Man Behind Missile

Crews, Jr. All Business When It Comes To New Challenge

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

ORLANDO, Fla. – John Crews, Jr. watched Jimmy Houston and Hank Parker parlay their success in bass tournaments to lengthy careers as outdoors television personalities. He witnessed Lonnie Stanley do the same; only he went the lure-design route.

Now 34 years old and with 10-plus years under his belt fishing the pro tours, Crews has been waiting to see which door was going to open for him in terms of off-the-water endeavors. Many BassFans are familiar with his signature series line of crankbaits from Spro, which he designed and has helped market.

But he wanted more than to have a bait named after him. He wanted to be the artist staring at the blank canvas, the novelist sitting down to hammer out the next chapter. He wanted to put his stamp on something completely new and see how it stood up against the competition.

Instead of waiting for someone to open that door of opportunity for him, he blew it open himself earlier this year when he launched Missile Baits, a company specializing in soft plastic baits.