Creature Bait Selection?

[iceintheveins]

I've really been on a creature bait blitz this year, they have probably produced more fish for me than any other soft plastic type.

When do you guys choose a compact bait, ie a beaver, pit boss, or craw type bait? And when do you pick a longer, more streamlined bait like a brush hawg or rage hawg? I've done best on the compact type this year as a rule, but a couple times the brush hawg type bait has produced much better.

[Greed]

Brush Hogs and Beaver style baits are the only creature style baits that I've dabbled with. I prefer Gambler Otters over RI Sweet Beavers but that's just me. The times I use a Brush Hog is when I'm covering water by casting compared to picking apart cover (flippin/pitchin) then I'll use a compact beaver style bait.

I like to use 3/8-1/2 punch rigs when I'm using a beaver style bait, I haven't found much use for heavy punch rigs here in CO. The best punch rigs I found are the Pepper Punch made by Pepper Jigs. The nice thing about the Pepper Punch is you can essentially create you're own personal pattern if you check out their site. My favorite pattern is Desert Storm.

[flipin4bass]

I've had good sucess all summer with the 6" Gene Larew HooDaddy. I've also just recently tried the Damiki Monster Mikiand have had some violent strikes on those. The Miki has the best action of any creature bait I've used.

[buzzfrog]

D-bomb, great bait..

[ww2farmer]

When I am flipping heavy cover, I am using a beaver most of the time. If I think added motion will get me more bites, like in dirty water, or those days when it's cloudy and the wind is blowing but for some reason only known to them they are not out chewing, I use a paca craw. Never been a big fan of brush hog type baits. I used to use tubes alot but, since I started using beavers 5-6 years ago, I don't know when the last time I flipped a tube.

[Bluebasser86]

Beaver baits are great for heavy brush and weed cover, I like the hogs in more open water or fishing docks but the can be interchanged very easily. If I'm flipping a brush hog into heavy cover I like to tear the front legs off so they don't hang in the cover as bad. Brush hogs style baits are also great on a C-rig.

[Jake P]

Pitching into heavy cover calls for pit boss. I like the compact profile to glide through easier. otherwise I use a rage Hawg.

Honestly I don't use much plastics anymore. I have moved to jigs. But when and if I do, that's how I do it.

[K_Mac]

I have caught more fish on beaver style baits (both small and regular) than any other plastic this year, and I have caught a bunch fish on plastics. Even this summer and early fall (including night fishing) when larger baits like big worms and brushhogs have produced well in the past, the smaller profile baits have produced better and more fish. In the past deeper water this time of year would always get a bigger bait. Not this year though. Maybe it has to do with the low water levels? I suspect it is a confidence thing and I am simply using beavers (BPS River Bugs have proven to be a decent alternative to Reaction Innovation beavers FWIW) more this year, but the results have been good.

A baby brushhog pitched to cover or C-rigged has also produced for me this year. Like BB86 I will sometimes remove the front appendages for a little more streamlined bait.

[mikey5string]

I have a soft plastic addiction. I cant go to a tackle store, or walmart or dicks without buying at least one pack of something.

The Havoc Pit Boss is my favorite "creature" bait. I use them for swim jig & chatter bait trailers, for flipping, on texas rigs, carolina rigs.....very versatile and inexpensive.

[rockchalk06]

I have a soft plastic addiction. I cant go to a tackle store, or walmart or dicks without buying at least one pack of something.

The Havoc Pit Boss is my favorite "creature" bait. I use them for swim jig & chatter bait trailers, for flipping, on texas rigs, carolina rigs.....very versatile and inexpensive.

I had never used the Pitboss until last week. I was watching a you tube video on how to rig using a flipping hook. The guy was using the pit boss and having good luck. I found them at BP for 3 bucks for 8 and they stink to high heaven, soft and have great action.

I may not be a complete replacement for Rage Craws, but they do work great. Plus they are dirt cheap!

[buzzfrog]

at academy, they are 2 bucks.. my favorite cheap bait the pitboss

[mikey5string]

I had never used the Pitboss until last week. I was watching a you tube video on how to rig using a flipping hook. The guy was using the pit boss and having good luck. I found them at BP for 3 bucks for 8 and they stink to high heaven, soft and have great action.

I may not be a complete replacement for Rage Craws, but they do work great. Plus they are dirt cheap!

you think they stink? I think they scent is mild if even that noticeable at all.

you should try Gulp! or Lake Fork!

Sometimes I have better luck with the Pit boss, sometimes with rage craws. IMO, the action on rage craws can be "too much" in some situations. I literally have a hundred bags of different creature/craw baits.

The missle D-bomb is great, all of their products are. The tomahawk worm and drop craw always stay in my box. Reaction Innovations sweet beavers are great. I have a few bags of the kinky beaver but I havent used them yet.

Owners Yuki bug is a really great bait. It has great "do nothing" action when stationary. The paddle floats up in the water slowly and it really looks alive.

Jackalls Sasuteki craw is a fantastic craw bait. One of my favorites for weeds and shakey heads.

Lake Fork makes some good baits....

I would experiment with some different brands you hear about here. Everyone has their favorite but there is no "best"