Something I never understood is how to fish crawfish colored crankbaits.  If crawfish usually craw along the bottom of the lake slowly, why would bass chase after a crawfish imitating crankbait moving quickly through the water column?  I guess i was wondering if you guys fish them any differently than your standard crankbait.  I figured it would make more sense to fish them slower along the bottom

My understanding of these baits is that they do not replicate how a crawfish moves, only their color. Then the bass will hit it off on a reaction strike. I'm not exactly an expert but I think thats how it works, but I am sure someone will correct me if it isn't right.

Crawfish will often climb up weed stocks to graze on plankton and will let go and flip away quickly if something scares them, sometimes for long distances. True your bait may travel way further than a craw could ever swim but the bass may only have been aware of it for a short distance so  it still looks natural to them. 

 

Don't over think it though. Why does a fish eat a bright chartreuse spinnerbait or buzzbait, what does that look like that they eat on a normal day? They eat them, I know that for sure, and that's all that matters

Actually when a crawfish thrust their tail to get away they go backwards. They curl their tail. If you look at the profile of a crank, especially a lipless crank, it does resemble a crawfish backwards. Really it's just the color and possible the patterns of the crank that resembles a crawfish and they are reaction baits so bass don't have time to identify it, they just strike before they think their prey is getting away.

I had this picture that showed the similarity but must have deleted it.

A moving bait like a crankbait, or spinnerbait is all about a reaction strike. Those pretty finishes and paint schemes aren't the same when its moving through the water...they blend together and maybe even form a different color all together.

The fish don't analyze the reality of a bait..I think its more of a size, shape and profile thing. Moving baits also give off vibration...run a crankbait just under the surface while trolling and watch the disturbance behind it.

Basically a fish sees something moving and doesn't want to let it get away.

I fished a Bomber square bill in crawdad/chat belly all weekend. I would catch em with it grinding the bottom and they would also chase it right to the boat. I caught my two biggest fish with 8 feet of line out no where near the bottom. Purely reaction strikes.