Brainerd, Minn. – A sharp thump followed by a hook-set and slack line has long been a sign that the notorious “papermouth” has struck again. Crappie are so named due to hooks pulling through the soft tissue of their “paper” mouths. However, what many don’t realize is that when a crappie feeds, he inhales the bait in one motion, like a vacuum. By the time an angler feels the thump, the crappie has already exhaled and spit the bait out. With good timing, it is possible to set the hook firmly, but generally anglers settle for puncturing the top lip as the lure is spit and landing the fish carefully, so the hook doesn’t fall out.

Common crappie knowledge is to use the smallest jigs possible when fishing with artificial lures. While it is true that small hair jigs and micro plastics have long produced good catches, it is equally true that these jigs are a large part of the reason crappie have been labeled “papermouth.” With this in mind, Lindy decided to give the 2/0 Max Gap hook on the X-Change Jig a shot.

“I never have a problem with tearing lips when I set the hook,” says Todd Huckabee. “With these larger hooks, 90 percent of the fish I catch are hooked through the roof of the mouth.” In addition to tournament fishing for crappie and bass, Huckabee makes his living as a guide on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Last year alone he put a knife to over 28,000 crappie, so when he says something works, believe.

“Most people think of crappie as “little” fish, but they forget that crappie have very large mouths for their body,” says Huckabee. And they eat whatever they can fit into them. When a crappie inhales an X-Change Jig/Fuzz-E Grub combo with the large 2/0 Max Gap hook, it may decide to spit it out just as quickly as it would a smaller jig. The difference is that the unique angle of the larger hook does not slide back out as easily as its downsized counterparts, so the hook is set before the jig leaves Old Man Crappie’s mouth.

This method allows the use of bigger tackle than normally prescribed for crappie – saving eyes and fingers from microscopic knots and hooks. X-Change Jigs are more likely to hook fish deep in the roof of the mouth than other jigs – resulting in fewer missed fish. Fewer misses translates to quicker limits and more productive time on the water.

The X-Change Jig System with Max Gap hooks is a legendary product from the fine folks at Lindy that has been making waves since its introduction in 2008. It allows anglers to quickly change the size and color of a jighead without ever cutting a line. With four sizes and 20 colors, these jigs can be tailored to nearly any fishing situation. The unique hook design maximizes effectiveness and hook-up ratios.