Crappie imitation bass lure? Deep thoughts

[GReb]

Most bass I’ve seen eat crappie were in the shallows pre spawn. Common sense would tell you they eat them year round but crappie suspend in deep water most of the year making them a tougher target for bass and also harder for us to imitate. Generally Shad patterns are close. Silvers with blue and chart do a nice job imitating Shad and small crappie. Crappie are 6-8 inches after 2 years so they get a little big for most bass to eat. 
 

I fish some great crappie lakes loaded with numbers and generally have more success with bluegill and craw colors. 

[Paul Roberts]

3 hours ago, Brad Reams said:

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

...

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

See WRB's post above. He describes some general differences between crappies and bluegills contexts -how the bass might "see" them. 

 

Again, just bc a chunk of wood or plastic is painted like a crappie doesn't mean it says "crappie" to the bass.

[Dirtyeggroll]

This little guy wanted a crappie!

 

[Spankey]

Good/Great post. I’ve fished the Bomber Model “A” crappie and Bandit 100 & 200 for many years. Good baits. Good pattern but I don’t think Mr. Bass is hitting because it looks like a crappie. More of a reactionary strike. 

[Bluebasser86]

One of my most popular bladed jig patterns is my crappie color. Bass, and especially big largemouth, love to eat crappie. 

 

[scaleface]

One of my  more successful crankbaits is a crappie patterned Deep   Wee R .

[Brad Reams]

On 11/5/2019 at 8:52 AM, Dirtyeggroll said:

This little guy wanted a crappie!

 

very impressive! 

 

On 11/4/2019 at 6:07 PM, Paul Roberts said:

See WRB's post above. He describes some general differences between crappies and bluegills contexts -how the bass might "see" them. 

 

Again, just bc a chunk of wood or plastic is painted like a crappie doesn't mean it says "crappie" to the bass.

in theory a CRAPPIE pattern should be THE most popular pattern, I understand that idea. 

 

BUT mostly it's a RARE pattern, but seems increasing now in popularity 

[jimmyjoe]

   One thing must be taken into account: manufacturers don't JUST make lures to catch fish. If they want to stay in business, they make lures to catch fishermen. Bluegill are very visible, all year long. They occupy the margins, where most bass fishing is concentrated. And fishermen are usually mindful of them. Crappie are less visible, and therefore brought to mind less often. Bass eat both. So what's a company going to do? They're going to make bluegill patterns, that's what.  Out of the two, it's the most visible pattern to the FISHERMAN. I don't blame them, not at all. As long as I can get my Bandit 200 crappie pattern, that is.   ☺️     jj

[Brad Reams]

1 hour ago, jimmyjoe said:

 Crappie are less visible, and therefore brought to mind less often. 

hmmmmmmmmm......not sure if I can believe that statement. 

[jimmyjoe]

5 hours ago, Brad Reams said:

hmmmmmmmmm......not sure if I can believe that statement. 

   I forgot to look where you were located. I should have said, "... Crappie are less visible the places I've been ..." Obviously, I haven't been everywhere. Sorry about that.   ?    jj

[WRB]

The topic of crappie with bass anglers is fasinating IMO.

Every lake in California that has Largemouth bass populations also has both bluegill and black crappie stocked initial along with the bass. Yet talking to bass anglers few know the lakes they fish have a crappie population. Some know because they catch a few accidentally or see a crappie in the throat of a bass. We have very few crappie fisherman in most lakes with few exceptions. Crappie populations fluctuate greatly in our local lakes because the water levels are not stable and suitable spawning areas go down with the water level.

Do you know anything about the crappie spawn? You should know about all the prey fish bass eat including crappie. Crappie spawn before LMB in areas with brush and hard bottoms, they like wood cover. Crappie make beds like bluegill, protect the nest like bass and usually have 1 major spawn cycle when the water is 55-62 degrees in water around 2'-3' deep.

Have you ever heard of "coach dog" color bass lures? Very popular crappie immatation color that been around for decades.

Tom

[FishTank]

I have a few crappie color baits and they are hit and miss but this one came on my radar and I will try it out this weekend.  It will probably be my last outing this year.  Hope it hits on something big.

 

 

[Log Catcher]

On 11/6/2019 at 8:29 AM, scaleface said:

One of my  more successful crankbaits is a crappie patterned Deep   Wee R .

I have some of the old Rebel Deep Wee R baits in naturalized crappie color. If you didn't catch fish on that you might as well go home, you weren't going to catch anything. I wish that color was still available.

[Dorado]

16 hours ago, FishTank said:

I have a few crappie color baits and they are hit and miss but this one came on my radar and I will try it out this weekend.  It will probably be my last outing this year.  Hope it hits on something big.

 

 

Good luck! Please share the make and model of that bad boy. Starting my list to Santa.....

[FishTank]

4 hours ago, Dorado said:

Good luck! Please share the make and model of that bad boy. Starting my list to Santa.....

FishLab is the name brand but it's owned, I think, by Okuma.  I found it Dicks Sporting Goods for $10 (regular price).  I figured a swimbait of sorts for $10, why not. 

[Brad Reams]

23 hours ago, WRB said:

The topic of crappie with bass anglers is fasinating IMO.

Every lake in California that has Largemouth bass populations also has both bluegill and black crappie stocked initial along with the bass. Yet talking to bass anglers few know the lakes they fish have a crappie population. Some know because they catch a few accidentally or see a crappie in the throat of a bass. We have very few crappie fisherman in most lakes with few exceptions. Crappie populations fluctuate greatly in our local lakes because the water levels are not stable and suitable spawning areas go down with the water level.

Do you know anything about the crappie spawn? You should know about all the prey fish bass eat including crappie. Crappie spawn before LMB in areas with brush and hard bottoms, they like wood cover. Crappie make beds like bluegill, protect the nest like bass and usually have 1 major spawn cycle when the water is 55-62 degrees in water around 2'-3' deep.

Have you ever heard of "coach dog" color bass lures? Very popular crappie immatation color that been around for decades.

Tom

very informative, "coach dog"?? nope I'll have to look it up. Thanks 

 

The Crappie I've been catching lately have roe. 

But like you said the major spawn is the spring, and minor Fall spawn.   

[Bluebasser86]

On 11/6/2019 at 7:15 PM, FishTank said:

I have a few crappie color baits and they are hit and miss but this one came on my radar and I will try it out this weekend.  It will probably be my last outing this year.  Hope it hits on something big.

 

 

 

12 hours ago, Dorado said:

Good luck! Please share the make and model of that bad boy. Starting my list to Santa.....

I have the 5" version in a bluegill pattern. It has to be fished very slowly or it wants to roll. I'd like to try the unrigged version and see how it swims. They make a bluegill wake that I've been fishing this summer that's been killing it and it's under $20.

[Crestliner2008]

While crappie fishing this past spring I had a 3 lb. LM grab and hold onto my 10" crappie. He wouldn't let go until I almost had my thumb in his jaw. Both fish released <ralatively> unharmed.

 

Like most predatory species, bass will take advantage of ANY easy meal. By nature, it has to.

[fishballer06]

 

 

[Brad Reams]

found this Tuesday after 2 hours of looking in Sportsmans Warehouse.  They had this and 1 Luckycraft in Crappie pattern, unreal! no Cellmate Spro's 

 

$10 but USA made