Free Lures Catch Crappie by Brad Wiegmann

Free lures to fish with sounds intriguing, but there is one catch. You do not get to pick the color, size, weight or body style. Would you be able to catch crappie with them?


The challenge was issued to Mike Dyer, a local crappie fishing expert on Lake of the Ozarks. Before even knowing what brand, color, size, weight or model, Dyer agreed to accept the challenge. Together, we opened the box the free lures were sent in to reveal Blakemore Road Runner lures.


Dyer seemed relieved by the unveiling. In fact, under his thick mustache, I detected a slight smile. His confidence was apparent as he tied on one of the Blakemore Road Runner Reality Shad and on another rod a Blakemore Road Runner Crappie Thunder by Mr. Crappie.


Lake of the Ozarks was the destination for Dyer's challenge. Launching out of Linn Creek, Dyer headed right to a pea gravel point in the mouth a short cove. "We are just trying to locate them first. This year the lake has been up and down with several fronts moving in and out, we will try and catch some of these male crappie starting to work the beds a little bit," said Dyer.


Out of several packages of lures, Dyer selected the 1/16-ounce Reality Shad in Nanner Puddin and 1/16-ounce Crappie Thunder in white/blue. He noted the Reality Shad had a willow leaf while Crappie Thunder had a more rounded blade. "This time of year these lures work really good and chartreuse is a productive color," said Dyer.


To catch crappie, Dyer likes to cast towards the shallow pea gravel points. "I like to retrieve the lures off the bottom, but in the strike zone. Crappie like to feed up so I reel in fast enough to keep it above them. Crappie like to strike from below.


He likes to reel in steady without stopping while keeping his rod tip up and watching his fishing. "During this time of year it can be a light bite. I keep my rod tip up while reeling back in slowly and watching my line. Every once and a while give the rod tip a little pop to get the lure to dart," said Dyer.

After casting near the shoreline for a short period, Mike figured out where the crappie were hiding out. The male crappie were staged up on a shallow pea gravel bank. For Dyer, the free lures were the perfect lure to fish for crappie in this situation.


However, Dyer wasn't just reeling in the Road Runners. He would give them just a little twitch every once and awhile during the retrieve giving the lure an erratic movement inciting the crappie to strike the lure.


Blakemore Road Runners (www.ttiblakemore.com) unique design has a spinner blade under a horse-head shaped head with a soft plastic body attached. The Realty Shad has a willow leaf shaped blade attached with a split ring allowing it to spin and flash when retrieved. Crappie Thunder has a more rounded Indian shaped blade attached allowing for a similar spin and flash when retrieved.


The Reality Shad has a profile body imitating a shad shape while the Crappie Thunder a minnow shape. Both are extremely effective when fan casting an area for crappie staging up to spawn or when on a shallow ledge.





Throughout the morning Dyer fan casted the Road Runners between docks on pea gravel banks, however, when he got to a dock instead of casting Dyer would shoot them. "One thing I would do is put a little super glue to the body and Road Runner head to keep them from slipping down when shooting docks," said Dyer.


For Dyer, the free lures turned out to be the perfect lure for the situation he was fishing. Dyer was able to cast and shoot dock fishing for crappie staging up on pea gravel banks. His quick limit of crappie proved Dyer was up for the free lure challenge.


My Youtube video of Mike Dyer fishing Lake of the Ozarks with his free lures! https://youtu.be/ZmvJiPm5moQ