May 25, 2020 4 min read

6 Best Crappie Lures and Best Crappie Bait

All of us at Bass Fishing Hub can remember the days of being younger and tipping a minnow to a hook and casting it out on a bobber in hopes to draw a strike from the furious crappie. Even better was once we caught a mess of crappie was to take them home and fry up a batch of crappie bites!

Black and white crappie are the only true species of crappie in the United States. Depending on where in the country you are located they maybe called a spec, slab, paper mouth or even a strawberry bass. You can find crappie in just about every single state, and they are a little more forgiving then other species which makes them a great choice for junior anglers!

The average lifespan of a crappie is just a mere 7 years, and they can reach a eatable size in just 2-3 years. Crappie tend to school up throughout the year and are considered great table fare. The world record white crappie weighed 5 pounds and 3 ounces and was caught way back in 1957 in Mississippi.

Watch Richard Gene catch crappie on the Bobby Garland Baby Shad
We have this crappie lure at the bottom of the page!

Here are the Best Crappie Lures and Baits

1. Crappie Magnet Bodies

Price: Around $1.80

THE LELAND CRAPPIE MAGNET IS THE MOST POPULAR CRAPPIE BAIT AND IS THE MOST REORDERED BAIT ON BASS FISHING HUB.

THESE BAITS CATCH CRAPPIE, PERCH, BLUEGILL, AND EVEN BASS!

The Leland’s Crappie Magnet™ provides plenty of movement in the water to lure fish out of hiding. The Crappie Magnet™ features a split tail body that stays straight on the hook and attract crappie with its unique action. These lures are perfect to use with Crappie Magnet™ hooks and come in a 15-piece body pack to catch trout, bass and panfish.

FEATURES:

  • Split tail body stays straight on hook
  • Unique action in the water
  • For use with Crappie Magnet hooks
  • 15-piece body pack
  • Leland Lures
  • Brand : Leland's Lures

Leland Crappie Magnet 1.5" 15ct Mermaid

2. LELAND CRAPPIE MAGNET REPLACEMENT HEADS 5CT

Make your baits irresistible with Leland’s® Crappie Magnet™ Replacement Jig Heads. These specially crafted heads produce a unique action in the water designed to entice crappie, triggering more strikes. Perfect for small ponds or shallow waters, these jig heads are versatile enough for bass, panfish, and trout fishing. Pair your Crappie Magnet bait with with Leland’s Crappie Magnet Replacement Jig Heads for a successful day out on the water.

FEATURES:

  • Replacement jig head
  • Ideal for crappie, bass, panfish, and trout
  • Perfect for small ponds or shallow waters
  • 5 piece pack
  • Model: 87517
  • Brand : Leland's Lures
  • Country of Origin : United States of America

3. KALINS TRIPLE THREAT 2" GRUB

Price: Around $2.59

Kalin's® Triple Threat® Grubs are laminated using 3 color combinations to provide maximum contrast, ensuring your grub gets noticed in all water conditions. This 2" size is perfect for crappie and other panfish, or for downsized presentations to bass and walleye.

  • Triple laminated designs
  • 3 colors for maximum contrast
  • Effective in all water conditions
  • Great for panfish or finesse rigs

Kalins Triple Threat Grub 2" 10ct Acid Rain/JB

4. Leland Pop Eye Jig

Price: Around $1.67

LELAND'S LURES POP-EYE JIGS ARE A PROVEN WAY TO CATCH CRAPPIE, PERCH, BLUE GILL AND EVEN BASS.

The longer feathers crate a more natural fall in the water. They are hand-tied with extra care and extra material to make sure you can catch a lot of fish on one jig. The long feathers give it life-like action without jigging the rod. The extra large eye also helps catch more fish. It also is where it gets it's name "Pop-Eye Jig".

5. BANDIT SERIES 300 CRAPPIE CRANKBAIT LURE

Price: Around $6.50

THERE'S NOTHING SNEAKY ABOUT THE WAY THESE CRANKS CATCH FISH!

Bandit® lures always run true right out of the box, and have the ability to steal you a tournament win anytime. Bandit's 300 Series Crankbaits run deep and are great for trolling open water or casting parallel to steep rocky shorelines. Producing an extra-wide wobble and offering a loud, fish-attracting rattle, these Bandit 300 Series crankbaits really bring in the slabs (other species too)!

  • Run true right out of the box
  • Great for deeper presentations
  • Extra-wide wobble
  • Loud, fish-attracting rattle
  • Deadly for all species

Specifications:

  • Model: BDT3
  • Size: 2" (5.04 cm)
  • Weight: 3/8 oz (10.60 g)
  • Hook Size: #6
  • Cranking Depth: 8 - 12 ft
  • Trolling Depth: 16 ft

6. Bobby Garland Baby Shad 2"

Price: Around $3.00

The Bobby Garland Baby Shad 2 inch is THE soft plastic for freshwater crappie fishing. Designed by master crappie angler Bobby Garland, this bait is known by crappie anglers everywhere for consistently turning slow slab days into memorable ones.

It's basically a miniature 2-inch shad body with a straight tail appendage. While it looks like a do-nothing type of plastic, the tail has incredible action on everything from a cast and retrieve to vertical jigging and dead sticking it on light line. It is durable and features a plump profile body that tapers to a flapping and a spear-shaped tail that creates loads of enticing, dancing action that crappie can't resist. Additionally, this bait comes in a whopping 63 different color schemes, meaning there's a color to fit every situation, water clarity, and mood of a crappie.

Pro Tips For Catching Crappie

WHAT’S A SPIDER RIG?

The term “spider-rigging” originates from the appearance it gives an angler’s boat when it’s rigged—six to ten long poles sticking out from all sides of the boat—which resembles a spider. The rig allows anglers to cover a broader area of water at various depths, sniff out potential crappie hangouts, and locate schools. Then, once fish are located, the rig allows you to efficiently present your bait around cover, such as drop offs and brush piles.


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