Best/most Realistic Craw

[Munkin]

RI Smallie Beavers in Green Pumkin or Watermelon depending on how clear the water is. T-rig them using a 1/8- 1/4oz bullet head and you are good to go. Flyseagles is correct about the tubes but personally I do not like tubes.

Allen

[flyeaglesfly5186]

ok well i gotta find a color between a green pumpkin and grayish blue and ill be golden do you bounce it slow rewtrieve it or twitch it

Here's a few replies of mine from another thread about tubes. I just didn't feel like writing it again.

I tried explaining my techniques for tubes the other day to a friend and the best description I could come up with is random spaz. Yes there is some finesse to the tube especially working rock outcroppings, trees, ledges etc. I like to work around the structures with randomness to the play. Remember crawfish, which the tube imitates, swim very erratically and in short bursts typically. The fish are watching for this behavior. And will either hit on the move or more often than not hit while at rest. On the other hand, I’ve rigged up a tube and skittered it over top the lily pads like a frog at a quick pace and invoke the hits. You can even rig a tube Carolina style and work the bottom. I’ve caught bass, and catfish with tubes on the bottom. I see you’re down in Philly, head up to the Schuylkill if you really want to have fun with the smallies.

Back a few posts to your earlier question which I completely ignored. The reason for the ligther jig is to allow the tube to "crawl" with the current, even lakes have a slight movement to the water. Craws drift slightly with the current and the lighter weight allows for a drift. Also, the lighter weight means that if you want to reel the tube in which works great as well to trigger that active attack. The lighter weight means play is more feasible . You can use 3/16 or even 1/4 heads as well but with the 3.5-4 in tubes the size matches almost perfectly with the jigs hook. 3.5-1/8, 4-3/16, 4.5-1/4. Just jamb that jig down the back end of the tube and run it to the front. The hook should just barely arch out where the skirt begins.

To back smalljaw67 he's 100% right about smallies to buckets. Buckets hit baits that look "fishy", and typically from within hiding. Samllies tend to "search out" their meals, which is typically more "creature" like in appearance. Eg. Craws, Hellgrammites. I've hit smallies while reeling a tube on a quick retrieve only feet from where I'm standing. if they want the meal they'll earn it.

Both paragraphs have some info that would help you with tubes.

Edited July 27, 2012 by flyeaglesfly5186

[Matt22Ratcliff]

Rage tail craws are probaly the most realilstic, but in my experience tubes have always caught more fish for me. If you can master dragging the tube about a foot at time pause and repeat it can be a deady techinque that every smallie fishermen should have in their arsenal.

[fishinkeebs]

Tubes are great to use. Anyone ever tried the Dahlberg clacking craw? It looks real just not sure how well it works.

[gall]

thanks for the advice flyeagle it really helped i used a tube yesterday the only problem i ran into was with the exposed hook on the jig head i got so many d**n hangups i just gave up ha but im gonna give them another try and attempt to figure out a way to get less snag ups

[flyeaglesfly5186]

Keep the rod tip up at about 2:30 at rest and when you twitch or pull raise to 12:00.

Or try getting a jig head with an aberdeen hook, they're thinner and have less of a profile which is ok since the tube is such a soft body even if the hook gets burried the sharper and smaller profile of the aberdeen will still hook the fish.

[AZfishrman01]

You want real? Take at look at the River2Sea yabbies!! They kill. Especially in the smaller creeks and rivers. The exposed hook does present a problem with hang up sometimes, but if you're not putting it somewhere tough to fish then you're missing out on a lot of fish.

[Nashua Nev]

Keel weighted rage tail craw. I find the craw to be extremely versatile. I like the rage craw or chunk is a little smaller. I have not tried the new lobster.

I really like keel weighted but you can fish it any way. Thin lightweight hook with no weight for a slow drop , keel weighted or on a jig. fast or slow even trolled across. They definatly catch fish. Anything that looks like a meal. Green with Blue tints is working for me right now.in smaller darker water.

I like them on these.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Fishing/Fishing-Jigs-Rigs/Bass-Jigs|/pc/104793480/c/104736780/sc/104203080/Strike-King-Pro-Model-Jig/702752.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ffishing-fishing-jigs-rigs-bass-jigs%2F_%2FN-1100356%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104203080%3Fpcrid%3D12987221898%26WTz_l%3DPPC%253Bcat104736780&WTz_l=PPC%3Bcat104736780%3Bcat104203080

[Backwoodsbasser]

Yum craw bug has 2 sizes and a nice variety of colors they work awesome here in the north east on river smallies match the hatch with size and color options and you have a d**n near real craw. It's hollow body so tube jigs tuck in them nicely and on skitter retrieve on bottom the rubber body bounces and kicks erratically along as a real craw would. When you to a small piece of rock or structure pull lightly as to allow the claws to raise up in defense position

[Backwoodsbasser]

Yum craw bug has 2 sizes and a nice variety of colors they work awesome here in the north east on river smallies match the hatch with size and color options and you have a d**n near real craw. It's hollow body so tube jigs tuck in them nicely and on skitter retrieve on bottom the rubber body bounces and kicks erratically along as a real craw would. When you to a small piece of rock or structure pull lightly as to allow the claws to raise up in defense position

[gall]

ive been using the crawbug a lot and i found the netbait baby paca craws are down right deadly on them too those and green pumpkin tubes have been really working for me and ive caught plenty of big smallies on them

[GRIZZ]

^{HuddBug......}

[ducks19]

Favorite on the Susquehanna River (Flats) in Northern, MD is the 3.75 Yum F2 Craw Papi (Green Pumpkin with purple speckles). Texas rigged (skin hooked).

Smallies' kill this bait!

* Only knock would be that the claws do have a tendency to come off easiy. On a strike, your almost guaranteed to lose a claw or two. Although who would complain about that?

[gall]

i use those a lot too and noticed the same problem i recently changed to paca baby craws and have a little better durability

[1234567]

^{HuddBug......}

I wish Ken would make a 4 inch version of these!

[gall]

dang those are nice what size are they?

[retiredbosn]

thanks for the advice flyeagle it really helped i used a tube yesterday the only problem i ran into was with the exposed hook on the jig head i got so many d**n hangups i just gave up ha I but im gonna give them another try and attempt to figure out a way to get less snag ups

Leave a little space between the jig head and the end of tube when inserting the jig head. The little air pocket acts like a spring, the tube will hit the rock and deflect just enough to prevent most hang ups.

[je1946]

Hula grub on a round ball jig in grn pumpkin, ragetail craw keel wgt in grn pumpkin, I like to dip the tips of the craws in  chartruse/red/blue in JJs magic something about that garlic they seem to like.

[jhoffman]

The tube youre looking for in green pumpkin light blue swirl is made by powerteam lures - food chain

[Brian Needham]

The tube youre looking for in green pumpkin light blue swirl is made by powerteam lures - food chain

 

 

Thanks for that color!! I love the Strike King "Blue Craw" color and I always wanted it in a Tube!

[jhoffman]

No problem