"regular Looking" Craw Baits

[iceintheveins]

Does anyone here still use craw baits that look "ordinary" and don't have swirling or twirling pinchers? I'm talking about baits like the power craw, zoom critter craw, ect? Under what conditions do you use them and how do you retrieve them?

[iabass8]

I still use big bite baits craw. It is basically a replica of the YUM crawbug with a ribbed tail. I generally use them in rip rap and drag/small skitter hops really slow. Smallmouth genetally hit it with amger. Iive found them most productive mid day shallow. I still use jigs over this the majority of the time but these are a really fun numbers bait.

[Hooligan]

Clear water I'll often throw a T-Rigged Lake Fork Craw with great success. Not a Craw Tube, but a Craw.

[guitarkid]

the bps increda craw is a killer on a bed bug jig.

-gk

[Bluebasser86]

I still like a Zoom cross craw or critter craw when I want a subtle profile for a jig trailer. A Guido Bug on a shakyhead is a killer stream smallmouth bait.

[K_Mac]

A Guido Bug (both sizes) still gets some use, esp in clear water when subtlety is required. Black/blue and black/red have had a place in my bag for many years.

[ww2farmer]

I like the GYCB craws, not fancy, nor super realistic, but catch lots of fish.

[roadwarrior]

Nope...

Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craw and Lobster only.

[BASSclary]

Nope...

Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craw and Lobster only.

Yep. They are literally the only craws I use anymore, either on a jig, or by itself

[mikey5string]

the thing is, a craw really only looks like an actual crawfish when it is stationary. Otherwise, its scurrying around with legs, claws and appendages swirling and moving and kicking up silt. This is probably how the bass sees one as its about to eat it, as just a ball of movement trying to get away.

I bought a pack of yum craws that look like a real craw but they havent produced as well as some of the other beaver, creature type baits with a lot of action.

[iceintheveins]

When using a "regular" craw, do you drag it on the bottom or use more of a hopping retrieve?

[Bluebasser86]

When using a "regular" craw, do you drag it on the bottom or use more of a hopping retrieve?

Both. I like to give my craw imitation baits little hops now and then. That's one of their main defense techniques, it's also when they're the easiest for a bass to catch without having to deal with the claws. So I think it triggers a reaction or feeding strike when a bass sees it crawling along the bottom and then quickly scoots away.