Crappie imitation bass lure? Deep thoughts

[Brad Reams]

I was crappie fishing the other day, and thought why is it I rarely see a bass lure that is a crappie imitation.

I know I've seen a few small crappie that Bass coughed up when I caught them, though not as often as bluegill.

 

anyone else, have thoughts or know something?

crappie is a minority compared to perch/bluegill or  shad/shiner imitations.

 

I was thinking if a crappie was the right forage size why would a bass not strike? 

 

 

Here's one of the few I could find available.  

[jimmyjoe]

   Bandit 200 in "Crappie".  One of my must-haves.   

[WRB]

The truth be known bass prefer to eat crappie over bluegill, softer spines and longer narrower body shape compared to bluegill make them easier to swallow.

Matt lures offers several crappie soft and hard swimbaits for example. Unlike bluegill that are dermasel ( close to cover) fish, crappie are more palegic (open water) fish, they don't share the same water columne often is some lakes, except during the spawn cycle.

Crappie swimbaits are good pre spawn lures.

Tom

Edited November 3, 2019 by WRB

[Brad Reams]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

The truth be known bass prefer to eat crappie over bluegill, softer spines and longer narrower body shape compared to bluegill make them easier to swallow.

Matt lures offers several crappie soft and hard swimbaits for example. Unlike bluegill that are dermasel ( close to cover) fish, crappie are more palegic (open water) fish, they don't share the same water columne often is some lakes, except during the spawn cycle.

Crappie swimbaits are good pre spawn lures.

Tom

Prefer Crappie?? it makes sense to me, HOWEVER....... the # of crappie imitation lures are limited. 

Probably 50:1 bluegill/perch compared to crappie. 

 

You can't deny the manufacturers don't make many crappie lures to choose from.   

I think it's weird and unexplained, thus far. 

[MIbassyaker]

I have the following crankbaits in crappie patterns:

--The Bandit posted above, in the 100 series

--Livetarget Crappie, flat-sided and lipless

--Lucky Craft RTO squarebill

[Fishes in trees]

Not a lot of difference between the " crappie pattern" pictured a couple of posts prior and any of a number of "shad" imitating finishes.    Looks to me, a few minutes with a black sharpie and your "shad" bait can become a " crappie" imitation.   Late 70's & early 80's, there was a kinda popular pattern called " Dalmatian" or " coach dog" that was kinda a crappie imitation.   Haven't seen that pattern lately, though.

[The Bassman]

I have to wonder if a bait moving along at a pretty good clip in slightly less than crystal clear water is really discerned that closely. Location, depth and speed control, along with the fish's attitude determines if you get bit. Colors appeal more to the fisherman's senses in my opinion. 

[Hook2Jaw]

1 hour ago, The Bassman said:

I have to wonder if a bait moving along at a pretty good clip in slightly less than crystal clear water is really discerned that closely. Location, depth and speed control, along with the fish's attitude determines if you get bit. Colors appeal more to the fisherman's senses in my opinion. 

I've had quite a couple days where I can switch my jerkbait colors when I'm absolutely burning and line whistling through the air slashing them and start to catch fish after fish, whereas before, on a different colored offering, I can't buy half as many bites.

 

I think color, even at high speeds, matters quite a bit.

[Brad Reams]

32 minutes ago, Hook2Jaw said:

I've had quite a couple days where I can switch my jerkbait colors when I'm absolutely burning and line whistling through the air slashing them and start to catch fish after fish, whereas before, on a different colored offering, I can't buy half as many bites.

 

I think color, even at high speeds, matters quite a bit.

interesting thoughts

 

my point is, If bass PREFER crappie, we'd see a lot more lures in CRAPPIE pattern colors.  

 

11 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

I have the following crankbaits in crappie patterns:

--The Bandit posted above, in the 100 series

--Livetarget Crappie, flat-sided and lipless

--Lucky Craft RTO squarebill

I personally own 75+ crank/jerk baits 

I have ZERO crappie imitations 

I've seen ZERO in the stores, I'd buy it if I saw it. 

 

FACT lure manufactures MAKE 100's of bluegill lures 

FACT the # of bluegill imitation lures out # crappie imitation lures 100:1 

 

WHY????????????????? I don't get it 

someone has to have the answer

[fishballer06]

I have a local reservoir that the main forage is crappie, and I've caught numerous bass with a crappie in their gullet. Since crappie colored baits are hard to come by, I make my own skirts to match the hatch. 

 

[Brad Reams]

16 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

I have a local reservoir that the main forage is crappie, and I've caught numerous bass with a crappie in their gullet. Since crappie colored baits are hard to come by, I make my own skirts to match the hatch. 

 

those are pretty! 

well done

great idea 

[fishballer06]

2 hours ago, Brad Reams said:

I personally own 75+ crank/jerk baits 

I have ZERO crappie imitations 

I've seen ZERO in the stores, I'd buy it if I saw it. 

 

WHY????????????????? I don't get it 

 

13 minutes ago, Brad Reams said:

those are pretty! 

well done

great idea 

Lucky Craft makes a crappie colored pointer. I have one that has half the paint scuffed off it from all the fish it's caught. 

 

https://www.skraidantizuvis.lt/1180-large_default/lucky-craft-pointer-78sp-black-crappie.jpg

 

And thank you. If you'd like me to make a few for you, I could always do that. 

[moguy1973]

I think there's a lot more lakes/ponds/streams that contain sunfish/bluegill/shad than there are that contain crappie.  Therefore there are more sunfish/bluegill/shad patterned lures.  Like said above a shad pattern can and usually has the same base colors that crappie do and bass are pretty dumb and will eat whatever they feel like eating without looking at it too much typically.

[Brad Reams]

2 hours ago, fishballer06 said:

 

Lucky Craft makes a crappie colored pointer. I have one that has half the paint scuffed off it from all the fish it's caught. 

 

https://www.skraidantizuvis.lt/1180-large_default/lucky-craft-pointer-78sp-black-crappie.jpg

 

And thank you. If you'd like me to make a few for you, I could always do that. 

I think I will take you up on your offer soon, maybe Give a couple away for gifts.  

you just spinnerbaits & jigs?  I was thinking chatter would be great in that pattern also..... 

 

[WRB]

The difference between crappie and all the bream family of fish is location, crappie are pelagic school fish not individual fish grouped together in cover. Most bass anglers can only locate crappie during the spawn cycle when crappie are in shallower water with cover and don't recognize crappie on their sonar units. Bass on the other hand feed on crappie year around if they are availble.

Lure coloration difference is basically bars verses dots/specks, crappie have dots/specks so any lure with light white/charteues background with dark/black green dots/specks will work. 

Modify a Shad color crankbait by adding dots with a sharpie works for example.

Spinner baits with baitfish painted blades are availble, swimbait that replicate crappie are also available.

Tom

 

[Brad Reams]

13 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

I think there's a lot more lakes/ponds/streams that contain sunfish/bluegill/shad than there are that contain crappie.  Therefore there are more sunfish/bluegill/shad patterned lures.  Like said above a shad pattern can and usually has the same base colors that crappie do and bass are pretty dumb and will eat whatever they feel like eating without looking at it too much typically.

I agree with some of your post. I agree bluegill are more common.  

 

I don't agree that crappie & shad imitation lures are similar enough to be lumped into the same group.

  

Especially now in modern days we have many options that match the exact bait to perfection, and so many forage specific species of minnow, shad, shiner that are photo mimics.    

 

[MIbassyaker]

5 hours ago, Brad Reams said:

interesting thoughts

 

my point is, If bass PREFER crappie, we'd see a lot more lures in CRAPPIE pattern colors.  

 

I personally own 75+ crank/jerk baits 

I have ZERO crappie imitations 

I've seen ZERO in the stores, I'd buy it if I saw it. 

 

FACT lure manufactures MAKE 100's of bluegill lures 

FACT the # of bluegill imitation lures out # crappie imitation lures 100:1 

 

WHY????????????????? I don't get it 

someone has to have the answer

 

You assume bass preferences are the main factor determining what lure-makers produce.  Rather, lure-makers produce more of whatever anglers buy.

 

Berkley labs confronted this dilemma a number of years back when developing a crayfish bait -- they discovered in their own tank experiments that bass showed a reliable preference for baits with no appendages, compared to baits with legs and claws. But they ultimately didn't produce the particular lure design the study showed bass would prefer because they didn't think anybody would buy it. Instead, the research was used to inform their design of a tube bait, a lure design more familiar to anglers. The story is famous enough that it is frequently recounted in books and articles, such as this bassmaster article on crayfish: https://www.bassmaster.com/understanding-bass-forage-crawfish

 

Fast-forward several years and the ned rig is now all the rage...

 

Crappie crankbaits are indeed hard to find -- I run across the bandit one occasionally in stores, but very rarely.

[Paul Roberts]

There are several manufacturers with crappie finishes out there. I have a few; One happens to be a favorite, but not bc it has a crappie finish. I think the lure finish/color is relatively unimportant compared to the overall context in which a bass, or group of bass, happen to find vulnerable crappie prey. In many cases a BG, Shad, or even a chartreuse bait could suffice. In some instances, hot pink can be a killer. In other words, I don't think bass would see a crappie-colored bait as a crappie, unless it was in proper context. Those contexts are what we fishers work so hard to find. Tough to do in a world that exists pretty much out of our sight.

 

Now... once the proper context is found, and the presentation parameters defined (dialed in), then maybe a finish that mimics the exact prey (keeping lighting in mind, as fish are chameleons, lures are not) could help. But... (once again!) that's a tall order and one that might be as apt to be covered with a certain "bluegill"-colored bait as any "crappie"-colored bait.

4 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

You assume bass preferences are the main factor determining what lure-makers produce.  Rather, lure-makers produce more of whatever anglers buy.

 

Berkley labs confronted this dilemma a number of years back when developing a crayfish bait -- they discovered in their own tank experiments that bass showed a reliable preference for baits with no appendages, compared to baits with legs and claws. But they ultimately didn't produce the particular lure design the study showed bass would prefer because they didn't think anybody would buy it. Instead, the research was used to inform their design of a tube bait, a lure design more familiar to anglers. The story is famous enough that it is frequently recounted in books and articles, such as this bassmaster article on crayfish: https://www.bassmaster.com/understanding-bass-forage-crawfish

 

Fast-forward several years and the ned rig is now all the rage...

Crossed in cyperspace! ^^Downright pithy. ?

[WRB]

I have gone as deep as I can on this topic, apparently too deep.

Peace,

Tom

[JustJames]

I think at one point Huddleston make 4” crappie swimbait, I almost buy one, but from my understanding bluegill pattern work better. I almost have one of my Gantarel JR. repainted as crappie pattern. Here is why.

 

I have caught a few on LC jerkbait with crappie pattern but caught a lot more on bluegill pattern.

 

[MIbassyaker]

25 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

There are several manufacturers with crappie finishes out there. I have a few; One happens to be a favorite, but not bc it has a crappie finish. I think the lure finish/color is relatively unimportant compared to the overall context in which a bass, or group of bass, happen to find vulnerable crappie prey. In many cases a BG, Shad, or even a chartreuse bait could suffice. In some instances, hot pink can be a killer. In other words, I don't think bass would see a crappie-colored as a crappie, unless it was in proper context. Those contexts are what we fishers work so hard to find. Tough to do in a world that exists pretty much out of our sight.

 

Now... once the proper context is found, and the presentation parameters defined (dialed in), then maybe a finish that mimics the exact prey (keeping lighting in mind, as fish are chameleons, lures are not) could help. But... (once again!) that's a tall order and one that might be as apt to be covered with a certain "bluegill"-colored bait as any "crappie"-colored bait.

Crossed in cyperspace! ^^Downright pithy. ?

 

And there's also the matter of whether the features we think make a bait "look" like a crappie are the same features bass are keying in on if/when they register crappie as prey. Profile, brightness, reflectance, contrast, and general countershading (dark back/light belly) for instance, may do just as much (or more) of the heavy lifting in bass' ability to distinguish prey from non-prey than color, or more complex visual patterns. 

 

Moreover, when an angler changes lure colors and sees an increase or decrease in strikes, it may not actually be the color change that is making the difference-- it could be subtle change in one or more of those other factors (brightness, contrast, et al.) that we don't really pay attention to or notice (or possibly cannot see at all, at least from our vantage point above the water)

[Brad Reams]

1 hour ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

You assume bass preferences are the main factor determining what lure-makers produce.  Rather, lure-makers produce more of whatever anglers buy.

 

Berkley labs confronted this dilemma a number of years back when developing a crayfish bait -- they discovered in their own tank experiments that bass showed a reliable preference for baits with no appendages, compared to baits with legs and claws. But they ultimately didn't produce the particular lure design the study showed bass would prefer because they didn't think anybody would buy it. Instead, the research was used to inform their design of a tube bait, a lure design more familiar to anglers. The story is famous enough that it is frequently recounted in books and articles, such as this bassmaster article on crayfish: https://www.bassmaster.com/understanding-bass-forage-crawfish

 

Fast-forward several years and the ned rig is now all the rage...

 

Crappie crankbaits are indeed hard to find -- I run across the bandit one occasionally in stores, but very rarely.

I do realize that mostly it's humans make the choices not really the bass.

I'd still think that CRAPPIE pattern would sell, be popular, etc., but a unicorn maybe easier to locate. 

 

interesting info about the appendages.....Thx

 

37 minutes ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I think at one point Huddleston make 4” crappie swimbait, I almost buy one, but from my understanding bluegill pattern work better. I almost have one of my Gantarel JR. repainted as crappie pattern. Here is why.

 

I have caught a few on LC jerkbait with crappie pattern but caught a lot more on bluegill pattern.

 

like whoa!!!!! perfect example of what I'm talking about!!

thanks for sharing

 

a Bluegill pattern is common I get it. 

 

I just don't understand why a crappie pattern wouldn't be almost or as popular as BG pattern.  

the # of choices for BG pattern vs Crappie are opposite ends of the spectrum.    

 

I still haven't seen answer that I'd say convinces me why. 

[LonnieP]

Spro offers a Crappie colored crankbait called Cellmate. A Cellmate colored Spro Little John is one of my top producers. 

[Brad Reams]

4 minutes ago, LonnieP said:

Spro offers a Crappie colored crankbait called Cellmate. A Cellmate colored Spro Little John is one of my top producers. 

Cell mate HA! i get it now..  funny way to describe a Crappie pattern. 

You sold me!  Freckle crankbait is what I want

[Tizi]

6th Sense makes crappie colored cranks.