Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The same is likely true for judging the best crappie fishing lures of all time. But CrappieNOW co-founder and Senior Writer Tim Huffman has picked his “Top 12 Best Crappie Lures” of all time. (Photo: Tim Huffman)
Top 12 Crappie Best Baits of All Time
by Tim Huffman
#12 Special Jigheads
Specialty baits not necessarily found in every crappie angler’s tackle box are often great choices. Examples include Brewer’s Weedless Crappie Slider Head that allows baits to be pulled through thick cover. Crappie Magnet’s Eye Hole scent Holder Jig solves the problem of a scent being knocked off or washed off the hook. Doughball scent is pushed into a hole that runs through the jighead. The Grizzly Jig Google Eye jig has rattling eyes for sound. The Crappie Magnet Fin Spin head gives a darting action when moving at relatively at slow speeds.
#11 Ice Fishing Spoon
Not well-known among Southern crappie anglers, the Bay De Noc Swedish Pimple has been around for decades and is a proven crappie catcher. Its simple design with a curve gives it unique action when fishing vertically. It catches crappie and most other species. It’s good under the ice, but can catch crappie in open water, too. There are many great ice fishing baits including a variety of spoon styles and models.
#10 Micro Jigs
The Crappie Magnet Pop Eye Jig (pictured) is a micro lure, a popular choice in ultra-clear water or anytime when scoping with forward-facing sonar. Bobby Garland Itty Bit, Brewer’s 1-inch Crappie Slider, Grizzly Jig, and many other tiny baits offer a different and unique look. Why small? Think about your eating. There are times you want a big meal but other times you are not hungry. However, place a cookie in front of you and you’ll likely eat it whether you’re hungry or not. Same with a crappie. Micro jigs can catch fish when they are finicky.
#9 Road Runner
Road Runners catch crappie. They are best with a cast/retrieve technique or when long line trolling. Their advantage is a flash and vibration from a spinning blade that demands a fish’s attention. Blade picks include Colorado or willow leaf style in chrome or bronze color. They come tied with marabou, with plastic bodies or head only so you can add a minnow or the plastic body you want. Tip: try using a Road Runner head tipped with a minnow for vertical presentations.
#8 Hair Jigs
Hair jigs (often a generic term for hair, feather or marabou) have always been around, but in recent years with the invention of forward-facing sonar, hair has made a huge jump in popularity. Hair has a different look and action than plastic. Individual fly tyers will tie special orders so a fisherman can get exactly what he wants.
#7 Marabou Crappie Jig
The original chenille/marabou crappie jig was responsible for many crappie in the early years of artificial-bait crappie fishing. A round head jig, chenille wrapped body, and a marabou tail creates a good baitfish imitation with flowing tail action. Easier-to-use plastic bodies eased fishermen away from this once-dominating crappie catcher, but it’s still a good jig.
#6 Bandit Crankbait
Bandit 200 & 300 Series crankbaits target large crappie. Flicker Shads, Pico INT cranks and others catch fish, but Bandits have been the most popular bait for decades and they still catch fish today. Crankbaiting is a specialty technique that doesn’t work on every lake. It’s generally a warm season tactic and has a large start-up cost. In general, a fisherman either loves or hates this technique, there is no in between. However, the technique is fun, laid back and can be very productive.
#5 Curly Tail Jig
Kalin Tripple Threat, Mr. Twister, Southern Pro Hot Grub and Bobby Garland Stroll’R are a few curly tails that have made a major impact in crappie fishing. A curly tail jig provides maximum action when moving. Reeling a cast back to the boat is one example. Pulling/trolling jigs is another favorite technique for getting the baits moving, causing the tail to ripple seductively to catch more fish.
#4 Berkley Crappie Nibbles
More crappie have been caught due to Crappie Nibbles with PowerBait formula. It’s not a stand-alone bait and it doesn’t have a shape to draw strikes, but the doughball style add-on puts more fish into the boat. The doughball pellet is placed on the hook to draw fish to a bait and to close the deal when a fish is deciding whether to hit the bait. Fish hang on longer, too. Berkley added Sparkle Nibbles to the lineup in about 2000. Tips: Use Nibbles with minnows, too; set individual Nibbles in the sun to harden the outside skin so they stay on a hook longer.
#3 Baby Shad
The Baby Shad made by Bobby Garland Lures, is a great plastic bait. It looks like a minnow or shad and has good movement from a single tail. The style works in all waters and excels in clear water where visibility is good. Bobby Garland uses very soft plastic for good bait action and to get fish to hang on longer. Today there are many companies making a version of the baby shad, a proven crappie-catching bait.
#2 Tube Jig
The Southern Pro Tackle Lit’l Hustler jig dominated early jig fishing and earns the top artificial bait spot. The bait is hollow and has multiple, tiny tail tentacles to give it movement and life. Fishermen learned that an artificial bait could be used in certain situations to catch fish faster and more efficiently than with a minnow. The company made another version called the Umbrella, having a flared tail with more tentacles. The Lit’l Hustler and Umbrella are both great baits.
#1 Live Minnows
It’s probably no surprise that minnows provide crappie anglers the best opportunity to get a bite. The advantage of a minnow, over a jig, is the minnow does all the work. It has the right look, moves, flash and smell to attract a crappie. It’s perfect for a novice or young fishermen because a float can be used to set the minnows depth, while the fisherman watches the float for a bite. And they’re not just for beginners. Experts and professional tournament crappie anglers often use minnows, especially when slow trolling or using slip-float.
It’s likely your list would be different from mine. That’s okay. My list of outstanding baits was based upon their importance in time. For example, tube jigs were key in early plastics, changing crappie fishing forever and earning them the top spot in artificial baits. Today hair and micro jigs are the trend. Tomorrow, who knows?”
Senior CrappieNow writer and recent Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame member, Tim Huffman, has a new book, Papermouth, Modern Fishing Techniques, available in Kindle or paperback at Amazon, or link from his website, www.monstercrappie.com
