Tackle Shack Top 5 Crappie Baits of 2023

• Posted on 2 January 2024
• By Don
• Posted in Crappie Fishing
• 2

The year 2023 will go down in our books as one of the top crappie bites of the last decade here in Tioga County, PA.  After a few tough seasons slowed by cold spring weather and high water, we were due for a good year and the crappies did not disappoint.

Tackle Shack Top 5 Crappie Baits of 2023

The year 2023 will go down in our books as one of the top crappie bites of the last decade here in Tioga County, PA.  After a few tough seasons slowed by cold spring weather and high water, we were due for a good year and the crappies did not disappoint.  The spring spawning bite was phenomenal and good crappie fishing continued all season long across the county.  A number of hard baits also worked well, but it is all soft plastics rounding out the Tackle Shack top 5 selling crappie baits of the year.

#5 Eurotackle EPF Swim 1”

Coming in at just 1” in size, the Eurotackle EPF Swim is a micro bait that produces big results. Designed in conjunction with micro fishing fanatic and youtuber, Leo Sheng (Extreme Philly Fishing), it’s no wonder this bait flat our produces when others won’t. We found the EPF Swim particularly effective early in the season when the water temperatures were still in the 40’s and 50’s.  However, it continued to produce all season long for us and our customers. Chartruese, Green Pumpkin, and Pink round out the top 3 best sellers.  Don’t leave home without the white or bluegill pro colors too.   

#4 Charlie Brewer 1 ½” Crappie/Panfish Slider Grub

When it comes to panfish and finesse baits, few can compare to the long legacy of Charlie Brewer Slider Company.  Visit their website and the first thing you see is “Finesse Fishing Began Here” in big red letters.  Here at Tackle Shack, it was one of the first crappie baits we carried and it continues to be a top seller year after year.  Plus, it’s a popular plastic for finger lakes perch.  This year’s most popular colors included Bubblegum/Chartreuse, Junebug/Chartreuse tail, Funky Monkey, and Avocado. Rig these on a specially designed 1/32 or 1/16 slider head for a weedless presentation that will swim through sparse milfoil and slide around offshore structure piles. 

#3 Bobby Garland 2” Baby Shad

The tantalizing action of the Baby Shad’s slender tail tempted enough crappies to land this bait at #3 on our top sellers list.  Originally introduced to Tackle Shack as a finger lakes perch bait, the Baby Shad has proven itself as a deadly crappie soft plastic.  Rig it on a standard jig head or use it as a micro drop shot bait. The 2” profile and wide variety of colors match any baitfish and so much more.  Live Minnow, Tuxedo Shimmer Laminate, and Baby Bass Laminate outsold the rest and dozens of other great fish catching colors are available.

#2 Leland Lures Crappie Magnet

Coming in at #2 on our top sellers list, is the big brother of the famed Trout Magnet.  The Crappie Magnet has been a hot bait at Tackle Shack for over a decade and 2023 was no different.  The split tails offer a subtle action that make it perfect for fishing under a float. Each ripple in the water wiggles the tails and tempts hungry crappies.  Dozens of colors are available and 2023’s top sellers included White, Pink Chartreuse, Chartreuse Silver Flake, and Blake’s Glow.  When the bite’s tough, try adding a Crappie Magnet Slab bite or Berkley Crappie Nibble for a little extra flavor.

#1 Eurotackle 2” Finesse B-Vibe

From their first product, the Mummy Worm, to the unbelievably popular Z-viber and Micro Z-Viber, Eurotackle continues to release new and exciting products in the finesse fishing community year after year.  Eurotackle’s owner, Ben, said it best when we were chatting one day “B-Vibe is something special" and it proved itself time after time in 2023. The 2” slender profile swims with a tight wobble and nice belly roll.  Rig it on a normal ball head or try the Eurotackle Micro Finesse Soft-Lock Jigheads for premium performance. While its proven deadly on crappies all season here in Tioga County, it has also been a great bait for perch, walleyes, rock bass, and white bass in other regions. B-vibes were not only the best selling bait of the year, but the chartreuse color was the single best selling bait in this category.  No tackle box is complete without at least a few other colors though, including White, Green Pumpkin, Sexy Shad, and Black Hi-Vis.      

What was your best bait for 2023?  We look forward to another exciting season of crappie fishing in 2024. Stop in to see us before you hit the water, or shop online anytime at www.shoptackleshack.com