Craws

[garroyo130]

On 12/4/2020 at 7:19 AM, MickD said:

Interestingly testing done by a bait company (Berkely I believe) indicated that the best imitation for crawfish was not lures with appendages, but simply tubes.

 

Test appears in the book "Knowing Bass". It is not tubes but soft plastic craws with the appendages completely removed. 

 

There is no context to the test though which makes that information of little use for fishing. Perhaps if we knew if the lures were being rigged weighted, dropped into a tank with no line, fished weightless, etc., we may be able to draw better conclusions.

 

For all we know, the craw without appendages could be mimicking a dying baitfish to bass as it sinks to bottom ... 

[Dens228]

On 12/4/2020 at 4:29 AM, roadwarrior said:

I fish Rage Tail Craws, Baby Craws and Lobsters. I ALWAYS remove the last two sections

of the tail.

Not with Rage but with my Reaction Innovation craws I do the same thing when using a jig, I leave them full length with T-rigs. 

 

[NYWayfarer]

The river Smallmouth I target have a diet of craws and sunfish. I use Strike King baby Rage Craws almost exclusively when using Texas rigged craws to fish for them. Those claws really have some great action.

 

In a pinch when the Strike Kings were sold out at DSG I picked up some Googan Baits small Kraken Kraws. They have the same action and smell like licorice instead of coffee and salt. The Bass did not notice the difference.

[scaleface]

47 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

The river Smallmouth I target have a diet of craws and sunfish. I use Strike King baby Rage Craws almost exclusively when using Texas rigged craws to fish for them.

The ones I target love any soft plastic with appendages like craws , hula grbs ,creature baits ... I have visually seen them turn their noses up at a plain old worm before and devour a Craw . 

[roadwarrior]

I was introduced to the Baby Craw by Big O when it first debuted. We were on a

BassResource Roadtrip at Pickwick.  Most of us arrived Saturday afternoon for

the Welcome Party, anxious to get on the lake Sunday morning.

 

I was awakened a little before 4:00 AM to horrendous lightening and thunder.

Turned on the tube to find we were under a TORNADO WARNING, not a watch.

No place to hide so I decided to leave the guys alone. Our cabin was the gathering

center so as people rose, the crowd grew.

 

The storm was hurricane force, eventually dumping 18" of rain throughout the

region raising the lake by 9'.  It wasn't just the rain, lightening was strong and

constant throughout the day, tornado watches were in effect all day. By 6:00

most of the guys were up when two of our soldiers showed up.

 

These guys were just back from their third tour in Iraq.  They asked me what

we were going to do.  I replied "We're going to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes

until 10:00, then it's time for beer."  Well, that's when Big O showed up.

 

This was my cabin and I was "kinda" in charge, but no one is in charge of Big O. 

First thing he says is "Who's going fishing?"  If I was really in charge, the answer

would have been "Nobody".  It was dangerous just standing on the patio.

 

Well, the soldiers had not come around the world to be stuck in a cabin.  They

were ready and they were the only guys that left. The three of them were putting

in around 7:00, but the storm had strengthened and a tornado was literally bearing

down on us.  The tornado took a turn, but the hard rain continued.

 

So, we'll fast forward to 5:00 PM. Everyone is worried about our boys and then

the three drowned rats showed up...with smiles from ear to ear. The United States

Army had two Personal Bests and 144 smallmouth!  That's when the rest of us

discovered the Rage Tail Baby Craw.

[Mike L]

6 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

I was introduced to the Baby Craw by Big O when it first debuted. We were on a

BassResource Roadtrip at Pickwick.  Most of us arrived Saturday afternoon for

the Welcome Party, anxious to get on the lake Sunday morning.

 

I was awakened a little before 4:00 AM to horrendous lightening and thunder.

Turned on the tube to find we were under a TORNADO WARNING, not a watch.

No place to hide so I decided to leave the guys alone. Our cabin was the gathering

center so as people rose, the crowd grew.

 

The storm was hurricane force, eventually dumping 18" of rain throughout the

region raising the lake by 9'.  It wasn't just the rain, lightening was strong and

constant throughout the day, tornado watches were in effect all day. By 6:00

most of the guys were up when two of our soldiers showed up.

 

These guys were just back from their third tour in Iraq.  They asked me what

we were going to do.  I replied "We're going to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes

until 10:00, then it's time for beer."  Well, that's when Big O showed up.

 

This was my cabin and I was "kinda" in charge, but no one is in charge of Big O. 

First thing he says is "Who's going fishing?"  If I was really in charge, the answer

would have been "Nobody".  It was dangerous just standing on the patio.

 

Well, the soldiers had not come around the world to be stuck in a cabin.  They

were ready and they were the only guys that left. The three of them were putting

in around 7:00, but the storm had strengthened and a tornado was literally bearing

down on us.  The tornado took a turn, but the hard rain continued.

 

So, we'll fast forward to 5:00 PM. Everyone is worried about our boys and then

the three drowned rats showed up...with smiles from ear to ear. The United States

Army had two Personal Bests and 144 smallmouth!  That's when the rest of us

discovered the Rage Tail Baby Craw.

I remember when we had the BR road trip on Wilson. I think it was 2014. 
 

Big O attended that one also and passed out the new prototype Rage Bug he was working on..  

 

The weather was much nicer then

 

 

Mike

[A-Jay]

On 12/4/2020 at 9:50 AM, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

I don’t know the purposes of different length, but I use shorter craw for jig and Dropshot, longer length for Texas rig or weightless. I also have variety of rage tail craw that I use for jig but cutoff about an inch.

Talk about craw, thanks @WRBfor this hand pour craw. I caught quite a few bass dropshoting in cold water.

Nice Bass ~

The drop shot craw is a solid & productive staple for me 

and has been for a while.

Although I've stopped talking about it as it seems

to fall on deaf ears for some reason.

I'm OK with that. 

A-Jay

 

[Sphynx]

On 12/6/2020 at 8:48 AM, roadwarrior said:

I was introduced to the Baby Craw by Big O when it first debuted. We were on a

BassResource Roadtrip at Pickwick.  Most of us arrived Saturday afternoon for

the Welcome Party, anxious to get on the lake Sunday morning.

 

I was awakened a little before 4:00 AM to horrendous lightening and thunder.

Turned on the tube to find we were under a TORNADO WARNING, not a watch.

No place to hide so I decided to leave the guys alone. Our cabin was the gathering

center so as people rose, the crowd grew.

 

The storm was hurricane force, eventually dumping 18" of rain throughout the

region raising the lake by 9'.  It wasn't just the rain, lightening was strong and

constant throughout the day, tornado watches were in effect all day. By 6:00

most of the guys were up when two of our soldiers showed up.

 

These guys were just back from their third tour in Iraq.  They asked me what

we were going to do.  I replied "We're going to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes

until 10:00, then it's time for beer."  Well, that's when Big O showed up.

 

This was my cabin and I was "kinda" in charge, but no one is in charge of Big O. 

First thing he says is "Who's going fishing?"  If I was really in charge, the answer

would have been "Nobody".  It was dangerous just standing on the patio.

 

Well, the soldiers had not come around the world to be stuck in a cabin.  They

were ready and they were the only guys that left. The three of them were putting

in around 7:00, but the storm had strengthened and a tornado was literally bearing

down on us.  The tornado took a turn, but the hard rain continued.

 

So, we'll fast forward to 5:00 PM. Everyone is worried about our boys and then

the three drowned rats showed up...with smiles from ear to ear. The United States

Army had two Personal Bests and 144 smallmouth!  That's when the rest of us

discovered the Rage Tail Baby Craw.

I'd expect no less from the Army, I know I would have moved heaven and hell to make the most of my time when I first got back, and tornadoes, hurricanes, tsunamis and any other natural disasters be damned, LOL

 

Got to thinking about the OP's comment about shorter, thicker craws, and the longer, skinnier ones, and the comments made about being designed for flipping etc, they really are designed in such a way as to permit the use of different hooks, the meatier ones want some kind of an EWG, whereby the thinner of the designs you can get away with straight shank or offset round bend to improve your hookup ratio.

[ChrisD46]

On 12/4/2020 at 7:41 AM, smalljaw67 said:

The craw styles are different because they are used in different applications. Craws that have claws with ridges or curly appendages are designed to draw strikes based on action. They are best used when fish are more active or in water with limited visibility. The slender, more realistic style craws are used more when the profile becomes more important. They are better in clear water environments and when fish aren't as active. Of course these are just generalizations as there are always exceptions.

*This reminds me to stock a few more realistic / less action craws in my inventory as they can be equally as good as a chunk trailer on a jig (if not better) in clearer water .

[Teal]

On 12/6/2020 at 11:48 AM, roadwarrior said:

I was introduced to the Baby Craw by Big O when it first debuted. We were on a

BassResource Roadtrip at Pickwick.  Most of us arrived Saturday afternoon for

the Welcome Party, anxious to get on the lake Sunday morning.

 

I was awakened a little before 4:00 AM to horrendous lightening and thunder.

Turned on the tube to find we were under a TORNADO WARNING, not a watch.

No place to hide so I decided to leave the guys alone. Our cabin was the gathering

center so as people rose, the crowd grew.

 

The storm was hurricane force, eventually dumping 18" of rain throughout the

region raising the lake by 9'.  It wasn't just the rain, lightening was strong and

constant throughout the day, tornado watches were in effect all day. By 6:00

most of the guys were up when two of our soldiers showed up.

 

These guys were just back from their third tour in Iraq.  They asked me what

we were going to do.  I replied "We're going to drink coffee and smoke cigarettes

until 10:00, then it's time for beer."  Well, that's when Big O showed up.

 

This was my cabin and I was "kinda" in charge, but no one is in charge of Big O. 

First thing he says is "Who's going fishing?"  If I was really in charge, the answer

would have been "Nobody".  It was dangerous just standing on the patio.

 

Well, the soldiers had not come around the world to be stuck in a cabin.  They

were ready and they were the only guys that left. The three of them were putting

in around 7:00, but the storm had strengthened and a tornado was literally bearing

down on us.  The tornado took a turn, but the hard rain continued.

 

So, we'll fast forward to 5:00 PM. Everyone is worried about our boys and then

the three drowned rats showed up...with smiles from ear to ear. The United States

Army had two Personal Bests and 144 smallmouth!  That's when the rest of us

discovered the Rage Tail Baby Craw.

@Glenn this is why BR needs a love button added

[ajschn06]

On 12/4/2020 at 8:43 PM, DitchPanda said:

I've got it pretty much narrowed down on my craw baits to two anymore:Rage menace or zoom ultra vibe speed craw.

I've wanted to try the speed craw, but I can't find anything it gives me that a rage craw doesn't.  Have you used both?  What advantages do you get from the speed craw?

[DitchPanda]

Well I don't think it gives you anything the rage craw doesn't...other than more baits and money left over. The rage craw is an excellent bait but its spendier and less durable. The ultra vibe speed craw is also an excellent bait with a proven track record. 7pk for $5.49 or 12pk for $3.99. Can't go wrong with either bait and if money isn't an issue I'd go rage craw. If money is a concern id go speed craw and never look back.

[jtharris3]

All I ever use now are Rage Craws. I’ve got a crap load of other craws but since I started using the Rage Craws they just set to the side. 

[Bankbeater]

I use the Ultravibe speed craw or a rage craw.  I find that sometimes the size of the craw doesn't matter, as long as, the color of the bait matches the real craws in the water.

[the reel ess]

The "bug" style craw, like the Rage Bug, when used as a jig trailer skips better than the larger profiles like the Rage Craw.

[Luke Barnes]

For skinny body but flappy I use Rage Craws. For big body, which is also ribbed I use a Z Craw Jr. For big body but not as flappy a Pit Boss. 

[Jonas Staggs]

I use almost nothing but yum soft plastics. They are a awesome company they are cheap and they make a copy or knock off of just about every bait out there I look at zoom and yum like Coke and Pepsi

[BlakeMolone]

I love the z craw jr, it has a “medium” kick and has gotten bites on tough days, the rage craws, menaces, reaction innovation sweet beaver, and berkley pitboss Make up the rest of my craw selection. I’m going to try some zoom chunks on jigs this season though and see how I like them. I’ve never used a realistic craw bait before simply because I don’t have confidence in them for some stupid reason.

[mheichelbech]

I like the zoom Lil critter craw in pumpkin w the chartreuse claws.  I dye the claws orange.  At certain times of the year, usually spring, bass, especially big bass go crazy over those things.  I rig it Texas style with a light sinker pegged about 6 inches above.  Sort of a cross between Carolina right and split shot rig.  Very effective on shallow rocky banks.

[LCG]

Big bite baits yo mama (4" beaver style bait) and the big bite baits 4" Creature bait (baby brush hog) are right up there with a senko and trick worm for results for me. Very confident in them. Always texas rigged, weightless-3/16oz weight ,always pegged, shallow water under 10ft mainly.