Another Useless Lure Or Is It Useful?

[SENKOSAM]

I bought some bags of these in different colors and if I remember correctly did catch a bass or two on them about three years ago. They stopped working after that and now they collect dust. I originally used a long shank, wide gap Cabela's jighead with the head inside (like that for a tube).  I tried a weedless football head with the head outside, but the weed guard seemed to get in the way.

The lures are hollow and the only real action is provided by the claws - kind of like the real thing when a craw swims backwards. My questions are:
Has anyone ever been successful using them? and Any suggestions for rigging?

Thanks

[Stingray23]

Those are far from useless. I've had success dragging them with a football head jig, both weedless or exposed hook. I also texas rigged them.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Wow, can't believe you don't have any success on those! I use some identical to them made by Storm and they are one of my best kept "secrets" here. I T-rig them or use them as a trailer on jigs for flippin & pitchin cover. Works really well in the cold fronts when fishing is slower.

[Gatorbassman]

The YUM Crawbug. You bet I have. I put the big ones on a Magnum Spot Remover and bed fish with them. They have been my go to bed fishing lure for years. The other thing you can do us put them on a large shaky head like the new YUM Pumpkin Ed jighead that has a 4/0 hook and drag it slowly.

[SENKOSAM]

The YUM Crawbug.

 

That's the one.

Thanks all. I'll be sure to use them as suggested.

[iabass8]

that yum crawbug is a FANTASTIC small mouth lure.

[MCS]

Well slap me and call me stupid, bet i get a few lining up for that lol. I had these and never really used them. Got them on sale at walmart Still sitting in my sons tackle box. I with do as mentioned and really give them a shot. This up coming cold front had all the girls hiding but when they bed up I am gonna toss this at them. Thanks for the info.

[bassh8er]

These make a GREAT jig trailer; crawdad is my favorite color,

[Bluebasser86]

The smaller size crawbug is an awesome sight fishing bait. I like to fish them with a light weight so they sink slowly towards the bottom like a real craw.

[moguy1973]

Try jika rigging them!

[RyneB]

i have C rigged them, T rigged them with and without a weight, rage rig, jig trailer,shaky head, i have even drop shotted them. I have caught some monster smallies out of a small river near my house on the Crawbug. If you have some jig heads laying around that the skirts fell off, throw a crawbug on it and work it around any cover you can find.

 

When people fish with me, there are very few baits i have that i wont let people use. The Crawbug is one of them.

[ToledoEF]

I hop those with a scrounger and it works well.

[airborne_angler]

Years ago I turned my nose up at these. I had a bunch and sold them on Ebay.Even picked some up on clearance for next to nothing not too long ago and sold them too. Now I really wish I hadnt. I recently discovered a youtube video where a guy modified these. Haven't tried it yet but looks promising.

I have some of the large sized versions of these made by Madman. Today I tested it out on a Neko Rig. I screwed a weight into the flat spot on the tail and skin hooked the body. This bait rigged like this will hold a defensive posture(claws up) as long as you maintain tension on the line. Very little movement on the line will make the antennae and claws quiver. It appears to always run true rigged like this. On the fall it doesn't appear too realistic, but once on the bottom, GAME ON!!!(or so it appeared in my 55 gal fish tank)

[SENKOSAM]

T rigged them with and without a weight

Won't it cause line twist on a horizotal retrieve with no weight ?

 

Is the 3.5" size too large for smallmouth?

 

Mad Man Craw's plastic I thought was too much like rubber - too stiff - and the claws extended further. Still a good bait?

[J Francho]

I've been using these for years.  I put them on a small, weighted swimbait hook.  They also work on a jika rig.  Last tip, wacky, but not through the middle, like a worm..  Hook it like you would a live crab, through the back and pop a nail weight in it's tail or face, depending on what you want the crab to do.

[Jake P]

What size are yall using mainly? Kind of want to grab a pack now....

[Stingray23]

I like both sizes