Just a little background info on me and my company first. I started making plastics for bass and have expanded this winter into crappie baits. I have always involved my field staff in design decisions but this year I have decided to engage the public. Current, past or future customers input into the designs I will add are important to me. This is your company in a small way as I try to provide anglers with products they want and need.

For those that use plastic type crappie baits I have a question for you. Based on your fishing experience do think a 1 inch or 1.5 inch plastic worm would be a good bait for crappie fishing? Think of a regular stick baits shrunk down to 1 or 1.5 inches. I have had requests in the past for a small worm so I thought I would ask the experts here. Like it, hate it or can't wait for me to get the mold comments are all welcome.

My guess is it would pass for a wax worm so you could fish it that way. Also I would assume you could wacky rig it but I am not sure how much action it would have due to the length. I think using my softer plastic would give it more flex so that may be a viable option. Please comment on what you think about this possible addition to my line.

Ken

I prefer 1.5 to 2.5 on plastics the larger bait will produce larger fish. I'm not sure without seeing the bait how it would work but would field test it. What colors will you make it in? hope this helps

I am leaning towards the 1.5 size over the 1 inch but there is a 2 inch version as well. It would be available in any of my colors or whatever color the customer can dream up. I could do a single color or laminate bait. Here is a picture of it.

I have never used a worm type bait for crappie...
But, then again, the san juan worm, easiest "fly" in the world to tie... Catches huge trout

I am not really sure how to best present that bait to a crappie to bite it consistently...the one big problem, I see with it...NO curb appeal...you got to get people to BUY it...before they can use it....

Because so much crappie fishing is done with a vertical presentation, jigs and jig heads, which have a balance that keeps them in a natural horizontal position, while being fished vertically, are the dominant lures for crappie.

So, any crappie plastic you make should be for a jig head. Very few crappie anglers want a total lure length of over 2 inches, so unless your plastics go over the entire jig head (like the tubes I use a lot; see the link in my signature), they should probably be 1 3/4 inches or less in length, and there are probably more crappie anglers that prefer a total lure length of 1 1/2 inches or less.

The other thing to consider is that crappie anglers tend to catch more fish than bass anglers, so they demand a lure that will catch a number of fish before it is destroyed or lost. For that reason, I don't think a wacky rig will ever be very popular for crappie.

The best thing to do is get out there yourself and go after crappie with your baits. That's how I got my jigs to the point where they do so well for me. Good luck.

My first trip to Ray Bob was with a guide fishing the hydrilla with plastic worms wacky style. Took me about an hour to figure out the program, then it was game on! When I fish for bass and need to put fish in the livewell or just locate them I downsize the bait and usually end up cutting the worm down to about 4" or less.

The bass guys I met Friday on Benbrook were catching crappie on their oversized bass jigs so I don't think 2" is too big. As far as durability goes, when you downsize the bait while bass fishing you catch dozens of small bass. My favorite motor oil curly tail worm will usually stand up to 8 or 10 bass before I have to change it out but that is only because I Texas rig it and it splits where the hook penetrates the worm. Not having to go weedless most of the time for crappie should eliminate this. Also, crappie aren't nearly as hard on baits as black, white or smallmouth bass.

I'm game to buggy whip a few crappie with some small worms. Right now that they are spawning they'll hit just about anything. Also can't wait to try it in the summer fishing the standing timber. Thanks for the post, I'll go in the garage and dig out and dust off my worm box now. Good luck with your baits!

Thanks for the input. I am on the fence with this one as I have had requests in the past for a worm this size but like you said it may not be a good seller. When I see something new from the mold maker that looks good I like to ask for your help. I am new to the crappie scene so thats why I ask for input. I do know that my Slab Candy sells and catches fish while being durable enough to last through at least 5 fish per bait.

Looked over your website slab candy looks like a good bait...

Personally, I like a fat stubby bait and yours is the first that I seen in a 'miniture' bass style bait. I like it and think it would do well. I agree with the post on the bait remaining horizontal while vertically jigged, but I have no problem with that as I tie a static knot.

Yes the Slab Candy is a good bait. I have a ton of satisfied customers in the short time I have been making them. I have thought about a fat bait but not the traditional tadpole mold that is available. Something more along the line of a short but fat reaper.

How about a worm that has a "collar" in the middle about the same thickness as the one in your picture, with two ends that taper to a fine point like a lot of the crappie plastics do. That way it would have a ton of action but a good bit of plastic to put a hook through.

I caught my biggest crappie (15 1/2 inches) this spring on a 5.5 finesse worm when I was fishing for bass in a pond. Fishing with 4" finesse worms I've caught a lot of crappie in ponds and creeks.

Guy,
Remember the mini stick-Os?
They stopped making them. I think they were 1-1/2" long.

Dy-No-Mite bait. I still have a few of them.

Tony I do have a 4" bass worm similar to what you are describing that is for wacky rigging. Pictured below.

Did you rig them on a jig head for a horizontal presentation Jeff?

I've killed them on brush piles with plastics before...just bite about an inch off of a 4" worm, tx rig with a fairly light weight, and land some big crappie. I don't know that it works all the time but I've had success with it when fishing is slow and I'm just trying whatever I can think of. It definitely yields a lot of big fish, just because of the bait size I guess.