Best Crappie Lures, Jigs, and Baits: A Complete Guide

By: FishUSA Staff

January 2, 2025

Crappie are about as finicky as they come as far as panfish go, so using the right lures, jigs, and baits based on your location and current conditions will maximize your success. With their varied feeding habits and seasonal behaviors, having a range of effective tools ensures you’re ready for any condition. Below are the best crappie lures, categorized by type, along with tips for selecting the perfect one.

Spinners, Spinnerbaits, and Underspins

Jigs

Soft Baits

Live Bait for Crappie Fishing

What to Consider When Selecting a Lure for Crappie

Conclusion

Spinners, Spinnerbaits, and Underspins

Strike King Mr. Crappie Spin Baby Spinnerbait

The Strike King Mr. Crappie Spin Baby Spinnerbait is designed specifically for crappie, featuring a compact profile that mimics small baitfish. The 3” long soft plastic body has a twister tail to createl thump and vibration additional to that of the small Colorado blade. This spinnerbait is ideal for casting around structures or slow-rolling in shallow water.

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Original Rooster Tails

The Original Rooster Tails are one of the most classic fishing lures of all time, especially for crappie. Rooster tails are a versatile spinner with a pulsating hackle tail and spinning willow leaf blade. They combine flash and vibration to attract crappie effectively. With multiple sizes and colors available, Rooster Tails are suitable for various water conditions and depths.

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Road Runner Original Marabou Jigs

Just about every crappie angler has used an original Road Runner at some point in their lives. The Road Runner Original Marabou Jigs are a combination of a marabou tail and a spinner blade attached to the jig head. The added flash and vibration of the blade helps entice aggressive crappies into biting.

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Jigs

Crappie Killer Marabou Jigs

The Crappie Killer Marabou Jigs feature a lifelike marabou tail that moves naturally in the water. This jig is perfect for vertical jigging, casting and retrieving, or fishing under a float. The soft, natural movement of the marabou mimics small prey, making it highly effective for crappie.

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Cubby Mini-Mite Jigs

The Cubby Mini-Mite Jigs are a small, pre-rigged soft plastic and jighead combination that are ideal for fishing under a float for finicky crappies. The subtle movements of the bait’s tail and small size entices even the most wary of crappies to investigate and eventually bite.

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Soft Baits

Berkley Gulp! Crappie Nibbles

The Berkley Gulp! Crappie Nibbles are scented soft baits designed to enhance the appeal of jigs or lures. The potent scent disperses in the water, attracting crappie from a distance. They’re easy to use and effective in a variety of conditions.

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Bobby Garland Baby Shad

The Bobby Garland Baby Shads are one of the most popular crappie soft baits of all time. Coming in at 2” long, this straight tail, minnow style soft plastic is the perfect size for keeper crappies to eat. Every color pattern is tailored to catch the eyes of crappies in cerain conditions or match local forage bases all over the country, but we always prefer our FishUSA exclusive color “Monkey Minnow!”

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6th Sense Clobber Minnow

The 6th Sense Clobber Minnow hasn’t been around quite as long as some of the other baits on this list, but don’t let that fool you in terms of its effectiveness. The Clobber Minnow has a tall body profile to represent shad or juvenile panfish, and a tapering tail down to a fork to offer a subtle action that crappies love.

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Live Bait for Crappie Fishing

While lures and jigs are effective, live bait remains a top choice for many crappie anglers due to its natural appeal. Here are the most popular live baits:

Minnows: Minnows are highly effective for crappie, as they are extremely appealing to crappies looking for a big, easy meal. Hook them through the lips or back to allow them to swim naturally, and pair them with a slip bobber for optimal depth control.
Worms and Grubs: Worms and grubs, particularly red wigglers, small nightcrawlers, maggots, or waxworms, are a versatile live bait option. Their natural movement and scent attract crappies, and they make a great addition to a jig with any soft plastic bait.
Insects: Grasshoppers, crickets, and other insects can be excellent baits, particularly in warmer months when crappie feed near the surface.

Live bait works best when fished slowly, allowing crappie time to investigate and bite.

What to Consider When Selecting a Lure for Crappie

Choosing the right lure for crappie involves considering factors such as color, size, and water conditions. Here’s what to focus on:

Color Choice

Crappie are highly visual feeders, so selecting the right color for your lure is critical. Consider these tips:

Bright Colors: Use bright colors like chartreuse, pink, or orange in murky water or low-light conditions to make your lure more visible.
Natural Colors: Opt for natural shades like white, silver, or green in clear water to mimic the appearance of baitfish.
Dual-Tone Lures: Many anglers prefer lures with two contrasting colors, as these create a more noticeable profile in the water.

Hook Size

The size of the hook on your lure or jig affects your hookup rate and overall presentation. Here’s what to consider:

Small Hooks: Sizes 4 to 8 are ideal for crappie, as they are small enough to fit in most crappie mouths and prevent excessive damage to fish, keeping them hooked well. When fishing for larger crappies, larger hooks may be applicable.
Sharpness: Use high-quality, sharp hooks to ensure effective penetration with minimal force.

Conclusion

Whether you prefer artificial lures or live bait, choosing the right option is key to crappie fishing success. Spinners, jigs, soft plastics, and live bait each offer unique advantages depending on the conditions. Pair the right bait with proper techniques, and you’ll be well on your way to landing more crappie on your next trip.

Shop Crappie Fishing Gear

Crappie & Panfishing Spinning Rods

Crappie & Panfish Lures & Baits

Crappie Jigs