Lure of the Month: Vibe Runner
by Terry Madewell
New crappie fishing lures are introduced into the crappie-fishing market annually, and many are deadly crappie-catchers from the get-go. But don’t forget about those hot lures released in the past simply because the current chatter is primarily about new lures.
Productive lures from the past developed a solid following because they’ve caught crappie consistently and are still producing outstanding results on crappie right now.
One specific lure combined a new version of a proven head with a larger-bodied plastic grub with a lethal profile to create a lure that was a crappie killer in 2021 and is still wildly successful today.
This pairing created TTI Blakemore’s Vibe Runner, an underbody spinner lure, which is the CrappieNow Lure of the Month for January 2025.
Ron Stallings with TTI Blakemore engineered pairing the Road Runner PRO 2.0 head with a silver, brass hammered willow leaf blade, prism eyes, and a larger hook to an existing Bass Assassin body. He said this pairing produced a unique lure.
“It’s worked as well as we hoped, and we had high expectations for the lure,” Stallings said. “The key to the success of the Vibe Runner is beginning with all the flash and vibration expected from a generational lure like the Roadrunner, paired with a killer plastic body. The lure’s appeal to crappie is exceptional and is effective on bass, panfish, and walleye. It has become a versatile fish-catching lure not limited to traditional crappie fishing techniques.”
Stallings said the unique tail is one of the primary allures of the bait.
“The tail first twists 90 degrees, then curls, giving the lure exceptional action and vibration, enabling crappies to a better home in on the Vibe Runner,” he said.
Stallings said the lure is limited only by the angler’s willingness to try new tactics. The Vibe Runner comes in different sizes and multiple color combinations. Check out a video of Stallings discussing the Vibe Runner.
“I like the 1/8-ounce size for longlining, and it’s ideal for cast and retrieve situations,” he said. “The 1/16-ounce version is proven effective for shooting docks, and the larger plastic body profile helps it sink slower. The added flash of the blade makes it deadly in close quarters under, or around, a dock.”
Stallings said when designing the lure, his goal was to produce an all-encompassing lure that produced crappies year-round and in multiple fishing scenarios. The size profile is larger than many lures, making it effective for slabs that sometimes prefer bigger baits, especially in pre-spawn patterns.
Stalling said another technique that produces well is the ‘pump and pause,’ where anglers turn the reel handle while giving the rod tip pumps and pauses. Another bounces the lure near the bottom as it’s retrieved.
The Vibe Runner is a versatile lure, and I like it as a search-and-catch bait. It’s effective on a steady retrieve or pause and drop and can fish the entire water column effectively. During the searching process, the odds of catching crappies are high; try it, and you’ll feel the vibe.
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.
