Mepp's Panfishing kit

[CFS]

Hey guys,
I mainly use Mepps spoons for bass, and they seem to work quite well. But has anyone tried the panfishing pocket pacs? I want to get some of my students into nailing slabs. We currently use a lot of grubs, but I want to get some of the more promising ones off soft plastics.

[deathb4disco]

... I want to get some of the more promising ones off soft plastics.

In the name of all that is good and holy ... why?

[CFS]

I forgot to mention something. We have these absolutely tiny grubs that only trigger strikes from bluegill, not crappie.

[deathb4disco]

I would just use bigger soft plastics. I'd take an SP over a spoon any day. Cheaper and more versatile, IMO.

[CrappiePappy]

The only problem I have with spinners, or most anything with more than one hook (or even one exposed hook) is that you are limited in where you can throw them. You get too close to wood cover & you may not get that bait back. That's why I use Roadrunners in open water areas & weedless jigheads & plastic bodies everywhere else. It's also one reason I use 10lb test braid when casting a Roadrunner. When using a jig/plastics I can control the speed of retrieve, something quite critical in many presentations, whereas I would have to maintain a specific retrieval speed with a spinner ... in order to make the spinner "work".

Not that I have any doubt that the panfish size Mepps would work, and probably catch some fish, but even at $6.50 for three baits .... that's going to eat into your limited budget real quick, especially if they're going to be used by beginners.

I think you're shortchanging yourself on the jigs/plastics. You purchased what you thought was a bargain & it turned out they were too small for your purpose. Chalk that up to "lesson learned" & buy 1.5" - 2" plastics and some 1/16oz jigheads ... rather than discount all plastics/jigs as a "mistake". I'd have to guess that over 95% of the members here are using jigs/plastics over 75% more often than any other form of artificial bait, and they're catching fish with them.

I understand supporting your sponsors by using their products, but your sponsor (Mepps) makes a limited array of bait types. You'd do well to court the members that are Crappie.com Member Sponsors & those that custom make spinners, jigs, & plastics ... and see what they can offer you in the way of a deal.

I'd recommend contacting members like Grousefly, Snake River, & Shipahoy (none of which have read your post, as of yet) and explain your situation & financial limitations. They may be willing to send you some samples, or cut you a good deal on their products. Won't cost you a cent to ask.

... cp

[Redge]

I think DB4D has given you some good advice. Spoons have there place, but for me it is a narrow window of use.

[CFS]

The pocket pacs are all spinnerbaits.

[CrappiePappy]

The pocket pacs are all spinnerbaits.

Mepps doesn't make "spinnerbaits", per se .... they make "in-line spinners". Generally speaking, a "spinnerbait" is a jig on a V shaped wire with a blade or blades on the opposite end of that wire.

Now, that being said .. why Mepps ?? Why not Blue Fox, Panther Martin, or even Rooster Tails ?? Or for that matter, the very popular and successful Roadrunner ??

And if you want to buy bulk quantities, you might want to check with our members that make these style baits, or even the ones that pour plastics ... and see what kind of deal/savings you can come up with.

... cp

[tahoe 50]

Or how about better spins? They are the bomb. You can also change colors very quick.

[CFS]

I have been using a few Mepps products, and found them pretty good. Better than almost all the spinners I bough for bass. My team has a partnership with them, and so far we have some jigs for bass. They are the bomb. That's why I want to try the panfish pac. Plus, Since I am planning quite a few field trips this year for my fishing seminar, and this year we are inviting newbies without their own gear, I need to budget things, and bought one of those 50 pack of grubs on dhgate. I regret that decision now. Will only fool small bluegill, since they are so small. They don't even come close to anything Arkie makes, or Creme lures.