Best Time To Use Craw Style Baits 2024
MacDaddyFishin reply :
I know this is probably a stupid/overly asked question. But one of my favorite style baits is the craw style. But I've always wanted to ask when is the best time of year to use them? I mainly try hunt the word try to use the Strike King Rage Tail craws.
Also I fish mostly east Texas lakes so we have a lot of grass, stumps, and occasionally some rocky bottoms.
Senko lover reply :
Craws are something I want to use more this next year. I see/watch people using them the most in summer, for flipping, pitching, punching, and generally working cover.
MacDaddyFishin reply :
Yea I've seen them used during summer as well, but I've also read how they can be fished pretty much during the whole year. But I have not confirmed that statement. And I would also like to use them more this year!On 1/7/2015 at 2:46 AM, Senko lover said:Craws are something I want to use more this next year. I see/watch people using them the most in summer, for flipping, pitching, punching, and generally working cover.
Catch and Grease reply :
Anytime of year! A craw is something you can use year round.
Raul reply :
All year long.
conorsixtakc reply :
Drop shots, jigs, shakey heads, texas rigs... the better question is when to NOT throw a craw 
hotdogin reply :
More specifically which colors are best suited for the time of year? I know water clarity will be a big factor, but I'm sure the stages of a crass coloring will also come into play.
Raul reply :
Choose the color you like since watermelon and green pumpkin are so popular you can start there.
ABW reply :
Yeah, they work all year long.
MacDaddyFishin reply :
Ok thanks for all the awesome info guys! As far as colors I'm not worried as I've set some traps out and caught some and they were in the brownish green coloring. So green pumpkin will work wonders!
scaleface reply :
Theres a body of water close by where the crawdads are purple . I caught a crawdad 20 foot deep on Table Rock lake and it was brown with bright orange tips on the pinchers. So I switched to a brown and orange Larew Salt Craw and caught two keepers. It never occurred to me to use orange in that clear of water .
Goose52 reply :
Like most of the above folks, I fish craws all year long. BUT, I tend to fish them even more in winter (say when the water is from 60 down to around 40 degree surface temps). I tend to put the plastic worms away in cold water and fish the craws more - a slower rate of fall on the craws generally (compared to a worm), and some flapping from the appendages, seems to attract those sluggish bass. Both the bass below took craws in the past couple days - the smaller one on Jan. 2nd to a Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw, the 18" bass took a Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craw on Jan. 4th. Both hit in water temps in the low 40's.
iabass8 reply :
If there's no Ice covering the water, you can effectively fish some sort of a craw style bait.
Matthew2000 reply :
The real question when wouldn't you ??
roblo reply :
Crawfish will change color as they age, you can google it an it will explain the process better than I can.
If you know what color they are when your wanting to use one, may up your odds some.
Match it as close as you can and good luck.
Lake I fish has lots of hydrilla, creeks, timber ect
Can be used all year long
Good luck
MacDaddyFishin reply :
Same thing with the lakes I fish. All hydrilla and timberOn 1/7/2015 at 11:28 AM, roblo said:Crawfish will change color as they age, you can google it an it will explain the process better than I can.
If you know what color they are when your wanting to use one, may up your odds some.
Match it as close as you can and good luck.
Lake I fish has lots of hydrilla, creeks, timber ect
Can be used all year long
Good luck
Catt reply :
24/7/365! 
ww2farmer reply :
On 1/7/2015 at 2:51 AM, Catch and Grease said:Anytime of year! A craw is something you can use year round.
On 1/7/2015 at 3:51 AM, Raul said:All year long.
What they said!
corn-on-the-rob reply :
Like someone else mentioned you can fish them anytime, anywhere, heck you can catch bass on craw baits while they are feeding on a ball of shad right in front of you.
Don't be afraid to try other craw imitators like tubes and beaver style baits. Throw them on t-rigs a jig head, a trailer on a skirted jig, anything really.
I like browns, greens, black/blues, orange and chartreuse at times. I like to keep it really simple compared to a lot of people. I have a set of flappin' craws and a set of more natural ones to use in any way I can imagine. A small set of tubes and beaver style baits and I cover the bases I need.
If you are into throwing craw baits you pretty much have to get in to jig fishing. Pretty much the go-to craw imitating big bass catcher for many people. For jigs I keep it real simple. 3/8oz black/blue and 3/8oz natural craw are the only ones I carry for now and use different color trailers to highlight what color I want to present.
Anytime you are fishing on or near the bottom, a craw bait will always catch fish. There isn't really a situation where I would say don't ever throw one, but at times when bass are keying in on sunfish or shad there CAN be better options.
here are some of my go-tos: (the bottom row is either used as jig trailer or on bare jig heads)
Alonerankin2 reply :
On 1/7/2015 at 10:56 PM, corn-on-the-rob said:If you are into throwing craw baits you pretty much have to get in to jig fishing.
Flipping Jigs, Casting Jigs, Naked jig heads, these are pretty much NOT the only way to fish these. My 2 Favorite ways are just a T-rig & Rage Rig, I also Carolina Rig the biggest of craws. I actually prefer a 5" Kalins in my Flipping or Casting jigs, I do use the crawfish as jig trailers at times. In cooler weather I like pork...
Mike L reply :
On 1/7/2015 at 3:51 AM, Raul said:All year long.
Ditto
Mike
corn-on-the-rob reply :
On 1/7/2015 at 11:36 PM, Alonerankin2 said:Flipping Jigs, Casting Jigs, Naked jig heads, these are pretty much NOT the only way to fish these. My 2 Favorite ways are just a T-rig & Rage Rig, I also Carolina Rig the biggest of craws. I actually prefer a 5" Kalins in my Flipping or Casting jigs, I do use the crawfish as jig trailers at times. In cooler weather I like pork...
For sure, there are really many ways (sizes, styles, retrieves, etc) and I was using jig fishing as a very general term but mainly as a great craw presentation option. I mentioned that it has nearly infinite potential uses but was highlighting my particular set up and personal preferences. I did not mean to come off as incognizant of its potential uses and capabilities. 
After hearing you guys mention pork so much I may have to give it a shot this season.
roblo reply :
Is there a certain time of year y'all use trailers with a spinner bait.
I use them mainly on a jig an chatter bait.
Was just curious if y'all use them on spinner baits a lot
Thanks
A-Jay reply :
All Day, Every Day & Every Which Way ~
A-Jay
Blues19 reply :
Search on youtube and in google, Michael Murphy Crayfish. He fishes professionaly. Graduated from Purdue University and studied something like fishery biology or something like that. He did a crayfish study in college and has all kinds of info on them. Really interesting stuff. He talks about the coloring based on what they eat, where they live, time of year. All kinds of stuff. Super interesting.
boostr reply :
I can fish a Black and Blue Flake up herein late summer early fall when the water is stained with a muddy bottom. Any green type will work in the clearer water in the spring and early summer
Arv reply :
Yes.
Vanbassin reply :
I like using the techniques that you guys use in the States as her in South Africa, the Bass feeding patterns and so on is sometimes quite different as the influences on our lakes(Dams) are different.We do not have Crawfish in our lakes but using a Craw Soft Plastic like ZOOM Ultravibe Craw Texas rigged.....Man that can lead to some Big Hits and Big fish landed!!! One of my personal fav lures. I found that Craw Soft plastics work well here now, Mid Summer!!
scaleface reply :
^^ Thats interesting.
papajoe222 reply :
I use them mainly in the spring, pre-spawn. A trailer will add both additional lift and action which allows me to keep the bait high, but slow. It's an alternative to using a willow blade rather than aColorado blade. Along with more flash, you also get the benefit of the added action.On 1/8/2015 at 9:17 AM, roblo said:Is there a certain time of year y'all use trailers with a spinner bait.
I use them mainly on a jig an chatter bait.
Was just curious if y'all use them on spinner baits a lot
Thanks
Years ago, Uncle Josh made a curly pork strip that fit the bill and also added some scent. Now it's a Kalin's Lunker Grub or a RageTail.
RoLo reply :
“Craw” just describes the shape of a plastic trailer.
I believe the best season to use any plastic trailer hinges mainly on its speed and depth, rather than its shape.
A skirted jig and plastic craw make a great bottom lure, and since bass spend most of their time on or close to bottom,
the jig-&-craw is a year-round lure.
East Texas? Hmmm, that sounds more like a Rage Lobster to me
Roger
CDMeyer reply :
I guess now that I think about it, I have caught fish all year long on em'
MacDaddyFishin reply :
The Rage Lobster is exactly what I'm going to use this year I actually already bought a few packs nowOn 1/9/2015 at 1:31 AM, RoLo said:“Craw” just describes the shape of a plastic trailer.
I believe the best season to use any plastic trailer hinges mainly on its speed and depth, rather than its shape.
A bottom jig and plastic craw make a perfect combination, and since bass spend most of their time on or close to bottom,
the jig-&-craw is a year-round lure.
East Texas? Hmmm, that sounds more like a Rage Lobster to me
Roger
bridout00 reply :
What are some good craw baits looking into starting to throw them myself
scaleface reply :
On 1/9/2015 at 10:24 AM, bridout00 said:What are some good craw baits looking into starting to throw them myself
They all work well. That said Larew salt craws are my favorite .
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Craw baits will catch fish in waters that don't even have a native crawfish population.
primetime reply :
I have read in a few biology studies that large Female bass crave the Iodine that Crawfish provide more than anything else including shiners etc. for the time they are in pre-Spawn and Spawn mode, but obviously they need food so I have been using larger chigger craws and Jig profiles hoping that the next tight line is a trophy.
It makes sense...orange and Green Spinnerbaits as well as Red and black cranks, green pumpkin, summer craw, all seem to work well in spring and I must say that orange in a spinnerbait is something I have been doing for many many years and it is much better in Spring than Summer for me anyway.
After the spawn the fish need Protein and calories to recover so that is when I like to throw the larger easy to catch presentations like the floating Minnow bait, Sluggo, slow roll a big swimbait, but anytime is good for craws, if you can turn over rocks at the dock you may get lucky and find them in between color changes and if you can nail it when they are that pumpkinseed color, have blue in them, or simply see a dark red in the mouths of fish you are catching, match hatch and color because it could be a great day....I have also been a few days late on color and it matters for craws at times, more so in spring for some reason, and remember, craws in one area could be a few days ahead in color change but if you keep it simple with color usually 1 of the big 3 works good, plus a lipless crank with some brown in it or red could be anything to that fish, I notice I sell a ton more crawfish style baits on weekends and also craw patterns for lures than in summer and spring when everyone wants chrome blue and chrome black, chart shads....Right now Gp and purple is working in Florida.
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
I read somewhere that most fish are opportunity eaters ,but when they have a choice they prefer crawfish,crabs,shrimp, over other fish but i bet they will still eat fish after the other,
Catt reply :
Crawfish contain more protien than any food source bass eat!
How does a Lippless crank resemble a craw fish!
No crawfish swims that fast & I've never seen them rip through grass.
Heron reply :
I prefer to use craw-style baits particularly during the time when Im casting towards....the water.
Heron reply :
On 1/10/2015 at 8:35 AM, Catt said:Crawfish contain more protien than any food source bass eat!
Welllll.....Perhaps, and as always, with the plethora of information out there, I found something that documented the opposite. Stating that fish, was a food source that provided a higher caloric content, than craws n such. But this was regarding the subject of fish growth. According that paper, while the fish were still actively eating craw, it was more like junk food to them, and contributed little to their growth rates.
Now, being a junk food junkie myself, I instantly related to this. But, thats just something I read.
Catt reply :
On 1/10/2015 at 8:48 AM, Heron said:Welllll.....Perhaps, and as always, with the plethora of information out there, I found something that documented the opposite. Stating that fish, was a food source that provided a higher caloric content, than craws n such. But this was regarding the subject of fish growth. According that paper, while the fish were still actively eating craw, it was more like junk food to them, and contributed little to their growth rates.
Now, being a junk food junkie myself, I instantly related to this. But, thats just something I read.
lsuagcenter.com
They have done more reseach on crawfish than any one on planet earth!
scaleface reply :
What was the name of the fish attractant made of real crawfish oil , Real Crawl or Real Claw ? I sprayed a palstic crawfish down with it and was fishing about 15 foot deep and got a pickup. I did not set the hook , but slowly reeled the bass to the surface. It did not let go of that lure. I dont remember if I finally set the hook or it let go at the boat but it was neat.
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.