Handcrafted Soft Plastic Baits
CHANEY CREEK CUSTOM BAITS
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The 4-inch Chaney Creek Paddle Tail is a versatile soft-plastic bait designed to imitate baitfish, minnows, and other natural forage. Its paddle tail produces steady vibration and swimming action with even the slowest retrieve, making it an excellent choice for covering water, fishing around structure, and targeting predators in a variety of conditions.
Key Features
4-inch baitfish profile imitates minnows and small forage species.
Paddle tail creates strong vibration and realistic swimming action.
Performs well at slow, moderate, and fast retrieve speeds.
Effective in clear, stained, and moving water.
Versatile design for shallow, mid-depth, and deeper presentations.
Excellent around grass, docks, rocks, brush, laydowns, and current.
Available in a convenient 4-pack.
Recommended Targeting
Freshwater:
Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, striped bass, and other predatory fish feeding on baitfish.
Brackish and Saltwater:
Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, striped bass, snook, and other inshore species that target small baitfish and minnows.
Rigging Methods
Jighead — Versatile Open-Water Presentation
Thread the Chaney Creek Paddle Tail straight onto a 1/8–1/4 oz jighead.
Select the weight based on depth, current, and desired retrieve speed.
Keep the bait centered on the hook to ensure a straight, natural swim.
Retrieve technique:
Cast beyond the target area and allow the bait to reach the desired depth. Retrieve it steadily with occasional pauses or short rod twitches. Adjust the speed until the paddle tail produces the desired action.
Best for:
Points, creek channels, flats, docks, rocky banks, current seams, and suspended fish.
Weighted Texas Rig — Weedless Cover Fishing
Rig the bait Texas-style with an offset or wide-gap hook.
Add a bullet weight for deeper water, current, or heavier cover.
Lightly skin-hook the point to reduce snags.
Retrieve technique:
Swim the bait slowly through grass, around laydowns, or along the edges of cover. Pause occasionally to let the bait fall, then begin a steady retrieve again.
Best for:
Submerged grass, brush, timber, docks, vegetation edges, and shallow cover.
Weightless Texas Rig — Shallow-Water Presentation
Rig the Paddle Tail with a wide-gap or offset hook without adding weight.
Make sure the bait is straight so it tracks properly on the retrieve.
Retrieve technique:
Allow the bait to fall naturally, then swim it slowly over shallow grass, across flats, or beside cover. Use light twitches and pauses to imitate an injured or fleeing baitfish.
Best for:
Shallow flats, clear water, grass beds, flooded cover, and active fish near the surface.
Swimbait Hook — Weedless Swimming Action
Rig the bait on a weighted or belly-weighted swimbait hook.
Position the hook so the bait remains straight and tracks naturally.
Retrieve technique:
Use a slow, steady retrieve just above vegetation, along structure, or through open water. Speed up the presentation when fish are actively chasing baitfish, or slow it down when fish are less aggressive.
Best for:
Grass lines, riprap, submerged timber, shallow structure, and open water near cover.
Carolina Rig — Bottom-Focused Baitfish Presentation
Rig the Paddle Tail behind a Carolina rig using a suitable leader length.
Use a weight heavy enough to maintain bottom contact while allowing the bait to trail naturally behind.
Retrieve technique:
Drag the rig slowly across the bottom, pausing periodically near rocks, shell, grass, and structure. The paddle tail will continue to move as the bait follows behind the weight.
Best for:
Points, sandy flats, gravel bottoms, offshore structure, and deeper water.
Why Anglers Choose the 4" Chaney Creek Paddle Tail
The 4-inch Chaney Creek Paddle Tail combines a natural baitfish profile with dependable tail action that helps attract fish from a distance. Its versatility allows anglers to swim it through open water, work it around heavy cover, or drag it along the bottom with a Carolina rig. Whether fish are actively chasing bait or need a slower presentation, the Paddle Tail provides a reliable way to imitate small forage throughout the water column.
The 4-inch Chaney Creek Prawn is a versatile soft-plastic crustacean imitation designed to replicate the natural profile and movement of a prawn, shrimp, or small crawfish. Its compact body and realistic appendages create subtle action as the bait falls, drags, or moves through the water, making it effective for bass and inshore species feeding near the bottom.
Key Features
4-inch prawn-style profile imitates shrimp, prawns, and small crawfish.
Realistic appendages create natural movement with minimal rod action.
Effective on the fall, across the bottom, and around structure.
Compact profile is ideal for pressured fish and finesse presentations.
Performs well in clear, stained, brackish, and saltwater.
Excellent around rocks, grass, docks, wood, mud, sand, and current.
Versatile design for both freshwater and inshore applications.
Recommended Targeting
Freshwater:
Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, river bass, and other predatory fish feeding on crawfish or small crustaceans.
Brackish and Saltwater:
Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, sheepshead, black drum, snook, and other inshore species that feed on shrimp and prawns.
Rigging Methods
Texas Rig — Weedless Bottom Presentation
Rig the Chaney Creek Prawn Texas-style using an offset or wide-gap hook.
Add a bullet weight based on depth, current, and cover.
Lightly skin-hook the point to help prevent snags.
Retrieve technique:
Drag the prawn slowly across the bottom, then pause near rocks, wood, grass, and other structure. Add small hops or subtle shakes to activate the appendages without overpowering the presentation.
Best for:
Brush, laydowns, docks, rocks, grass, mud, and shallow-to-mid-depth cover.
Carolina Rig — Crawfish and Prawn Imitation
Rig the bait behind a Carolina rig with a leader length suited to the bottom and fish activity.
Use enough weight to maintain bottom contact while allowing the bait to trail naturally.
Retrieve technique:
Slowly drag the rig across the bottom, pausing frequently near points, shell, rocks, and changes in bottom composition. The Chaney Creek Prawn will follow behind the weight and move naturally with each pull.
Best for:
Points, flats, offshore structure, gravel, sand, mud, and deeper water.
Jig Trailer — Added Profile and Action
Thread the Prawn onto the hook of a swim jig, flipping jig, football jig, or casting jig.
Trim the bait only if needed to match the jig size and maintain proper balance.
Retrieve technique:
Swim the jig through grass or crawl it along the bottom. Around rocks and wood, use short hops followed by pauses to imitate a prawn or crawfish moving through cover.
Best for:
Heavy cover, rocky bottoms, brush, vegetation, docks, and current.
Ned-Style Jighead — Compact Finesse Presentation
Rig the Prawn onto a small mushroom-style jighead.
Center the bait carefully so it remains balanced and moves naturally.
Retrieve technique:
Drag, hop, or slowly swim the bait along the bottom. Use extended pauses and subtle rod movements when targeting pressured or inactive fish.
Best for:
Clear water, rocky bottoms, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, and light-current areas.
Shallow Weightless or Lightly Weighted Rig
Rig the Prawn with a light hook or small weight for a slow, natural fall.
Keep the bait weedless when fishing around shallow cover.
Retrieve technique:
Allow the bait to fall beside docks, grass, wood, or shallow rocks. Add occasional twitches and pauses to imitate a prawn or shrimp moving through shallow water.
Best for:
Shallow flats, flooded cover, grass edges, docks, and calm inshore water.
Why Anglers Choose the 4" Chaney Creek Prawn
The 4-inch Chaney Creek Prawn offers a realistic crustacean profile with subtle movement that appeals to fish feeding near the bottom. It can be crawled through cover, dragged across open bottom, used as a jig trailer, or presented with finesse tackle when fish are pressured. Its versatility makes it an excellent choice for imitating shrimp, prawns, and small crawfish in both freshwater and inshore environments.
The 3.5-inch Split Tail Tracer Chad is a compact soft-plastic bait designed to imitate small baitfish, minnows, and other natural forage. Its split-tail design creates subtle movement and vibration with every twitch, lift, or retrieve, making it an excellent choice when fish are feeding on smaller prey or conditions call for a more compact presentation.
Key Features
Compact 3.5-inch profile imitates small baitfish and minnows.
Split-tail design produces subtle vibration and natural movement.
Effective in clear, stained, and shallow water.
Ideal for finesse fishing and pressured fish.
Versatile size for bass, crappie, white bass, and inshore species.
Works well around grass, rocks, docks, brush, and current.
Available in a convenient 5-pack.
Recommended Targeting
Freshwater:
Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, trout, and other freshwater predators feeding on smaller forage.
Brackish and Saltwater:
Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, striped bass, and other inshore species that feed on small baitfish and shrimp-like forage.
Rigging Methods
Jighead — Open-Water Presentation
Thread the Split Tail Tracer Chad straight onto a 1/16–1/8 oz jighead.
Choose the weight based on water depth, current, and desired fall rate.
Keep the bait centered on the hook for a natural presentation.
Retrieve technique:
Cast around points, flats, current breaks, or suspended baitfish. Allow the bait to fall to the desired depth, then use a slow retrieve with occasional pauses and light rod twitches.
Best for:
Open water, creek channels, docks, rocky banks, current seams, and suspended fish.
Weightless Texas Rig — Slow, Natural Fall
Rig the bait Texas-style using a small offset or wide-gap hook.
Fish it weightless for a subtle fall and a slow, natural presentation.
Lightly skin-hook the point to help prevent snags.
Retrieve technique:
Cast around shallow cover and allow the bait to fall naturally. Add short twitches, brief pauses, and a slow swim to imitate a small baitfish struggling through the water.
Best for:
Shallow grass, brush, laydowns, docks, and lightly covered areas.
Weighted Texas Rig — Cover and Deeper Water
Add a small bullet weight when fishing deeper water, current, or heavier cover.
Rig the bait straight so the split tail moves naturally during the retrieve.
Retrieve technique:
Drag or hop the bait across the bottom, then pause near cover. The split tail will continue to move with even the slightest rod movement.
Best for:
Brush piles, submerged vegetation, rocky bottoms, creek channels, and deeper structure.
Drop Shot — Finesse Fishing
Nose-hook the bait for maximum movement, or rig it slightly farther down the body for improved durability.
Adjust the leader length to position the bait above the bottom or near suspended fish.
Retrieve technique:
Use small shakes, gentle lifts, and long pauses. The compact profile and split-tail action make it effective when fish are pressured or unwilling to chase larger baits.
Best for:
Clear water, deep structure, rocky areas, suspended fish, and heavily pressured bass.
Ned-Style Jighead — Compact Bottom Presentation
Thread the Split Tail Tracer Chad onto a small mushroom-style jighead.
Keep the bait centered and straight for a natural glide and bottom presentation.
Retrieve technique:
Drag, hop, or slowly swim the bait along the bottom. Pause frequently around rocks, gravel, and other areas where small forage may be found.
Best for:
Smallmouth bass, spotted bass, crappie, clear water, rocky bottoms, and finesse situations.
Why Anglers Choose the 3.5" Split Tail Tracer Chad
The Split Tail Tracer Chad offers a compact baitfish profile with subtle action that excels when fish are feeding on smaller forage. Its versatile design allows it to be fished weightless, on a jighead, around cover, or with finesse techniques such as a drop shot or Ned-style rig. When larger baits are being ignored, this 3.5-inch presentation can provide the natural size and movement needed to trigger more bites.
12" Deep Water Plastic Grub Worm
Each deep water grub is individually hand poured using unique, random patterns, making every piece truly one-of-a-kind. This artisanal technique means that no two grubs are ever exactly alike, as the process simply does not allow for creating precise copies. The result is a lure with its own distinct character, perfect for anglers seeking something special and original.
12" Deep Water Plastic Grub Worm is a large-profile soft bait designed for targeting big, aggressive predators in deep or offshore environments. Its oversized curly grub tail and long, ribbed body create strong vibration and a wide, rolling action that calls fish in from a distance, even in low light or murky water.
How it’s used:
Bottom rigging:
Rig on a heavy jig head (2–10 oz depending on depth and current) and hop or drag along reefs, ledges, wrecks, and drop-offs.
Let it hit bottom, lift with a firm rod sweep, then let it fall on a tight line to keep contact and detect bites.
Carolina / sliding sinker rig:
Use a strong offset or circle hook with a sliding egg sinker above a swivel.
Slow-drag along the bottom for a more natural, undulating presentation when fish are finicky.
Vertical jigging:
Drop straight down under the boat and work it with long, slow lifts to imitate a large worm, eel, or injured baitfish.
Trolling (slow):
Can be pulled slowly behind a boat on a bottom-bouncer or heavy three-way rig near structure for covering water and locating fish.
Target species: The big profile and deep-water design make it ideal for large, predatory species, including:
Saltwater:
Grouper (red, gag, black and other deep structure grouper)
Snapper (mutton, red, cubera, mangrove)
Halibut and flounder
Lingcod and rockfish
Amberjack and other reef predators
Large cobia and barracuda when worked near structure
Freshwater (big reservoirs & deep lakes):
Lake trout (mackinaw) in deep, cold basins
Big striped bass
Flathead and blue catfish (worked along ledges and channels)
Trophy pike and musky when fished deep along breaks and humps
This bait shines when you need a large, durable soft plastic that can get down deep, stay in the strike zone, and tempt the biggest, most wary predators into committing.
4" Real Craw – Bait Profile
A highly versatile, 4-inch soft plastic designed to mimic the natural movement and appearance of a crawfish.
Key Features:
Streamlined body and articulated pincers create a lifelike crawfish silhouette.
Designed for high-action performance: the claws flap aggressively during retrieves, while the legs offer subtle, frantic vibrations on the descent or when resting.
Excellent for bottom-focused tactics, including dragging, slow-hopping, or shaking around structural elements like submerged timber, rocks, and aquatic vegetation.
Recommended Targeting:
Saltwater: Redfish, speckled trout, and flounder.
Brackish/Freshwater: Bass in tidal rivers, lakes, lakes and ponds, as well as white bass and crappie in areas where shrimp or glass minnows are primary forage.
Rigging Methods:
Jighead (Versatility)
Secure the craw by threading it from the tail onto a 1/8–1/4 oz jighead, adjusting weight to suit water depth and current speed.
Retrieve technique: After casting and allowing the bait to settle, utilize a slow hop-and-glide motion—lift the rod tip to lift the bait, then allow it to descend on a semi-slack line to trigger strikes.
Best for: Open flats, channels, docks, rocks, laydowns
Weighted Weedless Hook (Cover)
Use a belly-weighted swimbait or weedless shrimp hook.
Rig Texas-style, ensuring the hook point is lightly buried or "skin-hooked" into the back to prevent snags.
Retrieve technique: Employ a slow, consistent swim interspersed with minor twitches.
Best for: Targeting fish holding tight to thick grass, rock piles, or laydowns where open hooks would easily hang.
A versatile 5-inch soft-plastic baitfish designed to imitate the natural profile and movement of a fleeing shad. The Pintail Tracer Shad features a streamlined body and subtle pintail action that creates realistic vibration and flash without excessive movement, making it effective in clear, stained, and flowing water.
Key Features
Baitfish-inspired profile closely resembles shad and other small forage species.
Slim, streamlined body moves naturally through the water.
Pintail design produces subtle vibration and a realistic swimming action.
Excellent for steady retrieves, vertical presentations, and bottom-focused techniques.
Effective around grass, docks, rocks, current breaks, and submerged structure.
Versatile size for targeting bass and a variety of freshwater and inshore species.
Recommended Targeting
Freshwater:
Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, white bass, crappie, and other predatory fish feeding on shad or small baitfish.
Brackish and Saltwater:
Redfish, speckled trout, flounder, striped bass, and other inshore species that key on shrimp, minnows, or small baitfish.
Rigging Methods
Jighead — Open-Water Versatility
Thread the Pintail Tracer Shad straight onto a 1/8–1/4 oz jighead, selecting the weight based on depth, current, and retrieve speed.
Keep the bait centered on the hook to maintain a level, natural presentation.
Retrieve technique:
Cast beyond the target, allow the bait to reach the desired depth, and retrieve it with a slow-to-moderate steady cadence. Add occasional pauses or short rod twitches to imitate an injured or escaping baitfish.
Best for:
Open flats, creek channels, points, suspended fish, docks, rocks, and current seams.
Weighted or Weightless Texas Rig — Weedless Cover
Rig the bait Texas-style with an offset or wide-gap hook.
Use it weightless for a slower fall or add a bullet weight for deeper water and heavier cover.
Lightly skin-hook the point to reduce snags.
Retrieve technique:
Swim the bait slowly through grass and along the edges of cover. Pause occasionally, then resume with subtle twitches to activate the pintail.
Best for:
Submerged grass, laydowns, brush, docks, and shallow cover.
Swimbait Hook — Weedless Swimming Presentation
Rig the bait on a weighted or belly-weighted swimbait hook.
Make sure the body is straight so the bait tracks naturally during the retrieve.
Retrieve technique:
Use a slow, consistent swimming retrieve just above grass, along structure, or through suspended baitfish. Vary the speed until you find the activity level of the fish.
Best for:
Grass lines, shallow flats, riprap, submerged timber, and open areas near cover.
Drop Shot — Finesse Presentation
Nose-hook the Pintail Tracer Shad or rig it slightly farther down the body for a more secure presentation.
Adjust the leader length to keep the bait above the bottom or near suspended fish.
Retrieve technique:
Hold the bait near the strike zone and use light rod shakes, subtle lifts, and controlled pauses. Avoid excessive movement so the pintail provides a natural, low-impact action.
Best for:
Deep structure, rocky bottoms, suspended fish, clear water, and pressured bass.
Why Anglers Choose the 5" Pintail Tracer Shad
The Pintail Tracer Shad combines a natural baitfish profile with subtle action that can attract fish without overpowering the presentation. It can be retrieved steadily through open water, worked slowly around cover, or rigged with finesse techniques when fish are cautious. Its 5-inch size makes it a practical choice whenever shad and other small baitfish are the primary forage.
Chaney Creek Custom Baits Gift Cards
Looking for the perfect gift for fishing enthusiasts? Look no further than Chaney Creek Custom Baits gift cards! Available in denominations of $25, $50, $75, and $100, our gift cards make an ideal choice for any occasion—birthdays, holidays, or just to show you care.
Each gift card offers your loved ones the freedom to choose from our extensive range of custom bait products, ensuring they find exactly what they need for their next fishing adventure. Whether they prefer freshwater or saltwater fishing, our high-quality baits and gear are sure to enhance their experience on the water.
Choose Your Denomination
$25 Gift Card: The perfect starter for any fishing enthusiast.
$50 Gift Card: A delightful treat for those who love to fish.
$75 Gift Card: Stock up on favorites and discover new products.
$100 Gift Card: The ultimate choice for a complete fishing experience.
Purchase a Chaney Creek Custom Baits gift card today and give the gift of choice! Let your friends and family explore our premium selection of fishing gear and find their new favorite baits.
The Futoi Worm
A fat 5" stick worm with a contrasting inner core. The extra girth displaces more water; the core-shot layering gives every color a depth you can't get from a single pour.
Crafted by anglers, built on faith.
Chaney Creek Custom Baits was built on two simple principles: craftsmanship that anglers can trust, and a calling to live out our faith on and off the water.
Based in Jacksonville, North Carolina, we handcraft custom soft baits and weights for both freshwater and saltwater anglers. Every bait is poured, finished, and tested before it's ever offered for sale — because we believe quality isn't optional, it's a responsibility.
We're veteran owned and operated, proudly serving weekend anglers and professional guides alike. No mass production. No shortcuts. Just honest work, attention to detail, and baits built to fish the way they're meant to.
The Chaney Creek Story
A higher calling on the water.
Why talk about being "Fishers of Men" on a custom bait website? Because living to share the Good News is the highest calling. Desiring to live for God's glory and fulfilling Christ's message in Matthew 4:19 "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men" is our calling.
The aim here is not only to bring you handcrafted bait you'd want to fish with, but to bring souls to Christ which is only possible through the Gospel.
YOUR NEXT CAST
STARTS HERE.
Explore the collection and find the bait your next trip is waiting on. Hand-poured, angler-tested, and built to fish.
Contact Us
We currently do not ship outside of the United States.
Have questions about our services or need more information? We’d love to hear from you. Use the form to the right to get in touch with our team—whether it’s a general inquiry, a project discussion, or a request for a custom quote. We’ll respond promptly and make sure you get the details you need to move forward with confidence.