighead design keeps the blades free from tangling at impact or during the fall.
From my perspective, this do-it-all lure works for any crappie angler, regardless of their level of technology use. From live sonar use to working structure targets and long-line trolling, the Head Turn’R jighead fits the needs of crappie anglers using bladed jigheads.
Terry Madewell of Ridgeway, S.C. has been an outdoor communicator for 50 years. He holds a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and has a long career as a professional wildlife biologist/natural resources manager. He’s passionate about sharing outdoor adventures with others.
