MacDaddyFishin Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 I know this is probably a stupid/overly asked question. But one of my favorite style baits is the craw style. But I've always wanted to ask when is the best time of year to use them? I mainly try hunt the word try to use the Strike King Rage Tail craws. Also I fish mostly east Texas lakes so we have a lot of grass, stumps, and occasionally some rocky bottoms. Quote
Super User Senko lover Posted January 6, 2015 Super User Posted January 6, 2015 Craws are something I want to use more this next year. I see/watch people using them the most in summer, for flipping, pitching, punching, and generally working cover. Quote
MacDaddyFishin Posted January 6, 2015 Author Posted January 6, 2015 Craws are something I want to use more this next year. I see/watch people using them the most in summer, for flipping, pitching, punching, and generally working cover. Yea I've seen them used during summer as well, but I've also read how they can be fished pretty much during the whole year. But I have not confirmed that statement. And I would also like to use them more this year! Quote
Super User Catch and Grease Posted January 6, 2015 Super User Posted January 6, 2015 Anytime of year! A craw is something you can use year round. 1 Quote
conorsixtakc Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 Drop shots, jigs, shakey heads, texas rigs... the better question is when to NOT throw a craw Quote
hotdogin Posted January 6, 2015 Posted January 6, 2015 More specifically which colors are best suited for the time of year? I know water clarity will be a big factor, but I'm sure the stages of a crass coloring will also come into play. Quote
Super User Raul Posted January 6, 2015 Super User Posted January 6, 2015 Choose the color you like since watermelon and green pumpkin are so popular you can start there. Quote
MacDaddyFishin Posted January 6, 2015 Author Posted January 6, 2015 Ok thanks for all the awesome info guys! As far as colors I'm not worried as I've set some traps out and caught some and they were in the brownish green coloring. So green pumpkin will work wonders! 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted January 6, 2015 Super User Posted January 6, 2015 Theres a body of water close by where the crawdads are purple . I caught a crawdad 20 foot deep on Table Rock lake and it was brown with bright orange tips on the pinchers. So I switched to a brown and orange Larew Salt Craw and caught two keepers. It never occurred to me to use orange in that clear of water . 1 Quote
Super User Goose52 Posted January 7, 2015 Super User Posted January 7, 2015 Like most of the above folks, I fish craws all year long. BUT, I tend to fish them even more in winter (say when the water is from 60 down to around 40 degree surface temps). I tend to put the plastic worms away in cold water and fish the craws more - a slower rate of fall on the craws generally (compared to a worm), and some flapping from the appendages, seems to attract those sluggish bass. Both the bass below took craws in the past couple days - the smaller one on Jan. 2nd to a Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw, the 18" bass took a Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craw on Jan. 4th. Both hit in water temps in the low 40's. 1 Quote
Super User iabass8 Posted January 7, 2015 Super User Posted January 7, 2015 If there's no Ice covering the water, you can effectively fish some sort of a craw style bait. Quote
Matthew2000 Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 The real question when wouldn't you ?? Quote
roblo Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Crawfish will change color as they age, you can google it an it will explain the process better than I can. If you know what color they are when your wanting to use one, may up your odds some. Match it as close as you can and good luck. Lake I fish has lots of hydrilla, creeks, timber ect Can be used all year long Good luck Quote
MacDaddyFishin Posted January 7, 2015 Author Posted January 7, 2015 Crawfish will change color as they age, you can google it an it will explain the process better than I can. If you know what color they are when your wanting to use one, may up your odds some. Match it as close as you can and good luck. Lake I fish has lots of hydrilla, creeks, timber ect Can be used all year long Good luck Same thing with the lakes I fish. All hydrilla and timber Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted January 7, 2015 Super User Posted January 7, 2015 Anytime of year! A craw is something you can use year round. All year long. What they said! Quote
corn-on-the-rob Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Like someone else mentioned you can fish them anytime, anywhere, heck you can catch bass on craw baits while they are feeding on a ball of shad right in front of you. Don't be afraid to try other craw imitators like tubes and beaver style baits. Throw them on t-rigs a jig head, a trailer on a skirted jig, anything really. I like browns, greens, black/blues, orange and chartreuse at times. I like to keep it really simple compared to a lot of people. I have a set of flappin' craws and a set of more natural ones to use in any way I can imagine. A small set of tubes and beaver style baits and I cover the bases I need. If you are into throwing craw baits you pretty much have to get in to jig fishing. Pretty much the go-to craw imitating big bass catcher for many people. For jigs I keep it real simple. 3/8oz black/blue and 3/8oz natural craw are the only ones I carry for now and use different color trailers to highlight what color I want to present. Anytime you are fishing on or near the bottom, a craw bait will always catch fish. There isn't really a situation where I would say don't ever throw one, but at times when bass are keying in on sunfish or shad there CAN be better options. here are some of my go-tos: (the bottom row is either used as jig trailer or on bare jig heads) Quote
Super User F14A-B Posted January 7, 2015 Super User Posted January 7, 2015 If you are into throwing craw baits you pretty much have to get in to jig fishing. Flipping Jigs, Casting Jigs, Naked jig heads, these are pretty much NOT the only way to fish these. My 2 Favorite ways are just a T-rig & Rage Rig, I also Carolina Rig the biggest of craws. I actually prefer a 5" Kalins in my Flipping or Casting jigs, I do use the crawfish as jig trailers at times. In cooler weather I like pork... 1 Quote
Global Moderator Mike L Posted January 7, 2015 Global Moderator Posted January 7, 2015 All year long. Ditto Mike Quote
corn-on-the-rob Posted January 7, 2015 Posted January 7, 2015 Flipping Jigs, Casting Jigs, Naked jig heads, these are pretty much NOT the only way to fish these. My 2 Favorite ways are just a T-rig & Rage Rig, I also Carolina Rig the biggest of craws. I actually prefer a 5" Kalins in my Flipping or Casting jigs, I do use the crawfish as jig trailers at times. In cooler weather I like pork... For sure, there are really many ways (sizes, styles, retrieves, etc) and I was using jig fishing as a very general term but mainly as a great craw presentation option. I mentioned that it has nearly infinite potential uses but was highlighting my particular set up and personal preferences. I did not mean to come off as incognizant of its potential uses and capabilities. After hearing you guys mention pork so much I may have to give it a shot this season. Quote
roblo Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Is there a certain time of year y'all use trailers with a spinner bait. I use them mainly on a jig an chatter bait. Was just curious if y'all use them on spinner baits a lot Thanks Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted January 8, 2015 Super User Posted January 8, 2015 All Day, Every Day & Every Which Way ~ A-Jay Quote
Blues19 Posted January 8, 2015 Posted January 8, 2015 Search on youtube and in google, Michael Murphy Crayfish. He fishes professionaly. Graduated from Purdue University and studied something like fishery biology or something like that. He did a crayfish study in college and has all kinds of info on them. Really interesting stuff. He talks about the coloring based on what they eat, where they live, time of year. All kinds of stuff. Super interesting. Quote
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