Crappie Vibe baits

I’ve really gotten into the different “Vibe” baits for crappies and, of course, this has taken me down another rabbit hole in searching for blank bait bodies. I the picture the top bait is a Scheels “Big Eye” vibe bait along sode of a couple that I just finished last night. Size and shape-wise they’re close to identical. Both are quarter sized and weight slightly less than 1/8 ounce. Again, I favor the darker purple back over a chartreuse belly however the Scheels bait with the orange slashes showed a good productivity last fall so I’ll do another 4 up and finished them in colors like the Sheels bait.

I found another source for blank bait bodies yesterday that had a body that’s uncanny similar to a #3 Rippin Rap, so I have those on the way now too. I really like 4 Vibe baits: the Scheels number shown, the just mentioned Rapala, the Euro Tackle Z-Viber in 1/16 and the Kendar’s Vibes. They’re all spendy and pike seem to have an affliction for them so making my own helps cut the loss costs down. Plus I enjoy the tinkering. I tend to favor the color schemes that Rapala offers but really all of the baits have some great colors that produce so I’ve ordered up enough blanks in each style to do a mess of the productive colors and a guy has to start somewhere….

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Nice! Tom are you working these vertical I assume?

Yes John. On light braid…. Clam Frost #4 is what I prefer. Tie direct to the split ring, no swivel. Best action is a simple short lift, hold about 5 seconds, then drop on a tight line and hold again for about 15 seconds. Hits generally come as the bait comes to rest at the end of the drop.

The crappies last fall ready turned onto these vibe baits at about a 47 degree water temp and hung in there until the water hit about 37 degrees. After that I needed to use either plastic or a smaller vibe bait, like the Euro Tackle Z Viber in 1/16 ounce and I had to slow the presentation down on the lift and drop. The Z-Viber stuck with it until the water began freezing at night. I fished the Lake City marina docks late into the fall/early winter with the Z Viber and did well.

At the 47 degree mark I targeted suspended crappies, those over deep water. As the water cooled to under the 37 degrees I went straight to vertical structure such as dock pilings.

Thanks Tom, is the Scheels bait a size 3 also sir?

http://www.scheels.com/p/scheels-outfitters-fateye-rattle-bait-lure/17661-XBE.html?cgid=fishing-lipless-crankbaits#start=2

See if this link works John. If not go to Scheels website, click fishing, then tackle then lipless baits. The Big Eye should be right there on the front of the page with the Rapala baits. The size is 1/16 ounce.

The Scheels bait in the picture at the top of this thread has the orange striping under a purple back, but the site doesn’t show this as available. No idea why not unless its been made a discontinued color. I was trying to figure out a way to add the orange stripes to the baits I show here and think I can use a comb to act as a stencil to do it on future baits.

Jimmy Jones wrote:

I was trying to figure out a way to add the orange stripes to the baits I show here and think I can use a comb to act as a stencil to do it on future baits.

The link worked, thanks. The comb idea I could see working or maybe a plastic fork.

I have a comb handy. The fork may be too coarse for these smaller baits. I’ll figure it out.

Hey Tom, Nice looking baits. I’ve had trouble since Covid with the contacts I had at the two big injection companies in China. Look at the YoZuri then search the profiles

Here’s the blank that comes close to the #3 Rippin Rap, Ultralight version.

Pretty close I’d say. Paint flies tomorrow.

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Here are a couple of this Rapala look-a-like painted and reeady for the water. The factory bait is at the top.

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Nice work.