Thoughts On Plastic Crawdads?

[Cgolf]

As for plastic craws, I am loyal to the yum crawbug. That bait has been my number 1 producing river smallie bait over the last 7+ years followed closely by a Bandit 100 (catch fish on both in the same time window even though they are at opposite end of action spectrum). It really doesn't flap or anything, but the smallies don't care, they kill the thing. I have tried the flapping craws (Berkely and Zoom) and at least for smallies on the river they just don't produce as well as the craw bug.

 

As an aside I may have to rethink my stance about realistic baits not mattering, because that is the one the the crawbug has going for it.

[Schuyler co]

Brett, another thing to think about with jigs is experimenting with your retrieve and let the fish tell you want they want.....slow/fast cadence hopping on bottom, slow drag, swimming the jig etc....

[Brett Strohl]

Brett, another thing to think about with jigs is experimenting with your retrieve and let the fish tell you want they want.....slow/fast cadence hopping on bottom, slow drag, swimming the jig etc....

 

 

We had a lot better weather today so I tried a lot of differing things.  I had a lot of bites on the craws, mostly just from chucking them up under overhanging limbs and bushes along the bank.  I only got one fish into the boat on the craws.  I felt like maybe the lure wasn't collapsing enough to hook the fish.   I'm new to plastics but I know when I get bites on senkos I don't have that problem.  I dunno, I might try some Yums since they're only $2 a pack, or I might just stick with senkos.   I don't get the impression that throwing one plastic lure is much better than another so far.  

 

I feel like fishing this pond is going to be incredibly slow under even the best circumstances.  The bass all seem very timid for some reason, even though I don't think it is hardly ever fished.  I saw one follow my crank bait all the way up to the boat and just turn around >_<

[Josh Smith]

Pull the legs off? I'm confused O_o

 

 

Found the study again:

 

No legs, no claws, no glory

 

The research group at Pure Fishing in Spirit Lake, Iowa, is actively seeking information on crawfish behavior. Pure Fishing manages one of the largest live fish behavioral test facilities in the world, and statistically measures fish reaction to baits and key foods.

 

"We are amazed at many of the findings that have been discovered in our facility in the last few years," said John Prochnow, Product Development Manager. Led by Dr. Keith Jones, multiple tests were made with live bass over several months in a controlled environment to measure what kind of shape the bass preferred when keying on soft plastic crawfish imitations.

 

For 60 days, 450 largemouth bass, plucked from the same environment, were tested using a robotic arm and a strike counter. Each group of bass was presented a crawfish bait at the same speed and angle of attack. The bass tested had never seen the bait that was presented (it was a prototype). The test then continued, with one pincer removed, then a second pincer removed, and finally, the legs. The soft bait that had no appendages (no legs or pincers, just a body and tail) had the greatest number of strikes.

 

"The final bait looked almost like a large shrimp," said Proctnov. The research was incorporated into the Berkley Flippin Tube. "We wanted to market a craw with no appendages, but our market research said no one would buy it," Proctnov added.

 

http://www.bassmaster.com/understanding-bass-forage-crawfish

 

Josh

[Shanes7614]

I used these flipping and pitching last week and ended up going through 4 packs of the 5 baits from 730am until 230pm. I did notice they are a bit soft and don't hold up as well as other brands but they do catch fish. Sounds like a day where a smaller presentation would have been preferred with the cooler temps. Don't give up on them yet.

[Shanes7614]

One thing you need to take into consideration when reading others answers. Number one is that most fishermen are creatures of habit. If they catch their personal best on a specific bait then that's is the best bait on the market. Number two is to realize or look into whether the people answering your post are fishing the same types of waters you are. Some baits may work in deep clear lakes and then be absolute garbage in a shallow stained body of water. You may get a more subjective outlook if you locate a few dependable people in your area and private message them to get your answers. I know I myself would take bait choices from other areas not pertaining to the water I fish and just dismiss them. Example: I've read a TON of guys using the duo realis spybaits in deep clear water with 4-6lb test slaying monsters out west. I've read ZERO articles of the same baits being killers here in the waters of Florida. If they're are of the same Florida strain of bass then why isn't this the case?

[A KGB Operative]

In all honesty I love the idea behind plastic crawfish. I simply cannot get a huge output of numbers on plastic crawdads although. I buy so many but have such little success. Is it due to my location? Chicagoland area I always have a tough time getting a jig to work and give up after an hour of nothing with great conditions.

My favorite go to baits are lipless crankbaits, duo realis spinbait 80, chatterbait blue black with a berkley havoc devilspear or netbait paca chunk as a trailer. Alwo topwaters but different story. I'll often throw out the pitboss and speed craws but never get much Fish from them. Whenever I do I love that stuff.

[Josh Smith]

If it matters to you, I mostly fish a fertile small lake. The water is stained to clear with green tint.

My best lures for this lake are black, blue/black, and blue/red jigs with craw trailers, usually blue as well. The craw trailers are not for looks so much as for noise.

I cast directly into brush and roll over limbs.

Josh