Plastic Crawfish Baits

[Mobasser]

For years my very favorite plastic craw was the Guido bug, made famous by Guido and Dion Hibdon. I used both sizes, the larger mostly fished alone Texas rigged and the baby Guido Bug as a jig trailer or fished on a Texas rig or shakey head. It was an excellent bait for me through the years. I've finally used up most all of my supply. I've found a close replica with the Zoom critter craw. The back of the old Guido bug was smooth, and the critter craw has some ribs on the tail section. What I always liked about the Baby Guido bug was the long antennas and the overall shape of these baits. I've tried other plastic craw baits with larger flapping craws, and small antennas and they never seemed to work quite as good. Two examples are the Larew salt craw and the Paca chunk baits. I know lots of folks do well with these, but I've not done as well with them.If I was using a black jig with a Guido bug, it was easy to change trailer color- black/blue, black/red claw, or black chartreuse, which would sometimes trigger a strike.Maybe at times, craw baits don't need to be very realistic, and only mimic the general shape and size of the crawfish in your waters. But, I think it pays to sweat the details, with shape, antannaes, craw size and colors. Now, there are so many craw baits out there. What do you look for in a soft crawfish bait, and what are some of your favorites?

[Bankbeater]

I like the Zoom ultravibe speedcraw.  The size of the plastic bait is close to the average size of the crawfish in the ponds that I fish. 

[the reel ess]

I like the Zoom Super Speed Craw. But it isn't available everywhere so I've switched over to the Berkley Chigger Craw. I like it better. The smell is about what you'd expect a small crustacean to smell like and fish will hold it a long time, giving you ample opportunity to get a hook in them. I don't use it as a trailer as much as I just use it plain. I like it on an Arky weedless jighead by itself. I caught my current PB on that rig. I've got some of the Ultravibes and Yamamoto Hula Grubs as well and they work great. The Chigger Craw just seems to get bigger bites for me. Therefore it's my confidence bait. I know that's anecdotal evidence, but I'm 110% convinced.

[roadwarrior]

Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craw and Lobster.

 

[evilcatfish]

I've become a big fan of the tackle hd craws. Very realistic and pretty durable. For something more economical, the yum craw bug is a solid choice 

[Log Catcher]

I like the Zoom ultra vibe speed craw. I have also had good luck with Berkleys crazy legs chigger craw.

[Catt]

3 hours ago, Mobasser said:

Maybe at times, craw baits don't need to be very realistic, and only mimic the general shape and size of the crawfish in your waters. 

 

3 hours ago, Mobasser said:

What do you look for in a soft crawfish bait, and what are some of your favorites?

 

#1 answers #2  ?

 

I prefer big craw worms like Gene Larew's 6" Hawg Craw, Rage Tail's 4.5" Lobster & 4.5" Magnum Rage Bug.

 

Have you looked at Lake Fork Tackle's  4" Fork Craw?

 

http://www.lftlures.com/catalog/lft-craws

[MIbassyaker]

I like the usual suspects from Rage, Zoom, Berkley, GYCB and such.

 

I also like a few that that don't get mentioned as often: The Reins Ring Craw, V&M Wild Thang, Biospawn vilecraw and gambler burner craw

[Dens228]

I use the Ragetail craws, but I may get a couple different colors of Yum to see how they are. At that price why not???

[WRB]

Huddleston Huddbug is as realistic as it gets for soft plastic crawdads.

Back in the 90's the was a Aussie soft plastic crawdad very similar to the Huddbug, still have several of them. The realistic crawdads work fished slowly crawled along the bottom, more of a finesse presentation.

Soft plastic craws with big flapping claws don't look like a real crawdad or act like a real crawdad, more like a baitfish swimming, crawdads don't flap their claws, they kick the tail. Flapping claw craws work and my favorite is the Chigger craw and GYCB twin tail grubs because they catch bass consistantly. 

Tom

[Choporoz]

Funny, I never got a bite on the more realistic crawfish lures, like R2S and Savage Gear.  But, as @WRBsuggested, they are probably most effective fished exceedingly slow, which isn't my strong suit....I'm like the owl in the old Tootsie Pop commercial....on the third count of my attempted 30 second drag, I'm already reeling in to re-cast

[bagofdonuts]

If you like the longer antenna look, try the crazy legs chigger craw. its a really good texas rigged craw. haven't used it as much as a trailer, but i'm sure it'd work.

[Mobasser]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

 

 

#1 answers #2  ?

 

I prefer big craw worms like Gene Larew's 6" Hawg Craw, Rage Tail's 4.5" Lobster & 4.5" Magnum Rage Bug.

 

Have you looked at Lake Fork Tackle's  4" Fork Craw?

 

http://www.lftlures.com/catalog/lft-craws

Catt, thanks for this link. Looks like a good bait, and good colors too. Looks like a good Texas rig craw. I like the versatility of craw baits. Like getting 2 or more lures for each bait

[TnRiver46]

I get some hand poured. Also love rage craw and a rage menace on a shakey head (or Texas rig) is a heck of a craw imitation 

[ratherbfishin1]

Dang I stocked up on chiggar craws because of the rebate... now I have to try them out.

[Catt]

@Mobasser The Fork Craw is very similar to the old Mad Man craw which was extremely deadly all across Texas. 

 

Mad Man's Craw Tube was molded from a crawfish.

 

 

[the reel ess]

On 9/24/2018 at 6:02 PM, ratherbfishin1 said:

Dang I stocked up on chiggar craws because of the rebate... now I have to try them out.

Why do you say "Dang"? They're awesome. I've discovered they'll last a lot longer if you put them on a jig or palin jighead.

[blckshirt98]

On 9/24/2018 at 2:48 PM, Mobasser said:

Catt, thanks for this link. Looks like a good bait, and good colors too. Looks like a good Texas rig craw. I like the versatility of craw baits. Like getting 2 or more lures for each bait

Big Bite Baits either criminally stole the mold from Lake Fork or a patent expired somewhere.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Big_Bite_Baits_Craw_Worm_10pk/descpage-BBBCRWW.html

 

I have both and compared side by side they're the exact same bait.  Big Bite version is much cheaper per bait (they've been on sale at TW forever) than Lake Fork and the additional 3" size baits are killer on a dropshot.

 

 

 

[Catt]

On 9/27/2018 at 12:43 AM, blckshirt98 said:

Big Bite Baits either criminally stole the mold from Lake Fork or a patent expired somewhere.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Big_Bite_Baits_Craw_Worm_10pk/descpage-BBBCRWW.html

 

I have both and compared side by side they're the exact same bait.  Big Bite version is much cheaper per bait (they've been on sale at TW forever) than Lake Fork and the additional 3" size baits are killer on a dropshot.

 

 

 

 

Barlow's Tackle has a 4" Pocket Craw that's very similar but without the ribs.

 

https://www.barlowstackle.com/4-Inch-Pocket-Craw--P81.aspx

[scaleface]

I dont think it makes that much difference . a plastic craw is a plastic craw . I liked the Guido bug too because of it smooth glossy finish . If I had a doubt if that was a bite or not , all i had to do was examine the lure for teeth marks . The Guido Bug clearly shows them .

[Topwaterdude]

I've had good results with  Rage craw used many different ways.

[Harold Scoggins]

On ‎9‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 7:59 AM, roadwarrior said:

Rage Tail Baby Craw, Craw and Lobster.

 

I love that Rage Lobster! I think I have two left and I've already have them on my Black Friday list.

[bagofdonuts]

Changing my recommendation. Although I like the chigger craw, I've come to the conclusion that the zoom z craw is the best t-rigged craw I've ever used. Compact, nice swim action (but not too much), well designed head and hook slot, and flat catches them. Its super versatile as a jig trailer- easy swim action and good flipping trailer, and compact for skipping, comes in two sizes. Tons of colors. Think I need to just get a zoom shirt and hat and fish nothing but z-craws and ol monsters.

[bowhunter63]

Rage Craws and Zoom Z craws.