Bobby Garland Introduces Live Roam’R

Learn about the newest soft plastic bait introduction from Bobby Garland Crappie Baits – the Live Roam’R – which provides versatile year-round rigging and presentation options for catching crappie. 

True to its name, the new Bobby Garland Live Roam’R soft-plastic crappie bait is precisely designed to target suspended or “roaming” crappie, using the increasingly popular live forward-facing sonar technology.

This new crappie lure already has become a favorite among those involved in its testing, and the same anglers have found its effectiveness transcends roaming-fish applications. If fact, they’ve found success using every imaginable crappie fishing technique, with approaches ranging from brush pile fishing to slip corking.

Live Roam’R Bait Specs

The Live Roam'R is a 1.75-inch realistic minnow imitation, bringing a new size and profile to the Bobby Garland lineup. The Live Roam’R continues the brand’s reputation of product innovation specific to crappie fishing. The bait’s subtle features, from head to tail, keep swimming action tight and natural, just like that of a real minnow.

The bait’s symmetrical design allows multiple rigging and color pattern options, including a “dying” baitfish look when rigged flat, and a “live” appearance when rigged upright.

The lure’s solid body accommodates a wide range of jig head styles and sizes. Its streamline design also makes the bait a versatile choice suitable for a wide variety of action-based techniques, including casting and retrieving, vertical jigging, dock shooting, long-line trolling and spider rigging.

The Live Roam’R comes packaged in a 15-count resealable bag and is available in 14 colors, ranging from solids to laminates. Among them are Bobby Garland favorites:

• Bleeding Shad
• Blue Ice
• Blue Thunder
• Bluegrass
• Cajun Cricket
• Double Silver Rainbow
• Electric Chicken
• Lights Out
• Live Minnow
• Monkey Milk
• Threadfin Shad

3 New Exclusive Colors

• Blue Shiner
• Pecan Cream
• Speckled Pearl

When to Use a Live Roam’R

The Live Roam’R has great year-round applications and will perform very well during the fall and winter months for suspended crappie, commonly called roamers.

The bait’s slender upright profile and bulkier flat profile allows anglers to match the hatch throughout the year.

The upright or “live” presentation keys in on summertime fry and coaxes finnicky fish out of structure.

Roaming crappie are typically aggressive and stalk bait fish away from structure and cover. This behavior occurs primarily during the fall and winter months when forage is transitioning from fry to fingerlings. The flat or “dying” presentation perfectly fits the bait profile for this time of year.

Where to Fish a Live Roam’R

The Live Roam’R can be fished wherever crappie can be found. Its body design gives anglers different rigging options to suit their crappie fishing needs.

When fished on a light jig head, the bait has incredible, lifelike action with little to no rod movement. Rigged flat or upright will work great for shallow water bobber jigging, especially around the spring spawn.

This bait will fish well upright on balanced or spinner blade jig heads for long-line trolling, spider rigging, casting and retrieving or vertical jigging in open water near channel swings, brush piles and docks.

Why the Live Roam’R?

Crappie rely heavily on bait fish for forage. A symmetrical profile, in color patterns to match all water conditions, makes the Live Roam’R one of the most versatile soft plastic baits on the market.

The bait’s natural features are irresistible to crappie in any environment.

For crappie anglers who utilize forward-facing sonar to target crappie, the Live Roam'R was specifically designed to appear more visible on the screen than other baits in the small soft plastics category.

How to Fish a Live Roam’R

Vertical Jigging – Depending on depth and desired action, the Live Roam’R pairs well with a 1/16-ounce up to 1/32-ounce jig head. Holding the rod steady with an occasional rod pop works great when rigged upright. Rigging the bait flat for a “dying” look allows for erratic injured movement or a rising dead minnow presentation.

Float – Slip corking and fixed bobber presentations are best on a 1/16-ounce jig head or heavier to help keep slack out of the line. Rigged upright works well for a slow retrieve and rigged flat allows for more erratic jigging action.

Cast and Retrieve – On either a balanced or spinner blade jig head, the Live Roam’R can be retrieved steadily with occasional rod pops to add life-like darting action. Add a split shot helps for casting light jig heads, making longer casts or dealing with wind.

Long-line trollers, spider riggers and dock shooters will find multiple applications and presentations for this bait. A unique feature to the Live Roam’R is its ability to reverse color pattern on laminates. The symmetrical design and realistic profile make this bait a must have for any serious crappie angler.