What's the best Craws on the Market?

[Ohitsmeagain]

Hey, I haven't fished craws at all but wanna try using them. What's the best ones? Also what style hooks? EWG or Round Bend?

[A-Jay]

Try the Rage Rig ~

It's a Rage Craw on a weighted hook.

A-Jay

 

[iceintheveins]

Rage Craws all day.

[scaleface]

Theres not a best , only favorites . I havent found  one I didnt like  , even the old Renegades  Wal-Mart brand caught the heck out of them , especially smallmouths . Guido Bugs  , Riverside Big Claws  too . My all time favorite is Larews Salt Craw simply because I have used them the most .

[WRB]

Look at this forums sponsor, that will your answer 99% of the time from the members.

You can rig craws the same way you rig soft plastic worms, take your choice.

Tom

[webertime]

Zoom UV Speedcraw.

[IndianaFinesse]

I tend to put craws in three different categories, the realistic, detailed craws with less action, the medium action craws, and craws with wildly flapping appendages.that don't have much for action.

The realistic, detailed craws are a somewhat over looked class of craws in my opinion. These tend to be the best when fishing for pressured or bedding bass.  My favorites in this category is the yum crawbug and the gene larew salt craws.

 

Then comes the craws that have some vibration and claw movement, but not as much as say a rage craw.  I use these as general purpose craws and jig trailers.  Although its not technically a craw, my favorite is the Barkley pit boss, followed by the Berkeley craw fatty.

 

And last the craws with wildly flapping claws and a lot of vibrations and action.  I use thee when the bass are very active, or when the water is muddy and I need a little more vibration.  My favorites in this category are the zoom ultra-vibe speed craws and rage craws.

[crypt]

Larews salt craw,Gambler burner craw.

[RoLo]

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

Theres not a best , only favorites . I havent found  one I didnt like 

 

PRECISELY

 

I'd love to have HALF the money I spent/wasted on plastic craws.

Despite the bass's pea-size brain, it's hard to believe that any bass would mistake our plastic toys for live crayfish.

That said, I normally fish a Deps Twin-tail Grub (discontinued) or Strike King Rage Lobster

but not for their crayfish simulation, but for their audible vibration.

 

Roger

[Raul]

Rage craws are excellent.

[S. Sass]

NetBait Paca Craw has been a bait I consider for all around use. It puts off a medium vibration. The hollow body allows for those who like scent to dr them up. Also it makes for a soft body easily collapsing for a great hookset. The claws are not prone to being torn off easily. 

If I need maximum vibration Strike King Rage Craws are up there as a strong option.

If you are wanting more subtle vibration I like the Berkley Pit Boss.  

[WI_Angler1989]

My favorite is the Cabin Creek Express Craws. They have a good size and profile for my waters. Also, I fish them exclusively on weedless draggin head/slider jigs. 

[Bluebasser86]

Rage Craws, Yum Christie Craw and Craw Papi, Zman Turbo Crawz and Punch CrawZ. 

[Outdoor Zack]

Zoom lil critter on light t rig 

[Catt]

["hamma"]

best craws? umm ,...is there one? They all seem to work.

 

 I can remember making plastic "creepy crawlers" as a kid. For you youngins? creepy crawlers was a fad back in the 60's/70's,.. you could make your own worms, spiders, a crawlies, to scare mom and friends.. Came complete with the plastics, molds, colorants and pot all in one fun filled box.

 Im pretty sure there was a crayfish/lobster mold, as new molds kept coming out for a while.

 With that being said? I bet those old creepy crawlers would even work.

 Bass love crayfish, hence the many different choices of craws to ponder through. 

Personally, I like the soft yamamoto lifelike looking craws, Gene Larew's salty craws, and miss the old Manns co kangaroo craws.

 But to clarify,...the question at hand is like asking the nation,..what's the "best" beer,. best truck, or best football team,......

 eventhough we all know, its the Patriots!,....lol,...now play nice!

  

[long island basser]

I use paca craws, pit boss, rage craw.

There are many craws on the market that will do the job just fine.

I prefer an ewg hook. With my favorite being the Owner Rig-N-Hook usually in the 4/0 size.

[d-camarena]

I like christie craws 

[kadas]

11 hours ago, crypt said:

Larews salt craw,Gambler burner craw.

  ^^this^^

[.ghoti.]

All three sizes of Rage craws, and chigger craws.

[Fishin' Fool]

On 1/27/2017 at 6:08 PM, A-Jay said:

Try the Rage Rig ~

It's a Rage Craw on a weighted hook.

A-Jay

 

 

How do you fish that up north? I know your first response is wait until the ice melts. But what's step two?

[A-Jay]

On ‎1‎/‎27‎/‎2017 at 6:08 PM, A-Jay said:

Try the Rage Rig ~

It's a Rage Craw on a weighted hook.

A-Jay

 

 

1 hour ago, Fishin' Fool said:

 

How do you fish that up north? I know your first response is wait until the ice melts. But what's step two?

 

This rig excels for me in a couple of different situations and the geographic local may not matter. It's super versatile and can be effective in places that many other offering would work as well.

First & fore most, this rig is very resistant to hanging up.  Second, because of the position of the weight under the bait, the craw does not fall nose down; it's more of a glide.  With the use of different weights, line sizes & types, an angler can really dial that in to what he or she wants the bait to do.   Generally this bait has a slower fall or glide, so I fish it in applications where that's beneficial; so that's usually on the shallower side, less than 12-15 feet or so.  You could load up on the weight but the action results in something I'm not that excited about.   With a constant retrieve, this deal can also be used as a top water offering over the tops of & through just about anything; with the option of stopping and letting it fall down into any & all pockets of fishy looking ambush points.   A pause & sink on a missed topwater strike can often be met by a most welcome tight line as well.

 

 I like using it up into a shallow patch of lily pads or reeds, especially with a softer or weeded up bottom.  Crawling, bumping & pausing the rig along here is effective.  Also the Inside & outside of the first shoreline weed edge.  Worked same as above.  Over & through shallow wood, under & around man made cover like docks is a fan favorite.

 

I've even used this as a semi-finesse deal, with a light weight and a lighter wire weighted hook on spinning gear to put fussy SMB in the net in clear water.  The first fish in this clip came on it, the reeds I was working can be seen in the back round.  Later that morning the shallow crank bite came on so I rolled with it.

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

[Gundog]

I like Gene Larew claws. The are bulky at the top to get them noticed by the bass. As far as rigs, I use a ball head jig or a 4/0 wide gap hook, texas rigged. 

 

[Burtonxj]

 

Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw is my go to.

 

Texas Rigged for smallies on the Upper Potomac most of the time.

[RoLo]

37 minutes ago, Gundog said:

I like Gene Larew claws

 

 

 

My wife would definitely agree with that. Her most productive plastic craw is the 'Gene Larew Rattlin Crawler'.

She imparts a short, rapid jiggle to the jig that looks unorthodox to me, but it works for her.  

 

Roger