I’m proud to announce one of my newest creations with Livingston Lures, set to be available in 2026: The Critter. Proof that good things come in small packages, The Critter measures just over three and a half inches without the rear blades. The Critter is a downsized muskie and pike lure that’s perfect for anglers targeting pressured or finicky fish.

Despite its compact size, The Critter is heavily weighted, dropping at two feet per second. As it falls, two small rear Colorado blades spin, creating vibration and turbulence. Its unique presence is enhanced by a ribbon-style paddle tail on top, which adds flash and visual appeal as the lure flutters and drops.

While there’s really no wrong way to fish it, I designed The Critter with two primary applications in mind. First, it can be worked much like a Kraken or soft plastic tube. Short upward taps make the bait jump and fall in a tube-style fashion, an insanely effective tactic for cold front muskies or early season musky fishing when fish are less aggressive.

During prototyping, I was amazed at how often muskies that followed a ten-inch Kraken would turn and absolutely crush The Critter as a throwback bait. Equally impressive were the numbers of fish that hit The Critter outright when it was the primary lure being cast. Around weeds and timber, its popping, hopping motion perfectly mimics a struggling baitfish, making it one of the best new downsized muskie baits. Add in the fact that The Critter looks like nothing more than a snack to a trophy-class muskie, and you’ve got a lethal lure for big fish.

Cold-front testing proved just how effective this lure can be. By jigging and jumping The Critter tube-style, I put muskies in the boat from Tennessee to Canada when nothing else would move them. During one severe Canadian cold front, final prototypes of The Critter boated multiple muskies up to 48 inches, while other anglers left camp empty-handed.

Another deadly option is a straight retrieve. In the spring of 2025, I tested The Critter by burning it over shallow flats and sand over these classic post-spawn areas where anglers often throw rattle traps and other lipless crankbaits. The results were outstanding. Its dual blades and top fin deliver a thump muskies and pike have never seen, and combined with its small profile, it’s a must-have early season muskie lure.

Northern pike anglers will also find The Critter irresistible. In North America, pike don’t always get the respect they deserve, but European anglers are in for a treat. In testing, the lure caught pike after pike on every lake it touched. One early prototype made its way to a friend in the Netherlands, who praised the lure and begged for more after landing countless fish. If you’re serious about targeting trophy pike, The Critter is one of the best new pike lures you can add to your arsenal.

Built for Forward-Facing Sonar

Modern muskie anglers rely heavily on LiveScope and forward-facing sonar to locate and trigger fish in open water. The Critter was designed with this in mind. Internal components are optimized for sonar visibility, making the lure stand out clearly on screen. This gives anglers confidence in knowing exactly what their bait is doing throughout the retrieve, a key advantage in modern musky fishing.

Big Muskie and Pike Strikes Come in Small Packages

Don’t let its size fool you, The Critter is built to handle monsters. With stainless steel through-wire construction, extra-heavy split rings, and 2X-strength hooks, it’s tough enough to land the biggest muskies and pike. Add Livingston Lures’ patented EBS Technology for realistic baitfish sound, and you’ve got a small lure with oversized power and appeal.

If you’re a muskie angler looking for the next edge and ready to try something new, The Critter deserves a place in your box. It’s built to put more muskies and pike in your net.

Steven Paul

Musky and Pike Expert