the reel ess

This is a jighead I bought at the Sportsman Classic in Columbia, SC years ago. It came with a bag of the small plastic craws. Not sure you can tell, but the head is concave on the bottom and presumably causes the jig to swim like a crankbait. I never used it, but now I'm experimenting with all kinds of craw rigs. I only have one and would hate to lose it if it can't be replaced. It might have been a small tackle maker in the midwest. I lost the card that came with them. I was hoping someone else on here had some or had experience with them. Thanks, Rob

I was using a 4" Chigger Craw yesterday from my kayak. I cast to just under the ladder on one of only two docks on the reservoir. I started the retrieve but felt "nothing" on the line. I tried to tighten up, but still no resistance. Then it swam sideways. Tightened up and BAM it was on!!! The fish drug my kayak away from the dock, then turned under my yak and pinned me against the pier. I was fighting the fish on the right, but it was under the pier on the left. I was struggling with two other rods, trying to keep their tips safe. I finally got it back to the right and landed it. 5.88 lbs. This is one of 3 bass over 5# I've caught on the Chigger in a month. And I've only fished 4 times. These are two different fish. 5.88 and 6.3 lbs. Both held on to that craw like it was real.

Try firetiger

I've been using a T-rigged Berkley Chigger Craw with a 3/16 oz tungsten weight with some success in a place like that. I would go with 1/8 oz if I was using spinning gear. You can use a weightless fluke or Trick Worm. You could also use a mojo rigged Trick or finesse worm. My friend goes kayak fishing with me. I take 4 or 5 rods rigged with my best guesses of what might work, but all he ever uses is one rod with a weightless bubble gum colored Trick Worm. He just throws it out on his old, mismatched spinning combo (I gave him a rod) and reels it in very slowly. And catches fish!

Congrats. Keep it up with the craws. They seem to be a big fish magnets for me. "Big" is relative. You'll see. Since I'm so old now, I don't really know when I caught my first big bass. It was probably a 3-or-so pounder. I'm sure I thought it was 5 or more. The real secret to catching big bass is fishing where there are some big bass.

I love the Chug Bug

Lately I've only caught fish on the T-rig. Here's the only one I caught today in 3 hours. T-rigged Berkley Chigger Craw.

Only one I caught today. But a nice one. 5.88 lbs. I had another good one come unbottoned before I got to see her. Berkley Chigger Craw, black/blue. They won't let go of this bait!

It's very common when the topwater or jerkbait bite is on for fish to smash the bait and get hooked somewhere outside the mouth.

Last night I saw Scott Martin keep one that was hooked in the side while explaining that it came unhooked and re-hooked. He counted it.

One of the reasons I like the Chigger Craw. It tells you right on the bag.

I got some after hooking several fish in that fleshy part at the back of the throat. But I haven't been getting ANY bites on the wacky rig since I bought them.

I got a few bites on mine before it waterlogged and was returned to the box in favor of Pad Crasher.

More weedless. I saw Bill Dance do it while fishing in a stream. But he probably had a barbless hook.

I had a late spring day like that. But I used the Torpedo to catch over 50. I was in the kayak and I was soaked from handling all those fish close to the water. It was overcast and even rained very lightly a couple times. They wanted a steady retrieve that day. A buzzbait would have probably been the ticket, but you gotta use what's tied on when you're in the kayak and they're biting it. A couple times when fish would strike the bait but miss it, I threw a wacky rigged worm to the spot and caught the fish. I've also used the pollen slick for frogs. It's killer.

Rebel makes a shallow diver that you can use as a topwater. I have it in cicada and junebug patterns. The trebles are tiny on them. If you're going to catch anything decent size you should change to a single, larger hook in the rear, turned up. Take the front one off. http://www.basspro.com/Rebel-Bumble-Bug/product/39957/

Of course. But most of the tourney day is after the topwater bite would be over unless it was an exceptional day. I've caught 3 bass over 5# on topwater in the last month. Those have all come in the last hour of daylight. But the biggest fish this past month (6.3#) came on a T-rigged craw while the sun was still high. They'll bite the T-rig when they aren't "biting". They won't bite the topwater if they aren't "biting". The only hard-fast rule in fishing is there are no hard-fast rules. But that's the conventional thinking on the matter.

Retrieve is important. Working a topwater too fast can kill your chances. Especially with poppers, Torpedoes, etc, don't be in a rush unless that's what fish tell you to do. Work them in short pops or rips with rest in between. A good way to gain confidence in them is to take them to a pond and use at sundown. I seem to do better at dusk than dawn with topwaters. Bass won't always attack them. Usually, I need to see some activity on the surface to get a topwater bite. No activity usually means "forget it". I think the full-size Spook can be intimidating to bass unless they're really aggressive, so try the junior or the Chug'n Spook,Jr. I get a lot more bites on the Chug'n Jr model or a Chug Bug. In fact, Chug'n Jr been tied on my topwater rod for the whole summer. It just keeps getting bit. If you ever see bass actively busting bait at the surface, there's no better time to throw the Pop R or Spook. Bass are hungry and looking at the surface for their food at this time and you'll get their attention. Keep trying and good luck!

Don't be silly. That fish would count in a tourney. It's not like you snatched a hook across its back. It bit.

No. It's never exceptionally clear around here and they work well in the springtime. But it helps to know fish are going to be shallow so they'll see the bait. Gold some places, silver others.

Very Nice!

I have one of these and I have lost confidence in them over the years. What are the right conditions for a Devil's Horse propbait? Thanks.

Spook has one that spits water too. Chug'n Spook and Chug'n Spook, Jr. I have the junior in bullfrog pattern. It's a big fish bait.

I don't know. But I'm not paying $10-20 for something I can do easily for $7-8. Spook, Spook Jr & Chug'n Spook Jr, baby!

What are you calling a finesse C rig? My curiosity is peaked.