Lure of the Month: Z-Man Micro Finesse LarvaZ
by Terry Madewell
Crappies eat all sorts of critters but most angler know their #1 preference is tiny baitfish. That is why it is easy to get on the “Minnow-imitation Bandwagon” of lures.
But minnows are not the only living creatures crappies like to eat. Throughout their range invertebrates are often a significant part of their diet while crappies are making their day-to-day living.
One excellent crappie lure mimicking an invertebrate is the Z-Man Micro Finesse LarvaZ. It is a proven crappie-producer and that’s why the Z-Man Micro Finesse LarvaZ is the March 2024 CrappieNow Lure of the Month.
Cory Schmidt, marketing manager for Z-Man Fishing, said the lure was originally designed to fill the niche for a lure that imitates invertebrate forage. But it doesn’t imitate a specific, singular species of invertebrate because those can vary in different bodies of water. Z-Man wanted the design to be generic enough to make it attractive to crappie throughout their range.
“I’ve checked many crappie stomachs for what they’ve recently eaten, researching the invertebrate’s crappie consume throughout their range,” said Schmidt. “I’ve found that crappies feast on many invertebrates including mayfly larva, nymphs, and freshwater shrimp to name a few. I wanted a lure that would appeal to crappies everywhere, so the generic invertebrate profile was designed. But I kept the large, bulbous eyes to employ a weight-forward concept. With a bigger head, the tail naturally undulates with very little effort on the part of the angler.”
Schmidt said he and other anglers have enjoyed year-round success with the LarvaZ, but one early spring tactic has proven dependable everywhere it’s been fished.
“Using the Micro Finesse LarvaZ under a float during the spring is an awesome way to catch crappies,” he said. “With low water temperatures typical of most areas during March, crappies are often not aggressive, and this delicate morsel is too tempting to resist because it’s small, and a natural fit to their diet.”
Schmidt said he prefers to fish the lure on a Micro Finesse SchroomZ jighead, with a number 6 hook. In deeper water he’ll use a slip float and have the lure positioned one-to-two-feet above the crappie’s depth.
“Using forward-facing sonar I know the depth of the fish and I position the lure just above them,” he said. “If the fish are 10-feet deep, I’d have the lure at 8-to-9-feet-deep, for example. Since the lure is made from the ElaZtech material that highly buoyant, it stays at the targeted depth and any twitch of the rod tip imparts action. If fish move shallower or deeper, I’ll adjust accordingly.”
When fishing grass on the bottom, this lure on a dropshot rig is deadly.
“Put the lure on a number six hook and it floats lifelike above the dropshot,” he said. “Position it just above the grass, slowly working it around the cover. It’s highly visible, and when presented in this manner, it’s lethal.”
It’s productive on standard cast and retrieve, or vertical fishing techniques, and Schmidt said the lure excels for shooting docks.
“This invertebrate profile resembles organisms living under docks, especially at certain times of the year, with mayfly hatches being a prime example,” he said.
Like all productive crappie lures, the Micro Finesse LarvaZ catches crappie in a variety of traditional presentations. But the invertebrate profile also encourages anglers to allow their personal creativity to flow, enabling them to adapt to unique scenarios on the water being fished.
Terry Madewell of Ridgeway, S.C. has been an outdoor communicator for more than 48 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.
