Good craws/creatures for fall fishing? 2025
TriStateBassin106 reply :
Hey BR,
Gonna be ordering some new creatures/craws for texas rigs and finesse jig trailers. Since it's fall and the bite is starting to slow down a bit with the bass getting finicky what would be some good craws/creatures that have little to no tail/claw action?
Tackle warehouse just simply has too many options and I can't choose, can you guys help a fellow angler out with some recommendations?
WRB reply :
Bass prefer crawdads without claws, bass anglers prefer soft plastics with claws and flapping features. It's your choice. Smallie Beaver always a good jig trailer.
Tom
Harold Scoggins reply :
Chuck Justice, a guide on McGee Creek Lake, OK and Lake Fork, TX turned me on to Gene Larew's 6" HooDaddy several years ago and it is my go to creature. Tie one of those on and it's "Hammer Time."
Catt reply :
On 11/6/2019 at 6:54 PM, Harold Scoggins said:Gene Larew's 6" HooDaddy several years ago and it is my go to creature.
Are you crazy! ????
Don't be telling people that, Ole Catt needs a couple secrets!
Gene Larew's 6" Salty Hawg Craw has accounted for a few big bass.
PourMyOwn reply :
Guido bugs are great on finesse jigs.
Fishin Dad reply :
On 11/6/2019 at 1:24 PM, WRB said:Bass prefer crawdads without claws, bass anglers prefer sift p,attics with claws and flapping features. It's your choice.
Tom
Tom,
Can you give a couple examples of a good craw without claws. I have had bass rip off claws in a seeming attempt to get rid of them. I have also caught a ton of bass with claws (and big claws). So I want to experiment, and you have a ton more experience than most. Just wondering what you use?
Thanks,
FD
drew4779 reply :
I typically use the same crawls I would use in the summer, but just dont separate all the appendages to kill the action and create more of a gliding effect. The only problem with this is that the fish will tear the appendages for you after a bite or two.
jbsoonerfan reply :
I use baby brush hogs in the Spring and Summer when the water is warm, when the water temp is cooler I switch to a sweet beaver and leave the "claws" attached and not separated. I started using the sweet beaver last year and it has become one of my favorite soft plastics. Most of my fish in the last month or so (water temp under 60) have been on a sweet beaver.
fishballer06 reply :
The new Rage Tail Baby Bug on a Siebert Sniper jig is like bass candy.
WRB reply :
On 11/6/2019 at 8:22 PM, Fishin Dad said:Tom,
Can you give a couple examples of a good craw without claws. I have had bass rip off claws in a seeming attempt to get rid of them. I have also caught a ton of bass with claws (and big claws). So I want to experiment, and you have a ton more experience than most. Just wondering what you use?
Thanks,
FD
Smallmouth and spotted bass both tend to declaw crawdads before engulfing them, they bite the claws and shake the crawdad. Crawdads release there arms to escape if necessary.
Back in the mid 60's to mid 70's I fished with live crawdads and removing claws increase strike rate, no dought in my mind that bass prefer a easy meal without claws.
Pork trailers for decades didn't have claws, simple split tail is all that was needed to look alive and still applies to soft plastics. RI Beaver with a split tail is good choice, wide body to help the jig glide like a pork trailer with enough moment to look alive.
Smallie Beaver for finesse and standard size casting jigs or original size Beaver cut off about 3/8"-1/2" for slower fall with wider body. The Rage Tail baby bug posted above looks good!
Berkley Chigger Craw has big claws the swim like a baitfish and work when bass are targeting bluegill or other baitfish.
Tom
Dens228 reply :
This year I've gotten way more bites with a Rage Bug than with a Rage Tail Craw.
Fishin Dad reply :
Thanks Tom. I was not exactly sure what you defined as no claws. Just something that moves but doesn't exactly look like claws. I have some beavers and similar. I will do some experimenting next year and see what I find out.
riverat reply :
For texas rig and small jigs I like a Gene Larew 4" Salt Craw.
GReb reply :
@WRB wasn’t there an actual study performed several decades ago (by Berkley?) that found bass preferred plastics with no craw legs?
WRB reply :
On 11/7/2019 at 4:29 AM, GReb said:@WRB wasn’t there an actual study performed several decades ago (by Berkley?) that found bass preferred plastics with no craw legs?
I caught hundreds of big bass using pork trailers without anything that looked like crawdads. Senko's and Ned rigs look like ______? and don't have any moving appendages.
I recall reading somewhere that Dr Jones of Berkley did a study that showed soft plastics without appendages were preferred by bass but not anglers!
Tom
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 11/6/2019 at 7:10 PM, Catt said:Don't be telling people that, Ole Catt needs a couple secrets!
Sorry, I guess the Catt is out of the bag now.
Hook2Jaw reply :
This has been a really informative thread and I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has chimed in. I'm going to be adding some beaver styles to the backs of my jigs and giving them a try.
TriStateBassin106 reply :
On 11/7/2019 at 4:36 AM, WRB said:I caught hundreds of big bass using pork trailers without anything that looked like crawdads. Senko's and Ned rigs look like ______? and don't have any moving appendages.
I recall reading somewhere that Dr Jones of Berkley did a study that showed soft plastics without appendages were preferred by bass but not anglers!
Tom
Very interesting, never knew bass preferred crawdads without claws. I always thought they got excited and tended to bite more when the craw would get in the defensive position.
On 11/6/2019 at 6:54 PM, Harold Scoggins said:Chuck Justice, a guide on McGee Creek Lake, OK and Lake Fork, TX turned me on to Gene Larew's 6" HooDaddy several years ago and it is my go to creature. Tie one of those on and it's "Hammer Time."
These actually look pretty cool, reminds me of the zoom hawgs a bit, what size hooks do you throw on them?
TriStateBassin106 reply :
On 11/6/2019 at 10:11 PM, fishballer06 said:The new Rage Tail Baby Bug on a Siebert Sniper jig is like bass candy.
Do you throw those jigs on lighter casting rods or spinning gear?
FryDog62 reply :
Like Tom, I also like the smallie beaver, but also Maxscent Creature Hawg.
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 11/7/2019 at 6:17 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:Very interesting, never knew bass preferred crawdads without claws. I always thought they got excited and tended to bite more when the craw would get in the defensive position.
These actually look pretty cool, reminds me of the zoom hawgs a bit, what size hooks do you throw on them?
4/0 or 5/0 EWG
Harold Scoggins reply :
On 11/7/2019 at 6:17 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:These actually look pretty cool, reminds me of the zoom hawgs a bit, what size hooks do you throw on them?
I've also had very good results pegging a skirted BOSS Hub against the hook.
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Bluebasser86 reply :
I've done really well in winter with a baby brush hog on a shakyhead. A Strike King Rodent on a 1/4oz swinging football head drug slowly on the bottom is another one of my favorite winter baits.
fishballer06 reply :
On 11/7/2019 at 6:30 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:Do you throw those jigs on lighter casting rods or spinning gear?
No, quite the opposite actually. This is the 5/16oz. version, which is built on a pretty stout 2/0 hook. I'm usually throwing them on a MH or H powered rod.
TriStateBassin106 reply :
On 11/7/2019 at 9:51 PM, fishballer06 said:No, quite the opposite actually. This is the 5/16oz. version, which is built on a pretty stout 2/0 hook. I'm usually throwing them on a MH or H powered rod.
I'm not the biggest fan of spinning gear like I used to be, would finesse jigs work on casting gear, a close friend of mine throws the war eagle brand finesse jigs on his 7'0 lews MH, but everyone else keeps advocating spinning tackle for them.
fishballer06 reply :
On 11/8/2019 at 1:31 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:I'm not the biggest fan of spinning gear like I used to be, would finesse jigs work on casting gear, a close friend of mine throws the war eagle brand finesse jigs on his 7'0 lews MH, but everyone else keeps advocating spinning tackle for them.
It really comes down to the hook of jig, rather than the weight of the jig. You need a rod stout enough to drive the hook home, but not too stout of a hook that it bends the hook.
The Siebert Sniper jig, although it's based on a 2/0 hook, is pretty stout and I like at least a MH cast rod for them. I have yet to bend one or roll the hook point.
TriStateBassin106 reply :
On 11/8/2019 at 1:35 AM, fishballer06 said:It really comes down to the hook of jig, rather than the weight of the jig. You need a rod stout enough to drive the hook home, but not too stout of a hook that it bends the hook.
The Siebert Sniper jig, although it's based on a 2/0 hook, is pretty stout and I like at least a MH cast rod for them. I have yet to bend one or roll the hook point.
I might order some of these jigs, I tried making my own football jigs with the BOSS brand jigheads but the hook already bend on a fish the other day, the jig is the Sniper XL right?
fishballer06 reply :
On 11/8/2019 at 2:13 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:I might order some of these jigs, I tried making my own football jigs with the BOSS brand jigheads but the hook already bend on a fish the other day, the jig is the Sniper XL right?
You may have ordered the light wire Boss Football jighead. I've never had any issues with the hooks on their jigs.
As for the Sniper, you can order just the head, the finesse cut, or the XL which has a full untrimmed skirt. I built the skirt in the one picture I posted, but it's similar to the Blue Craw color.
https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Sniper-Jighead-1706.htm
https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Sniper-Jig-1703.htm
https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Sniper-Jig-XL-1616.htm
TriStateBassin106 reply :
On 11/8/2019 at 3:43 AM, fishballer06 said:You may have ordered the light wire Boss Football jighead. I've never had any issues with the hooks on their jigs.
As for the Sniper, you can order just the head, the finesse cut, or the XL which has a full untrimmed skirt. I built the skirt in the one picture I posted, but it's similar to the Blue Craw color.
https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Sniper-Jighead-1706.htm
https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Sniper-Jig-1703.htm
https://www.siebertoutdoors.com/Sniper-Jig-XL-1616.htm
I don't really know the difference but what would be a good wire jig hook for a medium heavy rod? Medium or heavy wire? I know light wire is obviously for finesse.
fishballer06 reply :
Experiment and find out. Every rod manufacturer's ratings are a little different.
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
Think that should about cover it ????
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