Poorman's Downrigger

Crappie Vixen

The Gapen Crappie Vixen is a premium ultralight jig featuring natural Arctic fox fur that creates incredibly lifelike movement. Delivering a seductive action that triggers strikes from even the most finicky crappie, bluegill, perch, trout, and other panfish.

Jigets

Tail Dancer

Crappie Bait

The Gapen Crappie Jig Special (also known as the Crappie Bait Jig) is a premium scented plastic jig designed specifically for crappie, bluegill, and other panfish. Built with vibrant hot colors and quality jig-and-tail combinations, this versatile lure excels in all water conditions and lighting situations.

Mr. Waxy

Egg-N-Eye

The Gapen Egg-N-Eye is a compact, highly effective jig designed for panfish and light gamefish in all seasons. Its small profile and proven action make it a favorite among ice anglers targeting whitefish, perch, bluegill, crappie, and trout.

Crappie Monkey

The Gapen Crappie Monkey is a uniquely designed grub-style rojig that has become a favorite among professional guides, tournament anglers, and weekend warriors alike. Its distinctive rocking action and profile trigger aggressive strikes from crappie, bluegill, perch, and other panfish.

Mousey

Teardrop

Tear Drop Ice Fishing Jigs

Gapen's, great winter jig, cold water jig - and many use it in summer as well. Tip this with a wax worm (bee moth larvae) or spike (maggot) and you are set to catch fish. Thin strips of plastic lure can also be used on these lightweight jigs that flutter. Come in two sizes #8 & #10 (smallest size). The Walleye Icer is a larger jig built for minnows, cut bait and crawler chunks for bigger fish. The teardrop jigs are for smaller baits - bluegill, perch, crappie, trout and many other species.

Ice Jigs Hues for Light Conditions

Load up on colors and have spares on hand. Different colors are good for changes in light conditions as well as deeper and shallow water. Fish respond to bright and dark colors at different times. Deeper waters might have brighter color jigs getting more bites. On brighter days, the dark colors will work well also. As the sun sets, you might want bright colors on hand. Good anglers have these pre-tied so that they are ready for these changes. Spare rods are good or pre-tie them on leaders for quick changes.

Quality Nickel-Coated Ice Jigs

The Tear Jig offers wobble, shimmy and shake. All Gapen products are coated in anti-rust coatings with nickel. Cheaper jigs, will make a mess in your box and destroy your hooks. The nickel coating doesn't hurt for that little extra flash it offers to attract fish.

Papa Jig (2 pack)

Hook more panfish with the Papa Jig the innovative 3D printed hard body jig designed to dominate slabs, bluegill, perch, and sunfish! Built tough from high-quality, eco-friendly PLA filament, these vibrant jigs deliver unbeatable durability and lifelike action that drives aggressive strikes in any water condition.

Twister Tail

The #1 Crappie & Panfish Slayer – TTS Twister Tails. These hyper-active 3” curly tails with ribbed bodies and silver flake shimmer absolutely hammer crappie, bluegill, perch, and bonus bass every trip. More bites than live bait – guaranteed!

Ice-N-Ant

Ice-N-Ant Ice Jig
Ice-N-Ant

Dan Gapen, Sr. created the Ice-N-Ant for the sole purpose of enticing bluegill (bream). Since its creation in the year 2000, it has become a standard lure for the ICE FISHERMAN as well as OPEN WATER FISHERMAN.

Tipped with a small GRUB, the Ice-N-Ant takes most species which feed on insect life beneath the waters of your favorite lake or stream. Bluegill, crappie, redears and multiple species of trout fall to the charms of this buggy little lure. Pick your color and size, then enjoy!

Another popular presentation is to tie the Ice N Ant above your hook bait. To do this, tie an Ice n Ant about 12" - 16" above your hook line - leaving that tail of line below your knot. Then add your hook bait or small jig and you have a killer, multi-depth presentation. You may just find that the fish hit your Ant more than the lower bait.

Bait-Walker

The legendary Gapen Bait-Walker is the original snag-reducing bottom weight that lets you troll your bait right down on the bottom with confidence. Designed by fishing icon Dan Gapen, this innovative anti-snag sinker keeps your line and lure moving freely while maintaining excellent bottom contact.

Freshwater Shrimp

Freshwater Shrimp Jig

Important Ordering Information:
The size you order determines the style
1/64 oz = Glitter Tail (Chartreuse shown)
1/32 oz = Glitter Tail (Chartreuse shown)

Because tiny shrimp are found all over the globe, their flash and size are a universal feeding shape to most every fish. The freshwater shrimp jig has the flash tinsel and fly combo that fish hone in on and strike. Grabbing their attention with the flash of light similar to the real thing as it catches rays, the freshwater fresh shrimp catches the focus of fish and gets strikes.

With the quality materials making up this fly jig, the freshwater shrimp jig flicks on the fall, flashes and parachutes into the eye line of now curious fish. The hair and structure form a slow-fall drop that brings strikes from crappie, trout, bass, perch, walleye, white bass and blue gills - any fish that ever ate eats the shrimps.

Crappie fisherman know how on-the-drop fishing is key to catching. A proper crappie jig features water-catching hair shoots and materials that offer a superb slow-drop. Crappie anglers can choose between the Freshwater Shrimp Crappie Jig with glitter tail or the 1/16 oz. and up Freshwater Shrimp Maribou Crappie Jig With Glitter tail for premium hair fly jig combination that few monster crappies resist.

Jigging Tips

Materials make the jig and make the presentation. Proven tie patterns with premium materials make jigs that hook lips because the jig performs in the water column. The sliver flash of the jig head as it pops from the twitch of your rod tip, back to the tinsel glitter tail put a flash in the water that locks the fish in. Flick your rod tip and then follow your jig down -visualizing the slow drop in your mind - follow that downward with your rod tip. Be ready to strike if you get slack line or feel a tap as the jig is suited for attacks "on-the-drop" as the jig slowly falls. You can also watch your line for any sign of slack - this is a fish strike or structure which you should be ready to raise the tip back up to set the hook or lift the jig.

Also essential in a jigging setup is a rod that will transmit the lightest tap back to the angler's hand at the rod handle. High quality carbon wrap spinning rods send the line vibrations from the tip eye straight through to the handle and the angler's fingers. Placing your trigger finger on the rod blank above the cork is a great way to add a little extra feel to sense the lightest strike tap. For great jigging rods with unsurpassed touch and sensitivity, try some of the Gapen Adventure Spinning rods to work your jig and feel light strikes before they get away.

Gapen's Maribou Crappie Jig

These sizes come in Maribou Tail
1/16 oz = Glitter + Maribou Tail (shown-pink below)
1/8 oz = Glitter + Maribou Tail (shown-pink below)
1/4 oz = Glitter + Maribou Tail (shown-pink below)

Made with a tantalizing tail of marabou and glitter flash, the combined with a body structure similar to a Wooly Bugger fly makes Gapen's freshwater shrimp in 1/16 oz., 1/8 oz., and 1/4 oz. such a deadly fish enticer. All heads are nickel-plated and can be used in both freshwater and saltwater. Over 5 million of the smaller 1/64 oz. and 1/32 oz. sizes were sold the first 5 years they came out for panfish.

T- Grub

The T-Grub Jig the deadliest tube jig you will ever drag through heavy cover. Its 1/4 oz unpainted round-ball head sinks fast and stands up perfectly while the hand-poured soft tube body and fluttering split-tail tentacles mimic a fleeing crawfish or goby. Equipped with a razor-sharp 3/0 black-nickel hook, this jig triggers explosive reaction strikes from smallmouth and largemouth in docks, rocks, grass, and wood. Available in 1/4 oz, 3/8 oz, and 1/2 oz. Add this proven big-bass killer to your box today!

RED BALL JIGS

The RED BALL JIG

Gapen Introduces The Red Ball JIG

The Red Ball comes with three extra red egg tippers which are heavily scented with anise oil, a natural attractant for all game fish. The Red Ball lure is made of tin, an environmentally safe metal. It is plated in nickel or gold, which creates a flashy fish tempter which fish instinctively gravitate to. See the Fantastic Fishing Tips explaining "How-To" use and why the Red Ball works--and what species it works best on.

Summer or Winter...It Matters Not!

This "NEW" fishing creation, the Red Ball, will produce results on gamefish such as panfish, perch, rock bass, walleye, bass, trout, pike or lake trout.

Gapen's Red Ball JIG brings to the angler a completely new concept in fishing NEVER BEFORE SEEN!

Why???: All fish, from minnow stage, instinctively feed on the eggs of others, even their own species. It is this instinct which the Red Ball targets. Most fish spawn (eggs) tends to carry an opaque orange or red color. It is this shape and color that the Red Balls duplicate. The main silver or gold body design and color is just a device on which to present the red egg. It is the body which creates and triggers a fish attraction and draw to the Red Ball.

As the body flashes, dips, dives and erratically darts towards the fish staging area, it creates interest and fish come directly to it. But, it is the shape, color and scent of the Red Ball that stimulates the reaction to strike.

Working the Red Ball: Numerous lifts and twitches at rod tip are required as the Red Ball is presented. Once in the fish staging zone, this lure should be held still. If, after 30 seconds, no strike is felt, anglers should twitch the Red Ball two or three times and wait. Still no strike--repeat the process of casting or vertically jigging.

A Look Behind the Scenes of our "New" Red Ball JIG

History
Bob Kook, fishing buddy, cameraman and good friend of the Gapen's, first laid the idea of the Red Ball style jig on Dan Gapen, Sr. after he'd done research while ice fishing for panfish. Bob noted that more times than he could count, panfish had a tendency to attempt to eat the split shot which held his offering down. Eventually, he used just a shot on a hook with no natural bait, and caught fish. Next, the split shot were painted a number of colors. Red turned out to be the best. Then a small 1/4 inch red plastic bead was placed on a nickel flat spoon hook. It worked! It seems the flashing wobble of the spoon drew the panfish in, but it was the red bead which they struck.

A Theory Why It Works
All fish species begin as eggs, which in turn turn into very small fish fry with a large egg sack attached. The sack, normally an orangish or reddish color is what the tiny minnow feeds on while it grows. During this period of life, a fish is extremely vulnerable to predation.

Thus, there is a natural instinct in all fish species to feed on eggs or anything which consists of a round circular shape.

It is a genetic instinct which cannot be withheld when fish are in search of food.

Therefore, fish, no matter what the species, are drawn to this food's shape more than they are drawn to the egg by smell or action. As a matter of fact, the Red Ball is best presented to fish in a still manner (motionless).

Presentation of the Red Ball
Two years of research proved up the following. The flash and darting action of the tin body of the Red Ball brings the fish in to this bait. But, it's the red egg-tipped on the metal body which drives them to strike it. "Strike" will come 90% of the time when the lure is held motionless for several moments. At times, the angler should allow the Red Ball to sit still and for as long as 30 seconds before striking results will occur.

Normally, species such as perch, bluegill, crappie, rock bass, whitefish and ciscoes will charge into the bait as it is vigorously jigged up and down, and then nose in to within a couple inches. Only then, when it's held still will they close in on it, flare their gill plates and suck the Red Ball in.

In the case of crappie and perch, they will rise as the bait is ingested. This creates an easing off of line pressure at rod tip. Bluegill, rock bass and other species suck the Red Ball in and dart off creating a hard strike at rod tip.

Gapen's continue with future research on other gamefish species as you read this copy in their newest catalog. Research in new lure styles, with the Red Ball construction and theory are on-going. Fish such as walleye and bass are now being offered new Red Ball lures. As of today, the new idea is working well. Gapen's knows the round ball works. They only have to develop body styles to carry the Red Ball to other gamefish.

It is my belief--Dan Gapen, Sr.--that many of us, as well as myself, have been working our winter and summer jigs too hard. We've held with the theory that a rapid jigging action is the key to cause fish to strike.

Not so!!!
The rapid jigging action of a lure is what causes the fish to notice an offering. Thus, drawing them to our lure. However, if this rough working of the lure continues, such action will flush fish from your lure. It matters not if you've tipped it with natural bait or not.

Holding it motionless after a series of jerks and twitches is by far the best presentation. If you have an underwater camera this theory can be well-documented.

If fish fail to strike the motionless lure, a painfully slow rise of the bait will renew their interest. If that fails, then the target probably isn't ready to feed and you best repeat your attractive jigging action to draw in another fish target.

Bait-Walker Plus

The Gapen Bait-Walker Plus was specifically developed to address the challenges anglers face when using spinner snell rigs with standard bottom bouncers. This upgraded version of the legendary Bait-Walker delivers the same proven snagless performance while providing better compatibility and balance for spinner setups.

Bait-Walker Long Wire

The Gapen Bait-Walker Long Wire is the upgraded version of the legendary original Bait-Walker. Designed with a longer wire arm, it gives anglers superior clearance when working stick plugs, crankbaits, and other lures over moss-covered rocks, sticks, and heavy structure where standard weights snag easily.

Flicker

The Gapen Flicker is a versatile spoon/jig with excellent flash and action. Great for ice fishing, panfish, perch, trout, and more.

'Bobber' Anne Float

The Gapen ‘Bobber Anne’ Float is a premium balsa wood bobber designed for sensitive bite detection. Perfect for crappie, bluegill, perch, and panfish fishing.

Muddler Jig

Flicker BT

The Gapen Flicker BT is a specialized bottom-trolling and vertical jigging spoon with excellent flash and action for walleye, salmon, trout, and more.

Red Ball - (24ct.)

Red Ball

Fish Focus and Strike on the Red Ball

The new fishing creation, the Red Ball, will produce results on gamefish such as panfish, perch, trout, rock bass, walleye, pike or lake trout. Gapen's Red Ball brings to the angler a completely new concept in fishing NEVER BEFORE SEEN- WHY??? All fish, from minnow stage, instinctively feed on red balls (the eggs of others), even their own species.

It is this instinct which the Red Ball targets and the instinct that entices so many strikes and holds by fish everywhere. Most fish's spawn (eggs) tend to carry an opaque orange or red color. It is this shape and color that the Red Ball duplicates.
Use the red ball tipped on any treble hook from crank baits, to jigs to jigging spoons such as the Flicker or Flicker BT.
The main sliver or coloration on a jig's flash and shape attract the fish but sometimes the fish stop short of striking. It is the Red Ball that draws the fish's attention and the shape and color - combined with a proven scent, triggers focus and a strike more times than without.

The scent in Red Ball is a Gapen family proven fishing scent which is also rechargeable. After fishing the Red Ball you can easily remove it from the hook and return it to it's original bag with the others. Seal the bag and your Red Ball bait will scent itself and recharge for the next time out! Not many baits are this durable and can recharge scent. The Red Ball is also very durable and can be unhooked over 150 times and placed back in the bag, tackle box.

The Red Ball carries scent on the back of any crank bait and can be that last deciding factor in causing a following fish to strike instead of turning away. Red Ball masks human oils and is a scent the Gapens have used for 100 years - it is the critical, potent pure scent that some expert anglers have used for the longest time for its fish-catching powers.

Red Ball comes in 3 sizes each of 24. Select Small, Large or Mixed (12 Small - 12 Large in same package). Use the small for most ice lures and smaller fish species and use the large for crank baits and larger species of fish.

Red Ball is a trademark of the 2020 Gapen Fishing Co.

T-Grub with spinner

Big bass can’t resist it. The deadliest olive green tube jig ever poured for flipping & pitching through heavy cover.

Fish Fry 1.5" Crank Bait

Compact 1.5” crankbait with tight action that catches a wide variety of fish. Excellent for smallmouth bass and panfish.

Lure Kit - Bluegill - Panfish

Everything you need to catch more bluegill, crappie or perch. One of our favorite kits because it is so versatile. Always willing to attack, the bluegill and other panfish have a number of ways to fish them. Our panfish kit includes a number of lures, the jigs and bodies with everything needed in one kit. We even include a how-to use video to show you killer tactics on catching more panfish. The Ugly Bug goes down and gets them. Jigets twist, attract and entice while Mouseys just finish the deal. Panfish can't resist the lures in our kit.

• 4 - Ugly Bugs�1/32 oz.(White, Black,Purple, Green)
• 2 - Ugly Bugs�1/16 oz.(Black, Clear glitter)
• 4 - Jigets�1/64 oz.(White, Black, Chartreuse, Pink)
• 4 - Twist Jiget Tails(Assorted colors)
• 6 - Mouseys1/64 oz.(Assorted colors)
• 6 - Mouseys Extra Bodies(Assorted colors)

Lure Kit - Jumbo Perch Kit

Want great value and a fantastic perch-catching kit - try the Gapen's Jumbo Perch Kit and save over $9! This kit includes some of the most effective perch-catching lures, an instructional DVD and bite-making Gapen's Red Ball Eggs - proven irresistible to perch everywhere.

Wilderness Rod - Spinning

The Gapen Premium Wilderness Rod is the most sensitive fishing rod. a highest-quality carbon spinning rod great for jigging, worm fishing, spin casting, walleye, bass, crappie, perch, bluegill or trout rod this sensitive and strong kevlar carbon rod it was Dan Gapen's go-to fishing rod for sensitive touch.
Select one or two of these sensitive spinning rods and add the touch and hook-setting speed that a quality carbon rod puts in your hands. For casting jigs, spinners, worms, bobbers, floats, jigging, and live bait rigs to feel the lightest tap of any finicky perch, shy-biting bass, walleye or crappie, and to get the jump on lightning-quick trout bites, you will love the sensitive touch, speed and feel of this graphite spinning rod.

The Gapen 9 Foot

The Gapen 10 - Pro-level Float Fishing Rod for Stream, River, Boat & Shore Fishing Rod. The highest quality rod at this price point in North America - an amazing touch - with ultimate battling power. Long-casting power and versatility in one rod. Light touch and curve point for setting hooks on light line as well as the power to fish braided line (Fuji Guides) for firewire or braid!

The Gapen 10

The Gapen 10 - Pro-level Float Fishing Rod for Stream, River, Boat & Shore Fishing Rod. The highest quality rod at this price point in North America - an amazing touch - with ultimate battling power. Long-casting power and versatility in one rod. Light touch and curve point for setting hooks on light line as well as the power to fish braided line (Fuji Guides) for firewire or braid!