Lure of the Month: Z-Man Baits Micro GOAT
by Terry Madewell
Lure versatility is an underappreciated quality of many crappie fishing lures in terms of overall crappie-catching production. I was discussing the finer qualities of productive crappie lures recently with a local crappie fishing guru in my area. His crappie-fishing philosophy was that a lure that catches crappie via multiple techniques AND has the fish-attracting power to tempt other game species to bite while targeting crappie is the enticement he wants to present.
He said his confidence level soars when a lure provides that type of versatility.
Such a lure is the Z-Man Micro GOAT, the August 2025 CrappieNOW Lure of the Month. This 1.75-inch creature bait presents a versatile panfish-catching profile and is a proven crappie-catching machine that levels up as an irresistible temptation to other panfish species just about anywhere anglers fish.
Cory Schmidt, Marketing and Media Manager for Z-Man Lures, said the lure originated from downsizing the larger GOAT profile. This highly productive and proven bass fishing lure makes a strong case for living up to its name. The smaller size makes it ideal for micro finesse applications when targeting slab crappie.
Schmidt said with a proven fish-attracting design from the GOAT, the only change needed was to make the size universally appealing to crappie and panfish.
“The Micro Goat’s ElaZtech composition and inherent advantages, being softer and thereby more free-moving and active in the water than traditional plastics, is a key to the lure’s success,” Schmidt said. “It’s at least 10 times more durable and long-lasting, and a single Micro GOAT bait caught over 50 crappie and other species for our testing crew. It’s naturally buoyant in the water, so the bait hovers horizontally when suspended beneath a bobber, or when on the bottom, the bait’s tail rises and quivers involuntarily.”
Schmidt targets crappie with the Micro GOAT, and the consistent hookups with panfish keep him energized even when working out the crappie fishing pattern of the day.
“It’s a matter of getting on the right crappie pattern, and from a personal perspective, I enjoy catching multiple fish species, and this lure is prime for that,” he said.
Schmidt said the twin action tails incorporate a unique curved paddle tail design found on other highly successful Z-Man lures. Micro GOAT sprouts fine, flattened dual kicker legs, finished the water-catching curved paddletails that pulse and swim at any retrieve speed, including during the drop.
The ribbed body increases water displacement while trapping air bubbles, adding to its sensory appeal.
Schmidt said the Micro GOAT is a superior casting, drifting, and trolling bait that’s also versatile in terms of rigging.
“It can be rigged horizontally to mimic invertebrates, think micro crayfish,” he said. “When rigged vertically, it mimics baitfish, and I’ll use faster swimbait-style retrieves, with the twin legs scissor-kicking, to attract crappie and perch, trout, and other panfish. The smaller size of the Micro GOAT is not immune to the occasional aggressive bite from a black bass either. For me, that completes the all-around versatility of the lure and why I love to fish with it.”
Schmidt said this versatile lure is compatible with Micro Finesse ShroomZ or Micro Shad HeadZ jigheads. Z-Man has ten vibrant colors, including powerful glow-in-the-dark patterns, to suit different fishing scenarios.
When I’m fishing, I want to catch fish, and I plan on most of them being the targeted species of the day. But when crappie action slows, and bull bream or headshaking bass load up occasionally, it keeps my head in the game and is a confidence builder as I continue the quest for crappie.
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.
