Lure of the Month: Power Vibe
by Terry Madewell
Lipless soft baits are an excellent choice for many species of fish, and crappie are no exception. The smaller, crappie-size lures often have weight built into the bait’s head, eliminating the need to attach a soft plastic profile body to a jighead.
lure that looks like live forage, and can be worked in multiple ways effectively;
ideal for winter fishing. (Photo courtesy Berkley)
It’s a slight profile difference, but with crappie, small factors can produce significant results.
Berkley Fishing has a tremendous selection of crappie fishing lures, and they added another winner, introduced at the recent 2025 ICAST. From the positive performance feedback from testing and the ‘I need this lure’ looks and comments at ICAST, this lure checks all the boxes.
The Berkley Power Vibe is the December 2025 CrappieNOW Lure of the Month. It’s available now, and anglers who use it love its realistic look, action, and vibration.
Christopher Seylar, with Berkley Fishing, said the design of this lure was a brainstormed affair with a team of designers working together to find just the right vibe.
“This lipless style lure meshed perfectly with a soft bait, and what we have is a lure with a crappie-catching profile enhanced with tremendous vibration,” he said. “The lure is available in four sizes, but the two we consider prime for targeting crappie are the 1 ½-inch, 1/16th ounce version, and the 2.25-inch 3/16th ounce size. Those two sizes have shown they’ll meet most any crappie fishing scenario on a year-round basis, and both have situations during the cold months when they produce extremely well.”
Seylar said the cold-weather crappie production also extends to ice fishing, where the lure performed exceptionally well during extensive ice-fishing testing.
“Keys to the lure’s success begin with the lure profile, with the built-in weight making it ideal for multiple types of fishing techniques,” he said. “But the design process ensured the lure produces maximum vibration.”
The realistic profile, coupled with the vibration’s attraction, provides a potent one-two punch. Those qualities pair well with the multiple sizes and color options available to meet different water and weather conditions.
Seylar said the lure is productive year-round, ideal for shallow-water fishing with the cast-and-retrieve method, and the forked tail helps create visible action in the shallows.
“We’ve found this lure is also ideal for working deeper targets, including swimming it just off the bottom,” he said. “The internal weight and design ensure the sink rate is faster and gets to deep fish quicker.”
“The lure rides perfectly when fished vertically, and dropped to specific targets when using Forward Facing Sonar (FFS),” he said. “Both sizes of the lure provide quality FFS returns.”
“I’ve found that when casting and retrieving the lure, I feel the vibration, and that tells me the bait is running true,” he said. “If I don’t feel the vibration, the lure may be fouled, or more likely something’s trying to eat it.”
The Power Vibe is in the Power Bait family, meaning fish tend to hold on 18 times longer when they bite, providing anglers a better opportunity to get a good hookset.
“Fish hit this lure hard, and I’ve found the rip and fall tactic is also a great way to fish the Power Vibe,” he said.
The Power Vibe profile is a classy minnow profile that crappies find attractive, and the vibration and action help seal the deal with an aggressive bite. I loved the realistic shad-look when I rigged it, but in the clear water I fished that day, it looked even better swimming.
With different weights and multiple color patterns available, anglers can find what they need to target the diverse crappie fishing opportunities they encounter at this time of the year. It’s a complete package, rigged and ready.
Terry Madewell of Ridgeway, S.C., has been an outdoor communicator for nearly 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.
