Missile Baits Chunky D Product Review

Lure Review

Missile Baits Extends Their Arsenal with the Chunky D

Date:	1/5/25
Tackle Type:	Lures
Manufacturer:	Missile Baits
Reviewer:	Cal

Total Score: 7.67 - GOOD

Introduction: There is nothing quite as ubiquitous or versatile in bass fishing tackle boxes everywhere as the soft plastic craw imitators. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but one profile in particular, no doubt evolved from the old school pork rind days, is that flattened beaver style bait. Today, we take a look at the second such profile from Missile Baits, the Chunky D.

Missile Baits Chunky D Specifications
Type	Craw/Trailer Bait
Material	Soft Plastic
Colors/Patterns	12
Sizes	3.5"
Scent/Plastic Treatment	Anise + Craw Oil
# per package	6
Resealable Bag?	Yes
MSRP	$5.69

Impressions: I say this is the second such profile from Missile Baits because the original bait that caught my attention from this manufacturer over 10 years ago, the D-Bomb, is a similar profile. However, where the D-Bomb's body is ribbed, the Chunky D's body is smooth on top with segmented ridge lines and ribbed on the bottom. The real difference though, is in the treatment of the claws. The Chunky D was designed in response to the more recent evolution of this profile and features claws designed to flap back and forth as the bait comes through the water.

Introducing Missile's Chunky D

Real World Tests: I'll be the first to admit, it's tough for me these days, to fish soft plastics. The slow grind of that soak just isn't as exciting as a reaction bite - even if the grind is the only way to really catch them. The great thing about the Chunky D is you can fish it on the drop or as a moving bait - that versatility is the reason behind the proliferation of these flapping craw variants.

The Chunky D is a swimming style craw trailer

For the Chunky D, that means my primary interest was rigging it as a trailer for swim and vibrating jigs. Specifically on the back of ARK Fishing International's new Wes Welker swim jig and the Donkey Slayer vibrating jig, but there's no reason this bait couldn't be fished on its own rigged on a 3/0 or 4/0 hook with a simple bullet weight or even on a swimbait hook for that matter.

The top of the bait is segmented like a craw

Before even rigging the bait on the back of your favorite jig, spinnerbait, or buzzbait, however, one of the pluses is the product's packaging. Missile Baits provides a customized, clear plastic clamshell to house the Chunky D so as to keep each bait from fouling when not in use. The container snaps open and closed like a fast food container not only making it easy to take a new bait, but to place baits back in when you're done. You know, just in case you're the type to try squeeze every last thread of life from your soft plastics.

The underside is ribbed

One of the dilemmas fishermen face when rigging baits like this is whether or not to separate the claws. Do you want to fish it like a craw bait or as one big beaver tail? True to the manufacturer's intent for the Chunky D's to be used as a moving bait, there are no such paralytic decision making moments here. The claws are already separated out of the package .

Battle scarred swim fins

To activate that swimming motion, Missile Baits attaches a thin, vertical soft plastic fin to the end at both sides of the claws. Some manufacturers install a thicker piece here, but this subtle, thin layer is enough to get the Chunky D's claws to flail at medium to fast retrieves. Of course, the faster your retrieve, the more frantic the swim.

The Chunky D rigged on the back of a swim jig

Typical of the manufacturer's other soft plastic bait profiles, the consistency of the Chunky D's material is soft enough to inspire confidence but not so soft as to tear at the turbulence of a fish swimming by. As a trailer, I found the Chunky D to hold up well under repeated bites.

It also makes for a nice trailer on the back of a vibrating jig

Design & Ergonomics: The Chunky D is a three and a half inch bait offered in packs of six. It is available in twelve different patterns, but as we all know with soft plastic baits, that's subject to change at a moment's notice. Typical of all Missile Bait's soft plastics, for extra appeal, this bait is infused with anise and craw oil attractants, and as mentioned earlier, the packaging is a convenient, re-sealable clear plastic clamshell.

The clear plastic clamshell packaging helps preserve the bait's shape

Price & Applications: Retail for the Chunky D is $5.69 per package of 6 baits which comes to $0.95 per bait. That's about five or six cents over the average of about a dozen baits of similar profile and function. Like all trailer baits with the swimming claws, you can use it, like I did, as a trailer or rigged on its own and fish it either as a moving bait, flipped into cover, dragged or hopped along the bottom. Really, baits like this are as versatile as they come.

Ratings:

Missile Baits Chunky D Ratings (?/10)
Construction/Quality	Good consistency in material and colors	8
Performance	Very good swimming motion at medium to fast retrieve	8
Price	Roughly $0.95 per bait	7
Features	Swimming claws, scent infused	7.5
Design (Ergonomics)	Good selection of colors and packaging	7.5
Application	As versatile as they come	8
Total Score		7.67
Ratings Key: 1 = terrible : 2 = poor : 3 = lacking : 4 = sub par : 5 = mediocre : 6 = fair : 7 = good : 8 = great : 9 = excellent : 10 = unbelievable! For More Details of the updated rating system visit our explanation here

Pluses and Minuses:

Plus	Minus
+ Good Selection of Colors	- Just a little more per bait than average
+ Scent infused
+ Consistency of soft plastic is very good
+ Claws are already detached

Conclusion: Missile Bait's Chunky D is certainly not the first swimming craw trailer bait to hit the market, but it is a very good alternative. Color selection is diverse, packaging is very good, but best of all, that consistency of the soft plastic is pliable enough to inspire confidence yet not too soft to where the baits get chewed up prematurely.

If you're looking for a dependable alternative in your swimming trailer arsenal, add the Chunky D to your short list

I like the double sided nature of the baits body and the fact I don't have to decide whether or not to separate the claws - which I always do on these swimming trailers anyway because I want them to swim. If you're looking for a dependable alternative in your swimming trailer arsenal, the Chunky D is a solid option, especially when fished on a swim or bladed jig.

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