Largest lure for crappie?

[markinohio]

I’ve had good results with the W2 Jigging Rap, and I’m convinced that bigger crappie like a bigger meal. Thinking that I want to go bigger. So, what is the largest lure you use for crappie?

[FishingCowboy]

#4 swedish pimple.... #3 ultralight rippin (rapala).

[Rebelss]

Biggest I've gone for papermouths is a 1/8 oz jighead with a forktail soft body. The smaller ones still seem to work best for me; 1/16 oz and smaller, like a #8 wounded minnow.

[esox_xtm]

I like your thinking markinohio. I often go bigger to "sort for size". Thing is often I sacrifice numbers. Open water I've had crappies absolutely hammer a #5 JR. I mean hit it hard enough to move the rod in your hand if you're not ready. All of those crappies ran 12 - 14"s.

[jigmaster5]

if you can find active crappie, they will try to eat anything that fits in their mouths (& they have pretty big mouths for their size).

a good sized crappie has no problem going after a full-sized jerkbait (~4.5") in open water.

they'll hit bigger lures for sure...mostly minnow profiles up high in the water column...they like looking up.

i usually start on the larger size, then switch to smaller lures if I have no takers.  the bigger baits will cull out the bigger fish...they fall faster...fish quicker...easier to see on sonar...and you can use baits w/ real hooks instead of super micro stuff.

3" reins bubbling shaker is awesome for crappie (pink) thru the ice...most ppl start w/ ice plastics that are way too small...go bigger to start (esp. early + late, then adjust if they are being finicky)

sebile [berkley] vibrato is another great bait for crappie, salmo chubby darter, smaller rattle baits, slab raps, leech flutter spoons, etc, etc.

[markinohio]

Thanks everyone! I now have the confidence to give 2 and even 3 inch lures and plastics a good hard try this season.

[Van_Cleaver]

Was catching crappie on 2" lip less crank baits this fall. Even 9" fish were hitting them pretty steadily.

[thomasthepikehunter]

I got my personal best crappie this summer in August on the biggest jigging rap they make. You read that right, and I was just as surprised. I was thinking they were walleye, so I put on the biggest Rapala Jigging rap they make, appears to be 3 1/2", in a light chartreuse head, white body. Set the hook on what felt like a normal walleye, and up came a 16" crappie, my new personal best. My dad was in the boat fishing with a small jig and leech, and this crappie chose my big jigging rap.

I'm not going to say it is the best crappie jigging rap size, but for sure try them in the 2" range. I'm admittedly a big bait fan through and through. It never seems to fail, the biggest bait almost always get the biggest fish. My top 4 pike all came on the biggest baits. My dads top 2 also came on the biggest baits. My biggest pike had to swim around two average size suckers to get to a 12" decoy sucker and had it half swallowed in the 15 seconds it took me to get to the tip up. My biggest walleye came while trolling for pike in some deeper water with the biggest dives-to they make. Bluegill are about the only things I like smaller baits.

[stripernut]

I have caught many nice Crappy on a #6 Chubby Darter.

[slipperybob]

I hooked up a 9" crappie on a 3/4 oz Lure Jensen Cast Champ spoon. 

[PIKE FISHERMAN]

This my go to lure. The plastic is 2". The 1/16 oz jig head adds a little extra length. Used to use micro jigs, but like the bigger profile. I feel the bigger crappie like them, and the smaller YP don't.