Craw Style Baits Not Producing?

[DFWLipRipper]

Hey everyone,

         DFWLipRipper here.

This will be my first post on here!

     I was just curious if anyone has noticed that fish dont seem to bite craw style baits the way they used to. 

I have only been fishing in earnest for about 3 years now. But I have fished quite a few different lakes over that time and I always have little to no success with any craw style baits. Even a plain old Texas rigged soft plastic craw...doesn't seem to get the bites.

      From what you see on youtube, you'd think it was the end all/be all of soft plastic baits but it just doesn't work here. I really wish it did because not only do I have a ton of them, but I actually really enjoy fishing them. Anyone else noticed this or is this just a phase or mayube from so many people using craws (do to popularity) and fish getting accustomed to seeing them in pressured water.

      I have also noticed that there just don't seem to be as many REAL craws in the water as there used to be. You used to see chewed up craw shell and pincers laying on the rip rap at the lakes around here. This year I haven't seen any at all. Maybe the fishes natural forage of craws is declining and they aren't interested in the craw baits do to that.....not sure. Any ideas and has anyone else seen this kind of thing?

 

                                                               

[softwateronly]

8 minutes ago, DFWLipRipper said:

Hey everyone,

         DFWLipRipper here.

This will be my first post on here!

     I was just curious if anyone has noticed that fish dont seem to bite craw style baits the way they used to. 

I have only been fishing in earnest for about 3 years now. But I have fished quite a few different lakes over that time and I always have little to no success with any craw style baits. Even a plain old Texas rigged soft plastic craw...doesn't seem to get the bites.

      From what you see on youtube, you'd think it was the end all/be all of soft plastic baits but it just doesn't work here. I really wish it did because not only do I have a ton of them, but I actually really enjoy fishing them. Anyone else noticed this or is this just a phase or mayube from so many people using craws (do to popularity) and fish getting accustomed to seeing them in pressured water.

      I have also noticed that there just don't seem to be as many REAL craws in the water as there used to be. You used to see chewed up craw shell and pincers laying on the rip rap at the lakes around here. This year I haven't seen any at all. Maybe the fishes natural forage of craws is declining and they aren't interested in the craw baits do to that.....not sure. Any ideas and has anyone else seen this kind of thing?

 

                                                               

Hey man, welcome to BR!

 

Maybe what you're saying is true, but my opinion is that bass will eat craw baits even in waters with few to no visible crawfish.  I've been fishing a lake in MI for 14 years now that has water visibility over 8' and I've never once seen a crawfish, dead or alive.  Jigs are my top producer of bites on this water.  

 

In a over simplification, I do think bass have times that they concentrate their feeding by either focusing up or down in the water column.  I also have seen my jig bite dramatically change when I adjust my rof, size profile, and either a no action or heavy action trailer.  If you're positive you're fishing craws where the bass are, maybe experimenting with the above will change your outcome.  

 

scott

[Bankc]

Each day is different and each body of water is different.  They may not be working were you are now, but they do work.  I've got a few lakes near me that I frequent.  On one, they work pretty well, especially in summer.  On another, they're not that effective.  Bass seem to prefer worms there.  Both lakes have crawfish in them.

 

Fishing is all about finding what works at any given moment.  So don't give up on them completely.  They may come in handy from time to time.  But if they're not regularly producing, then I wouldn't make them my first choice.

[Catt]

1 hour ago, DFWLipRipper said:

DFWLipRipper

 

How y'all are?

 

1 hour ago, DFWLipRipper said:

I have only been fishing in earnest for about 3 years now. 

 

I got slightly more experience, they do still work.

 

1 hour ago, DFWLipRipper said:

You used to see chewed up craw shell and pincers laying on the rip rap at the lakes around here.

 

Raccoons, could be a decrease in Coons.

 

Crawfish like any creature has ups & downs in population.

 

While ya ain't getting bit where you're at they maybe the next cove over.

 

Keep chunkin-n-reeling!

[ChrisD46]

Tray a craw scent such as BANG , Pro Cure or Berkley Gulp Spray as these may swing the odds in your favor fishing craws .

[scbassin]

If they are not working for you Change baits,  maybe to a moving bait. Crankbait, Spinnerbait, Swimbait. etc.

[Deleted account]

I haven't found that to be the case here, but I will say that a jig bite is either on or off most times, and unlike a lot of other baits, bass do think it's a crayfish, and I have seen an increase on their aggressiveness on these type of baits when the bugs are around in abundance.

[WRB]

Like all living critters crawdads are subject to extreme weather conditions. Have no idea what the weather has been like this year in your area but it’s been a cold windy winter nearly everywhere.

Crawdads aren’t very active in colder water they burrow in clay and come out when the water warms up. 

I would try night fishing to determine if your soft plastic craws are working, as crawdads tend to be nocturnal feeders.

Crawdad parts are usually left behind by birds and raccoons as Catt mentioned.

Tom

[N Florida Mike]

I haven’t caught as many on them recently either, primarily because I haven’t been fishing with them as much recently. Zoom speed craws and big bite craws are both good producers for me when I use them.

Is it possible you fish with them too much? Because fish do eventually wise up with most baits if they are caught enough… I rotate baits so that doesn’t happen.

[Basser2021]

I would go along with what some other people said. Every lake is different. The lakes you're fishing might have an abundance of bream or shad so the bass might be keyed in on those. I would try switching for sure. Also the pressured water might have something to do with it. 

[Bird]

Have to agree, rotate baits, gain confidence in the baits your throwing.

Perhaps change up cadence, swim Jigs, sit still awhile with Zoom speed craws or brush hogs.

Bass never seem to get tired of craw baits here but if they did, I'd get tired of throwing them.

[flyfisher]

Craw baits, assuming jigs count, are always tied on for me year round.  Just tied up some for the fly rod today actually.

[txchaser]

I'm in your area. Last time I fished a craw-style bait, they would not bite it at all with a hop. When I started dragging, it, the next five casts got four fish, and was casting right into the same spot.

 

Point is, if you can throw a worm in the same place and start catching fish, then yeah it's the shape.

 

But try some different presentations with the craw too, maybe that'll be the deal.

 

[T-Billy]

Craws are what I generally start with, and they usually produce, but sometimes bass get picky about profile. If I go through an area that I believe is holding bass with a craw and don't get bit, I'll usually go back through it with a worm before moving on. Sometimes they really prefer one over the other.

[SWVABass]

If the shad are numerous and spawning on your lake, fish might be keyed in on that. Like most said rotate through some baits and see what get bit. You also maybe fishing to shallow or deep…. Try some new  water too

[cyclops2]

Very shallow about 6' deep & clear soft bottom area. I see a different colored patch where there never was one.

 Let the wind push me slowly to it . at 100' I start tossing a lure & weight nothing.   Get close enough to see 50 ? huge SMB rooting  the bottom. I am casting a storm. NOTHING bites I am right over them. They keep right on munching. I start the 30 hp motor. 2 pass bubbles at me. I motor away.   It was worth the 0 interest to see a real ............Match the hatch feeding.............   The only time in my life I got to see that mass feeding going on.

[Catt]

18 hours ago, N Florida Mike said:

Zoom speed craws and big bite craws are both good producers for me when I use them.

Is it possible you fish with them too much? Because fish do eventually wise up with most baits if they are caught enough… I rotate baits so that doesn’t happen.

 

Why do you only throw 2?

 

Berkley Chigger Craw

NetBaits Paca Craw

Rage Craw & Lobster 

Yum Christie Craw & Money Craw

Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw 

 

To name a few with different profiles & action.

[roadwarrior]

I fish Rage Baby Craw, Craw and Lobster. I have NEVER noticed bass "getting use"

to a craw.

[N Florida Mike]

3 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Why do you only throw 2?

 

Berkley Chigger Craw

NetBaits Paca Craw

Rage Craw & Lobster 

Yum Christie Craw & Money Craw

Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw 

 

To name a few with different profiles & action.

I do have some rage craws . Probably my 3rd choice , but Ive caught fish on them. I just do so well on the other 2 usually that I haven’t seen a need to try anything different.

Good point though!

[Catt]

59 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

I haven’t seen a need to try anything different.

 

Sometimes a subtle change can mean the difference between catching 2 pounders & catching 5 pounders.

 

If you don't throw it you'll never know.

 

 

[WRB]

Where I fish in deep rocky structure lakes with FLMB strains that can be very selective regarding artificial lures they will strike changing smaller sizes and usually slower moving appendages triggers more strikes.

SK Rage craws with fast moving claws get ignored by adult size bass over 4 lbs. Berkley Chigger craws and GYCB double tail grubs out fish the larger size and faster moving jig trailers on average during day light. At night larger noises trailers that push more water work better. 

Trail and error, let the bass decide.

Tom

[FishTank]

Jigs with a crawl trailer have been great the past few years, pretty much anytime.  A Texas rigged craw has been the opposite. Can't figure out why. Could be rate of fall, stained water. Its just weird but everywhere I fish has crawdads.

[papajoe222]

Welcome to BR

The first thing I'd do is either switch up my retrieve, or go with a lighter or heavier weight.  With craws, it's all about the fall rate come post spawn. When it isn't fall rate, it's how fast or slow I'm working it across the bottom.  A lot of guys get stuck on one style of retrieve because it has worked for them before.  Don't buy into that mentality.

[Mbirdsley]

I went through this on the big rivers around me.  When the dam failures happened it dirtied the water considerably which, also caused the shad population to explode with all the nutrients.
 

 First 3-4 years I fished the titabawassee all I needed was a black and blue flake chigger craw.  After the dam failures it took me a while but, I finally found that a black and blue flake ribbon tail worm is what they wanted.  Catch rates went back up. 

[Bankbeater]

In the early spring darker colored craws seem to be the ticket.  Later on in summer lighter colors work better.  I don't know if it's the water clarity or if I'm matching the color of the craws in the lake.