Thread: Big Crappie Lures

Sounds like a bass tube. I caught some nice crappie fishing smallmouth with bass tube baits on Lake Vermillion in north Minisoda.

Monks Crappie out of NC sells 3", biggest I've found. They sell Kalin's Triple Threat 3" Slim Grubs and Monk's 3" Minnow

I wouldn't get too wrapped up in the "size" of the tubes they were using. Why you ask ?? Well, there's been several times I've been told that a lake local was catching fish on 3" twin curly tail grubs (or similar sized baits of other styles), and then fish with a 1/16oz marabou Road Runner or jig/plastic and caught the same sized fish (from the same general area, or even the exact same place) as the lake local was catching on his "bigger" baits.

Now, I have no doubts that 3-4" baits will catch Crappie, and in fact I've done it myself (4" plastic craw) .... but, I've caught Crappie just as big, way more often, using baits in the 1.5" - 2" lengths. And a buddy of mine, that Spider Rigs, uses a jighead with plastics around 2" & tips the jighead with a large minnow ( ~2") ... and still catches dinks as often as he does keepers. Then there's the crank trollers, using large baits ... and they're catching fish of all sizes (some not much bigger than the crank !!) ... and I'm fishing the same area with jigs & catching fish of the same size ranges.

But, like peculiarmike says ... you're likely talking about "Bass tubes" ... so if you're still interested in trying tubes of that size, just do a search (Google/Bing/Yahoo/whatever) for Bass flipping tubes and then click on the "Images" button. Check out what comes up & when you see a picture of the tubes that interest you ... click on the picture & then on the "Visit" button to take you to their website.

There's a time and place where big baits will shine. But in my experience it's a small window. And you can usually catch them on smaller jigs just as good. Also keep in mind some anglers are so good they can make any bait look like the best bait ever.

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FWIW Not tubes, but I have watched a few times as Jeff Williams and Mark McGuire (sp) caught specks out of dirty water (perhaps Grand Lake) with 4" Fle Fly Crappie Kickers.

Bobby Garland Slab Slayer in 3in. size.

If you just have to have a 4 in tube in crappie color's it's going to be a custom pour. I fish a lot of big baits down here and biggest I find on the shelf is 3 in and those are mostly slab slayers. Do fish some 3 in curly tail walleye baits from bass pro. Snake River on here is a sponsor and pours some really nice baits. Get in touch with him. He can pour you just about anything you want in any color combo you can think of. And he is as cheap as over the counter. I have some 2 in solid head tubes he poured for me that are fantastic big baits. More like 2 1/2 and bulky. About big as you need on a regular basis. And we catch big fish down here.

98% of the time the smallest bait I will use is a 2 1/2" and fish up to 4" baits. I would fish larger baits like 4 1/2" big diameter bass tubes if they made them in dual colored combos. But I fish in the dirtiest part of any lake I fish. The last two months or more the shad on the upper end of my lake have been 3 1/2" to 4 1/2" long and well over a inch tall. So why go little when what they are eating is 3 times the size of a 1 1/2" Southern Pro tube. My absolute favorite and most used bait is a 3 1/2" bait made by Mike Coffey custom baits in Bolivar. It is abut the same size diameter as a 3" Bobby Garland Slab Slayer. His baits are the chupacabra because there are next to impossible to get for most guys. I am lucky enough for him to call me a friend and pro staff for him and a couple other friends. I have cashed checks and won tournaments from February to October using very large baits and sometimes even tipping large baits with a pretty good size minnow. I know there are times that a smaller 2" bait would put more fish in the boat for me but I could care less about numbers most of the time but still put a fair amount of fish in the boat doing what I do. Every bait I use is a dual colored bait and I also always use a third color for the jig head. Which is always Orange unless I am fishing a Orange and Chart colored bait. Then I will go with a Hot Pink jig head. Don't be afraid to try the big baits for big fish. You may even be amazed that you will more times than not catch more numbers than the guy in the boat with you that is using a 1 1/2" tube. I have seen a big bait out fish a small bait to many times in numbers and the quality of fish to ever go back to tying on a small bait. Confidence in what you are doing is what catches fish no matter what your confidence bait is. Mine just happens to be a Orange 3/16 oz weed less head with a 3 1/2" Mike Coffey custom bait in Silver Glitter/Chart.