Lure of the Month: Guppy Gobbler
by Terry Madewell
April typically produces wide-open crappie fishing, but even during prime-time, slabs can be finicky in their menu choices, so fishing a lure with profile versatility is always a good idea. But it can be especially important in April. Changing weather patterns and crappie morphing in-and-out of pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn phases often requires a different lure presentation.
Tophat Jigs owner Derek Martin said the 2-inch Guppy Gobbler provides that versatility – intentionally built into the design he developed.
“The Guppy Gobbler is a plastic bait that’s unique in the crappie-fishing market,” said Martin. “The design provides tremendous versatility with lure presentation. Changing the position of the patented Triangle Tail enables the lure to provide two different types of action. When rigged with the tail in a horizontal profile, it provides a ‘mermaid’ appearance. Rigged this way, it slows the fall rate of the lure, while displacing more water.”
Martin said, however, when rigged with the tail in a vertical profile, it’s a ‘minnow’ profile, with great swimming action. A simple turn of the tail provides profile diversity while impacting speed and water displacement patterns.
Tophat Jigs prostaffer and crappie-fishing guide Matt England said he employs both profiles, along with other bite influencers, to find the best combination on any given day.
“For me, the lure profile, paired with speed and color pattern variability, are primary factors that trigger a crappie to bite or not bite,” he said. “When fishing with someone, I’ll rig the opposite profile to test what’s best in that specific crappie-fishing situation.”
He said a perfect example of this profile, pace and color versatility occurred on New Year’s Day, 2023, when he and Martin fished together.
“We were catching crappie on a vertical pattern with the Guppy Gobbler and we tested colors and profile,” he said. “At first, I was putting three fish in the boat to his one. Derek changed his color pattern and his catch improved to a three-to-two-fish ratio, so the color change helped. His lure profile was mermaid and mine was minnow, so he changed his lure profile to match mine and from that point the catch-rate was even.
“The Guppy Gobbler in the two-inch size is my favorite in April because of the spawn and big crappie on the move,” he said. “One solid April spawn-fishing pattern for me is to get in shallow water and fish parallel to the shoreline. Either the minnow or mermaid profile can work, I adjust based on the daily preference of the crappie.”
English said he’s used the ‘minnow’ profile successfully when longline trolling at this time of the year.
“The lure is ideal for vertical jigging and working under a cork, too,” he said.
English pairs the lure with an 1/16-ounce round head jighead for most of his fishing. But based on speed, depth and wind considerations if a heavier jighead is needed, an 1/8-ounce jighead pairs well with the Guppy Gobbler.
With the Guppy Gobbler, fishermen have distinct lure profile options, and along with speed, color and water movement controls, we can likely find that specific combination that works best for the fishing situations we’ll encounter on that day.
Terry Madewell hails from Ridgeway, S.C., and has been an outdoor writer for more than 40 years. He holds a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Management and has a long career as a professional wildlife biologist/natural resources manager and is still passionate about sharing, and enjoying, the great outdoors with others.
