Can't get them to bite the worlds greatest crappie lure!

Since joining this forum ( which I do enjoy ) I believe next to live minnows,the roadrunner may be the top artificial lure used by crappie chasers.I know there are many lures used,but In my feeble opinion,the roadrunner takes the top spot.
That said,I have had little to no luck with them.I tried fishing them at different speeds,I trolled with them,I fished them bare,and fished them baited,with nary a nibble.Obviously I am doing something wrong ( seems everyone but me can catch with them.
I could switch to a nettle spin ( minus the beetle,and tipped with other various plastics ), and fill the cooler,but put on a roadrunner,and the bite would go dead.im determined to prove the majority correct ( again in my worthless opinion ), that roadrunners are crappie killers.
My bucket list will not be complete untill I catch more crappie with a roadrunner,than a beetle spin

not real sure why you would care which bait you are catching them on - just bring them in :dono

Crappie run hot & cold on the Roadrunners. Sometimes you just cannot keep them off. I never "assume" what they want. Always try different things, as you already have.

Crappie like what they like when they like it.

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Originally Posted by Yaker

I believe next to live minnows,the roadrunner may be the top artificial lure used by crappie chasers.I know there are many lures used,but In my feeble opinion,the roadrunner takes the top spot.
That said,I have had little to no luck with them.

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See here:

Popular Lures you've Never Caught a Bass On - Georgia Outdoor News Forum

I see you did not mention just "straight jigging"! I jig all the time with my RR's and catch crappie with them often. Might I suggest you find the crappie first using whatever lure you like or works to find the crappie. Once you find them, switch to the RR and jig. You should catch plenty. The trick is to find them first. The RR will catch them without a doubt. Of course the blade action is MORE pronounced when retrieving the lure but jigging also provides the "flash" of the blade to attract a bite. Hope this helps.

If you are "filling the cooler" I dont think I'd worry much about it.

I've really only had great days with a roadrunner when the crappie are close to the bottom, like during the spawn. I've had better luck with the beetle spin myself. I think the Colorado blade makes it easier to keep up in the water column at slower speeds. They are almost always good for bass and brim, which usually orient to the bottom. I'm sure the roadrunner works good for those that know how to control the running depth, but it's been easier for me to just use something else.

I never catch much on them personally... I've used them when catching on plain jighead with plastic during spawn and nothing... I took them out of my box lol

I had the same problem with them for a good while. My buddies on my boat were catching fish using them right next to me but i couldn't buy a bite with one. After watching them and talking to more friends, i found my problem. The fish didn't want the size i was using. I fish 1/8th oz ball heads normally so i fished the same size RR. I switched to 1/32 oz on 4# test clear line and now do a lot better. I'm catching both, crappies and gills with them. Try downsizing and using a few diffrent color heads before you give up on them. I was determined to find out why i couldn't catch fish with them while others in my boat fishing the same spot were. I've also found that they work better on some lakes than others no matter what you try.

I have done, and still do, very well on them. But, while I have many pre-rigged (w/plastics) and various size & color heads .... my biggest producers are 1/16oz marabou in solid chartreuse or solid pink. I also trim the tail feathers, usually cutting half the length off between the tip end of the feathers and the hook bend. That usually makes the overall length between 1.5" & 1.75".

I've caught Crappie, Bass, Catfish, Drum, Bluegill, and even a Tiger Muskie on these RR's ... mostly casting them, but occasionally trolling them. I mostly use them in the Spring & Fall, and in water depths of less than 15ft. I have been known to use them in early Summer, either early in the AM or during the night, but not as much as my jig/plastics.

... cp :kewl

Oh heck, I catch a few on a Roadrunner, LOL!

Here were a couple good days with a friend and both of us using the same little 1/32 Oz Roadrunner.
Here is one from 2013
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...ps7a2f3178.jpg

and one day from 2014
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b4...ps7078f743.jpg

Normally I wouldn't give a hoot what I was catching them on,but dang,I got a bucket full of various size roadrunners,and one way or another,I'm gonna catch a fish on them:bash....I'm pretty sure I'm technically challenged with the roadrunner,and downright amazing with a beetlespin:biggrin

I caught a 14" largemouth this afternoon on a roadrunner. Was searching out a pond for crappie (not sure if there are any in there). Not what I was targeting but the roadrunner definately worked.

Double rig...2' off bottom, RR on bottom, gold hook 2' above...Vertical jig, or drift under float..( windy)...

Been a diehard roadrunner fan for many years.There are times when they will out fish most any other bait and sometimes don't produce very well like any other lure.Regardless of water depth I never fish it without a pause and retrieve.I catch more fish letting it go all the way to the bottom than any other way.Crank it a few rounds and just keep bouncing it of the bottom on the retrieve .I prefer to cast for crappie and they really work the best at 8-15 ft. deep.I fish 1/16 original heads in chartreuse and pink with various plastics and like any other lure never without a crappie nibble.