Skip to main content

Stankx's Ribz

Stankx's Ribz

There are times and there are waterways that Midwest finesse anglers find that a small swimbait is an essential tool. And to the delight a longtime member of the Finesse News Network, Stankx Bait Company of Portage, Michigan, has begun to manufacture one that he thinks will fit his and other Midwest finesse anglers needs. It is the 3 1/2-inch Ribz.

At this angler's exhortations, we contacted Travis Crosman, who is the proprietor of Stankx and co-owner with Josh Clark of Dead On Plastix of Jackson, Michigan. Clark is also the owner of Angling A.I.

On Nov. 5, 6, and 7, we exchanged a number of emails with Crosman about the 3 1/2-inch RibZ and Stankx Bait Company.

Crosman told us that the 3 1/2-inch Ribz is a handed-poured creation.  To manufacture it, they use what he calls a finesse blend of Dead On Plastix's plastisol, and it is a proprietary blend. As they pour this blend of Dead On Plastix into their open-mold system, they use a special divider cup, which helps to fashion some unique color and anatomical combinations.


This is hue of the 3 1/2-inch Ribz is called Molt.

Its torso is 3/4 of an inch long. The contour of the belly portion of its torso resembles the belly of a threadfin shad. The bottom two thirds of the torso is endowed with nine distinct segments, which are created by eight prominent ribs. The top or dorsal portion of its torso is flat, and it is 5/8 of an inch wide at its widest part.

Its head is a half of an inch long, and the top of its head is 7/16 of an inch wide at its widest point. Its nose is flat. Each side of the head is adorned with a three-dimensional eye. The circumference of each eye is slightly smaller than the eye socket, which helps to prevent it from being extracted from the socket during a donnybrook with a black bass.  The eye possesses self-adhesive element, and Stankx also applies a drop of Loctite super glue to each eye, and these two features help to keep the eyes in place.


The tail is about 1 1/4 inches long, and it is tipped with a boot.

Crosman recommends that anglers affix the 3 1/2-inch Ribz to Stankx's   Flat Eye PiggyBack jig, which possess a conical nose and wire bait keeper.  And when an angler retrieves it on this jig, the Ribz's ribs will displace a significant amount of water, which creates vibration, and the tail will produce a significant thumping motif.




The surface of the head, torso and tail is smooth-skinned.

They are available in the following colors: Angel, Black Magic, Bloody Magic, BGSM, Molt, Shadtastic, and Toxic John.

Anglers can purchase a package of eight 3 1/2-inch Ribz for $7.29.

Recommended


In a Dec. 6 email, Crosman reported that Stankx will be adding new colors and sizes of the Ribz in the weeks to come. Besides the 3 1/2-incher, there will be a 4 1/2-incher, a six-incher, and an eight-incher. 

Endnotes:

(1) Crosman thought that Midwest anglers might be interested in using  Stankx's 2 1/2-inch Lil Hammer and 3 3/4-inch Hammer, which are swimbait. They are manufactured in an aluminum injection mold made by Angling A.I. He described them as a round swimbait that is endowed with a boot tail, and the tail radiates a lot of thumps as anglers employ a variety of swimming retrieves and speeds. They are manufactured with a special blend of a finesse plastic made by Dead On Plastix.  They exhibit a two-tone-swirl motif, which gives the bait what Crosman describes as fresh and natural look, and it is achieved by using what he calls the C- Block system.Here is a link to Stankx's website about the Lil Hammer: http://www.stankxbaitco.com/product/2-5-lil-hammer.

(2) Here is a link to Stankx jig that Crosman recommends for using with the 3 1/2-inch Ribz: http://www.stankxbaitco.com/product/flat-eye-piggyback-swimbait-hook/.

(3) For more information about Dead On Plastix and Angling A.I., see the website at this link: http://anglingai.com/.

(4) On May 16, 2014, we published a Midwest Finesse about Stankx Bait Company.  Here is the link to that column: http://www.in-fisherman.com/bass/stankx-bait-company/.

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

Andy Montgomery's Strike King Skipping Buzzbait

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

Lew's Signature Series Bladed Jig Rod with Andy Montgomery

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

Hide Your Line--Camo Trick for Fishing Line with Bryant Smith

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

Pick the RIGHT Buzzbait Trailers with Andy Montgomery

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

The Strike King KVD Popping Perch is AWESOME with Bryant Smith

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

When to Fish a BIG JIG for Bass with Greg Hackney

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

The BEST Way to Trim A Jig Skirt with Greg Hackney

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

Prespawn Buzzbaits for BIG Largemouth Bass with Keith Combs

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

Keith Combs talks about the Strike King Rage Cut-R Worm

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Gear

Swim Jig Secrets for Shallow Water Largemouth Bass with Mark Davis

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

How to Rig Strike King's Ocho with Mark Rose

Mark Rose talks about the new Rattlin' Rage Craw from Strike King and how it works well under various rigging options.
Learn

Strike King's NEW Rattlin' Rage Craw

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the In-Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now