Reaper soft plastic...whos fishing them and how are u doing it?

I have some Vibragrubs and like I do with most of my plastics - dropshot!

19 hours ago, dsqui said:

Reaper soft plastic...whos fishing them and how are u doing it?

Any time bass are feeding on Threadfin Shad, year around where I fish, Shad color reapers work good. I split/slip shot and drop shot 3" reapers using light wire hook like Owner 5133 size 1, finesse spinning with 5 lb Maxima Uktra Green line.

Don Iovino produces hand poured reapers, lightning Shad.

Tom

Thanks guys.  I just started pouring my own and was curious how u would fish them...

On 5/29/2018 at 3:44 PM, WRB said:

Any time bass are feeding on Threadfin Shad, year around where I fish, Shad color reapers work good. I split/slip shot and drop shot 3" reapers using light wire hook like Owner 5133 size 1, finesse spinning with 5 lb Maxima Uktra Green line.

Don Iovino produces hand poured reapers, lightning Shad.

Tom

Boy you must have one heck of a tackle collection lol I swear any time anyone asks about something u have fished it. I'm kinda jealous

9 minutes ago, dsqui said:

Thanks guys.  I just started pouring my own and was curious how u would fish them...

Boy you must have one heck of a tackle collection lol I swear any time anyone asks about something u have fished it. I'm kinda jealous

Reapers and green weenies were the hot finesse soft plastic in the early '80's...you are right I have too much stuff, if it works why stop using it?

Tom

A small reaper on a jighead, fished similarly to grub, is a good river smallmouth lure,

 

 

 

5 hours ago, WRB said:

Reapers and green weenies were the hot finesse soft plastic in the early '80's...you are right I have too much stuff, if it works why stop using it?

Tom

I know about reapers but not a clue on the green weenie.  I didn't get into bass fishing til the mid 90s so I remember the banjo minnow and chatter baits.

Like Tom said,  reapers are still a good bait. Shad imitators,and also imitate small bluegills and panfish too.Clear water- splitshot rig

On 5/30/2018 at 8:22 PM, WRB said:

Reapers and green weenies were the hot finesse soft plastic in the early '80's...you are right I have too much stuff, if it works why stop using it?

Tom

what colors do you like WRB? GP, Lightning shad and junebug? Also do you just do size 3 mainly?

I sold my boat and  all my tackle after my son passed away from cancer in 2020.

5” Green weenie  I preferred blue flake, 3” reaper Shad colors smoke/ s&p blue neon or smoke copper & coal rigged flat side up.

Tom

I met Harold Ensley on an airline flight coming back from Canada many years ago. He was the inventor of the reaper tail & brought it to market back in the 1950's. He designed it as a lake trout lure but it became a mutli-species lure shortly thereafter. We started using the 6" model in white color as a trailer for big jigs & killed the lake trout on them. We rigged then both vertically & horizontally. Harold was inducted into the fresh water fishing hall of fame. He was not only a lure designer but had his own TV show called The Sportsman's Friend. He was a very interesting individual to talk with. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Ensley 

On 5/30/2018 at 9:09 PM, dsqui said:

I swear any time anyone asks about something u have fished it. I'm kinda jealous

My grandmother used to say "Mas sabe el Diablo por viejo que por Diablo"

Didn't know what she meant, now I wish I didn't and was that age again...

On 5/1/2021 at 10:32 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

I met Harold Ensley on an airline flight coming back from Canada many years ago. He was the inventor of the reaper tail & brought it to market back in the 1950's. He designed it as a lake trout lure but it became a mutli-species lure shortly thereafter. We started using the 6" model in white color as a trailer for big jigs & killed the lake trout on them. We rigged then both vertically & horizontally. Harold was inducted into the fresh water fishing hall of fame. He was not only a lure designer but had his own TV show called The Sportsman's Friend. He was a very interesting individual to talk with. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Ensley 

 Harold was my first fishing hero!  Back in the '60s his family lived in my home town.

Raytown,MO. I dated his daughter in high school.

17 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

 Harold was my first fishing hero!  Back in the '60s his family lived in my home town.

Raytown,MO. I dated his daughter in high school.

I met Harold Ensley a few times at the KC Sportshow. I think he marketed the Reaper through Mar Lynn bait company in Blue Springs Mo. I also know Raytown Mo very well. My uncle Don Brink owned Raytown Recreation, the pool hall. His son Doug runs it now. I worked in Raytown for a realty company that owned apt houses there.

I cant recall ever throwing a reaper .They intrigue me .

Anyone had any luck as jig trailers?  Was thinking on a smaller finesse football

never heard of a Green Weenie

Back in the 70's, a reaper on a stand-up jig head was the hot bait on the Madison chain. A fellow from In-Fisherman magazine introduced them to a buddy who, in turn, introduced them to me.  I caught what was then my PB on a black reaper/jig.  I only carry a hand full of them anymore.

4 hours ago, Obi_Wan said:

never heard of a Green Weenie

Green pumpkin with cinnamon brown belly.

Tom

Yup, I made a video about that too...

 

 

10" ?

 

 

I have some of those somewhere. I remember buying a kit from Cabala's with numerous baits and hardware. 

 

They remind me of a flat worm which I use for drop shot. 

On 1/28/2022 at 8:11 AM, roadwarrior said:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Don_Iovino_Reapers_25pk/descpage-DIR.html

Have been wanting to try those and the cow tongue....

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=Cow+tongue