I was a bit skeptical the first time I tied on a bobby garland itty bitty slab slayer because of its microscopic size. It looks more like something you'd find in a puddle than something you'd use to catch a trophy-sized crappie. But after a few hours on the water during a particularly tough winter bite, I realized that my skepticism was totally misplaced. There's something about this tiny 1.25-inch piece of plastic that triggers a predatory response in fish that are otherwise completely shut down.
If you've spent any time panfishing, you know that Bobby Garland is basically the gold standard for crappie plastics. Most people are familiar with the original Baby Shad, but the itty bitty slab slayer occupies a very specific niche. It's designed for those days when the fish are being incredibly finicky, or when the natural forage in the water is just plain small. It's a "finesse" bait in the truest sense of the word.
The Design and Action
What makes the bobby garland itty bitty slab slayer stand out is the thin, spear-shaped tail and the ribbed body. Even though it's small, it has a lot of texture. Those ribs do two things: they create a little bit of vibration in the water, and they trap tiny air bubbles that can give the lure a more lifelike appearance.
The tail is the real star of the show, though. Because it's so thin, it moves with the slightest twitch of the rod tip. Even if you're just holding the rod still, the natural movement of your hand or the subtle current in the water is enough to make that tail dance. When crappie are hovering over a brush pile and they aren't in the mood to chase a fast-moving bait, this slow, subtle quiver is often exactly what gets them to commit.
I've found that the profile of this lure mimics a lot of different things depending on the color you choose. It can look like a small minnow, a glass worm, or even a tiny aquatic insect. Since crappie and bluegill spend a lot of their lives eating things that are much smaller than a standard 2-inch jig, going smaller often results in more bites, especially in clear water where the fish can get a good look at your presentation.
Gear for the Itty Bitty Approach
You can't just throw a bobby garland itty bitty slab slayer on any old rod and reel. If you try to fish this on a medium-action bass rod with 10-pound mono, you're going to have a bad time. You won't be able to cast it, and you certainly won't feel the bite.
To really get the most out of these tiny plastics, you need an ultralight setup. I personally prefer a rod with a fast action but a very light power rating. This allows me to feel that subtle "tick" when a crappie inhales the bait. For line, 2-pound or 4-pound test fluorocarbon is the way to go. Fluorocarbon is great because it sinks and it's nearly invisible, which helps when you're trying to trick smart fish in clear water.
The jig head choice is also critical. Bobby Garland actually makes a specific "Itty Bitty" jig head designed to fit this lure. We're talking 1/48th or 1/64th ounce sizes. If you go too heavy, you lose that slow, graceful fall that makes the slab slayer so effective. The goal is to let the bait drift down naturally through the water column.
When to Downsize Your Lure
There are specific times when reaching for the bobby garland itty bitty slab slayer is almost mandatory. The most obvious scenario is during the dead of winter or right after a major cold front. When the water temperature drops, a fish's metabolism slows way down. They don't want to expend a lot of energy chasing a big meal. A tiny, easy-to-swallow snack hanging right in their face is much more tempting.
Another great time is during the "dog days" of summer when the water is hot and the oxygen levels are lower in the depths. Fish can get lethargic, and they often focus on the tiny young-of-the-year shad or minnows that are congregating in the shadows of docks or under lily pads. Matching the size of that forage is key, and it's hard to find anything that matches it better than this little guy.
I also love using these for "community holes"—those spots that everyone knows about and everyone fishes. In those areas, the fish have seen a million 2-inch curly tail grubs and standard tubes. Showing them something with a much smaller profile can often trigger a bite from a fish that has been ignored by everyone else's larger lures.
Fishing Techniques That Work
My favorite way to fish the bobby garland itty bitty slab slayer is under a small slip float. This allows me to keep the bait at a very specific depth and move it incredibly slowly. I'll cast it out near a submerged tree or a dock pillar and just let it sit. Every few seconds, I'll give the float a tiny twitch—just enough to make the tail on the jig wiggle. Most of the time, the float just slowly disappears under the surface. It's a very visual and exciting way to fish.
If you're fishing deeper water, vertical jigging is the way to go. You can drop the lure down to where you see fish on your electronics and just "dead-stick" it. Again, the micro-movements are your friend here. You don't want to be hopping it three feet off the bottom. Think more about a subtle vibration.
One thing to keep in mind is that because the lure is so small, you're going to catch a wide variety of fish. I've caught everything from massive slab crappies to palm-sized bluegills, and even the occasional rogue bass or trout on this thing. It's a multi-species magnet, which makes it a blast if you're just looking to get some action and don't care exactly what's on the end of the line.
Color Selection and Confidence
Bobby Garland offers a huge range of colors for the itty bitty slab slayer, and honestly, it can be a bit overwhelming. Everyone has their favorites, but I usually follow a pretty simple rule. If the water is clear, I go with something translucent or natural, like "Monkey Milk" or "Bluegrass." These colors let a bit of light through and look very lifelike.
If the water is stained or muddy, I want something that creates a silhouette. Solid colors like "Black/Chartreuse" or "Electric Chicken" work well because they stand out against the murk. But at the end of the day, confidence is the most important factor. If you believe a certain color is going to work, you're likely to fish it more effectively.
Final Thoughts on Going Small
It's easy to get caught up in the "bigger is better" mentality when it comes to fishing, but the bobby garland itty bitty slab slayer proves that sometimes the opposite is true. It's a specialized tool, for sure, but it's one that has saved me from a "skunk" more times than I can count.
There's something incredibly satisfying about outsmarting a big, picky crappie with a lure that's barely larger than a fingernail. It requires a bit more patience and a more delicate touch with your gear, but the results speak for themselves. If you haven't tried downsizing to this level yet, give it a shot the next time the bite gets tough. You might be surprised at how many "slabs" are willing to eat something so itty bitty.