Favorite Spring Pannie Baits

[Jimmy Jay R]

What are some of your favorites ??

I saw Matt Johnsons video a while back using plastics and small jig heads. Mine is a plain old colored hook with a couple berkley micros or gulp on it. Depending on the lake some large mouths and small northerns even go for it. Oh, i like the exude micro shad too.

[harvey lee]

My list is pretty simple

Exude Micro Shad

Rat tails

Stub grubs

Power minnows

Ratso's

Shrimpo's.

All in that order.

[Matt Johnson]

There are several directions you can go with this depending on your intentions and body of water.

I like use plastics with a lot of thump during early open water. Plastics like a paddle tail are great options. The Exude Micro Shad is a smaller version of a paddle minnow and works well. Twister tails can also be dynamite on early season pannies.

Plastics that have straight tails will work, but I'm more apt to use those as the water warms since they are a more aggressive action plastic. 2-inch Berkley Power Minnows are great for crappies year-round, as are the Power Tubes.

I'm also very excited to run a line of plastics from Bobby Garland (sub-company of Gene Larew). The 2-inch Baby Shad and Slab Slay'R are going to be hot items in my opinion. The 1.50-inch Crappie Spider is going to be a cool plastic as well.

There are a lot of choices out there for panfish plastics, many of which have their time and place and will produce. Tubes are a great option for a variety of situations and can be an excellent confidence plastic.

Creature plastics are another option that oftentimes get over-looked. It's amazing what tentacles can do to little piece of plastic and they can really drive fish crazy! Power Nymphs, Exude Micro Nymphs, Crappie Critters... all of these are good options.

Plastics are a very versatile option for panfish and can really increase your quality of fish...

[river huntfish]

I like to use plastics and if they are finicky and wont chase the plastics I like to use a bobber.

[Slyster]

What about live bait? Do plastics outfish minnows and worms? I've always wondered this with many here promoting plastics. I myself have good luck with plastics and haven't tried live bait so I have nothing to compare too.

[LanceJ]

I'm going to do my best to hone my plastic and jigging skills this spring. I want to avoid buying live bait as long as possible, just to sharpen my other abilities.

I picked up a few excelent pointers from Matt and Pat over at the Thorne Bros. seminar last week. By the way, thanks guys! I got my new croix crappie rod this spring and I've been dying to get out and put it to some good use. Thats the problem with getting all your open water gear in order too early.

And this morning I see the ice is actually starting to come back...NOOOOOOO!!!

[LanceJ]

Oh, and I forgot to list the lures I use....duh.

I've had great luck with the the following -

2" Exude grubs in chart, white, pink/white, and black.

Exude nymphs in chart and pearl.

Chart #3 and sometimes #5 floating Rapala

chart, white, and black tubes from various companies.

This year I've loaded up on some 2" gulp minnow grubs, some exude micro shads, and some 2" power minnows.

I'm very confident in some early spring crappies this year getting into my boat (and to be put back in the water).

I consider just about all of these a must for my crappie gear.

And don't worry, there is always ALWAYS new products just around the corner for all of us to run out and buy!