Mad Tom Lures/baits

[Choporoz]

Tried to search, but 3-letter words don't play well in BR Search.

 

Anyone use plastics or lures that look like mad toms?  Locals on a river near here kill the big smallies with live mad toms (indigenous to the river.)  Seems that plastics shaped like little catfish and/or striped like mad toms would work well, but I don't think I've ever seen them.  Gobies are about the closest.  (Close enough?)

     I've only found two sites with mad tom plastics and I'm not blown away by the shape, colors or size. (I will probably try some and black sharpie some stripes across the backs.)  I gotta think a lifelike 4 in mad tom plastic would be a no brainer; so I'm surprised I don't see more offered or hear talk of using them. 

[Scarborough817]

what about hair jigs? wouldn't they be able to replicate a mad tom fairly easily if they were tied right?

[Choporoz]

I dunno.  Maybe.  I'm envisioning a 4 inch plastic; something I'm willing to lose a half dozen per trip in a swift, rocky river.  Maybe on an Owner Ultra Finesse head.

[smalljaw67]

what about hair jigs? wouldn't they be able to replicate a mad tom fairly easily if they were tied right?

 

I actually tie a mad tom hair jig, but it is more just size and color that actually looking like one. Case Plastics makes a mad tom soft plastic bait.

 

http://www.fishingcompleteinc.com/salted-mad-tom

[roadwarrior]

This is a sculpin, but it's pretty close:  http://www.basspro.com/Jewel-Bait-Sculpin-Hypertail-Lure/product/61334/

[Choporoz]

Thanks, Kent. That might work. Needs a couple dark stripes across the back with a sharpie and just might kill them.