You bought a creeper and you have been dying to try it out and see if you can boat a Musky using it. Finally, the day has come and you, your boat and your creeper are on the water and on the hunt. You attach your new creeper to the leader and cast it out with high expectations. The creeper hits the water and you begin your retrieve but something is wrong. There is no ‘plop plop’, no characteristic side-to-side motion. Instead, the creeper is just rolling in the water. This is not an unusual story. There are a lot of folks making creepers and not all of them get water tested by those manufacturers before they are offered to the Musky fishing public. This little article is presented in hope that it will provide you a little perspective of how to get the most from your creeper purchase.

The creeper used in this article, which I am very pleased with, is a custom made creeper made by William Kaiser. I prefer to buy creepers from individuals with a reputation for quality or, lacking that, to test the creeper on the water before money changes hands. This is my personal preference but it is one that I would strongly encourage. In 2008, I started making my own version of the creeper called the Best American Crawler.

Deciding On A Creeper

There are a few things to look for when buying a creeper. Certainly, the finish and the paint job on the lure is important…not that color makes a big impression on the Musky, but it is an indicator as to the ‘pride of manufacture’.

Take a look at the wing mechanism. The wing itself should be free of metal burrs and have enough tensile strength to resist deformation. The wing should also be cupped. This cupping is necessary to create the plop sound as the creeper is retrieved. The cotter pin used in this wing mechanism is an effective method that allows the wings free motion. The cotter pin also allows for easy replacement of the wing if it is damaged, unlike those wings which are soldered in place. Note also the stop tab. This tab is used to adjust the degree of angle between the wing and the lure body…I will discuss this a little later in the article.

The body hook mechanics differ from creeper to creeper. This creeper has a metal clip that is attached to the through wire of the creeper. The split ring is attached to the clip and a modified hook hanger is used to stabilize the mechanism. You may see some that use a swivel rather than a clip or you may see some that use only a screw eye and split ring combination…and then there are those that use only a hook hanger. All are effective…just make sure that there is always a split ring and, in the case of a ‘hook hanger only’, ask how long the screws are that secure the hook hanger to the creeper body...½ inch is a minimum length...I prefer ¾ inch.

The rear hook configuration will vary somewhat. Many creepers, like this one, will not use a split ring. This works OK, however, if you should have to cut the rear treble to free a fish or the hook will no longer accept being sharpened, you will have to cut the hook off and use a split ring to attach a new hook to the rear eye of the through wire.

Wing Adjustments

The position and cup of the wings will determine the action and sound that your creeper will give you. Before you go out in the boat to fish, spend some time casting your creeper from the dock. Make a mental note of the relative position of the wings to the creeper body and the cup of the wings when you remove it from the package. Do not make any adjustment to the wings until you cast the lure a couple of times to see how it performs. If you like what you see and hear, then leave it alone.

As a general rule of thumb, the wigs should be at a 45˚ angle to the creeper body. Less than that and the creeper may roll and more than that the creeper will not ‘plop’. Now, having said that, every creeper is different so every adjustment will be a bit different. (If you bought one of the Frenchy Creepers from the original production run, you will remember that they came with a little instruction sheet on how to adjust the wings.)

When To Use The Creeper.

The creeper has developed a reputation for being a productive evening, morning and night time lure and that is certainly true. The creeper has also been considered a calm to ripple water lure and that is also true. However, the creeper is also an excellent rough water lure that can be very effective on heavy overcast days. Remember that when the wind is up, Musky are generally moving. They are looking for an easy meal and a creeper plopping its way up and down the swells of choppy water presents the picture of a small animal in distress. I would recommend that you give your creeper a chance to surf the chop…

Tight Lines