Here ’ s a new look at an old-school crankbait originally whittled from balsa for MLF big stick Andy Morgan by legendary Tennessee lure maker Marion “ Tip ” Tipton . Longtime buds , Morgan and “ Tip ” held the hand-carved “ 24 ” crankbait close to the vest for more than two decades – and won a bundle with it – before giving Strike King the blessing to turn it into a modern workhorse with a sexy name . Fittingly called the Chick Magnet , the 2022 ICAST Best Freshwater Hard Lure is built to get down and dirty in the shallows .
First Impressions
The 2 1 / 4-inch Chick Magnet is a squatty plug with a deep belly and wide
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back that casts a large profile resembling a juvenile bluegill . Its plastic body is fitted with a thin circuit board bill , nose-anchored line tie and a pair of beefy , shortshank No . 4 trebles – one centered on the belly and one at the tail . A pair of stainless balls strategically placed inside the belly cavity add a little weight while creating a subtle rattle as it comes through the water column . It also features holographic eyes and detailed finishes that appear high in quality for a massproduction lure .
In Action
Matched with Berkley Trilene 100 % Fluorocarbon , the plug ran true right out of the package . It quickly found its place in the water
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column and went to work with an enticing thump that attracted some brutal strikes , including a legit 8- to 9-pounder that smashed it in muddy water during field testing at Lake Nacogdoches in eastern Texas . The bait will produce year-round but shines the brightest in cold to moderate water temps from late fall through spring , when banged off of stumps , laydowns and docks or crawled across rock / gravel and shallow grass beds .
At 7 / 16 ounce , the bait casts extremely well and cuts the wind way better than you might expect for such a wide-bodied flat side . It ’ s also buoyant enough to get itself out of trouble when given the chance .
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Final Thoughts
Strike King designers brought their “ A ” game when they crafted the Chick Magnet . They had to , because Morgan vowed not to release it until it was right in every way . If you like to bang around rock , stumps , docks or even shallow grass , this is definitely a bait worth having on the deck when water temperatures are on the chilly side . It calls out the big ones in stained water or clear .
Applications
› Water depths of 4 to 6 feet
› Shines around rock / gravel , wood , docks or grass
› Muddy water or clear
› Cold to moderate water temperatures
› Ideal during prespawn , but can be effective throughout the year
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