So what's the deal with these hyper realistic craw baits? They've been around forever - though the newer baits are really good at it. I figure if realism was really the way to go they would have overtaken typical jig n craw/creature baits a long time ago but they still seem like a niche bait. 

 

Why is that? Why isn't the most realistic craw imitator possible also the best trailer for flippin' or draggin' on the rocks? The Swimbait market seems to favor hyper realism for success in catching fish, but not craws?

 

 

 

 

The realistic craws are what you are going to throw in gin clear water, the normal jig trailer often gets bit as reaction to the bait falling and the fish strikes it to kill it or eat the thing before it gets away as it is moving quickly. In clear water realism helps sometimes but not all the time because fish will hit a bait for different reasons beside food, and I think that just because they often hit stuff they don't want around to kill it means it doesn't have to look like food all the time. I think the realistic baits are more for the anglers confidence than the actual fish but that is just how I view it.

I like those craws I'm going to check these out

Just to get you to buy them. That's it. Bass do not need to see every antenna and leg to think it's a meal. Get the right size and profile, and sometimes color, and those bass are going to eat it if they are feeding on craws.

I´ve lived many moons now, I always say I´ve been in this obssession for more than 3 decades, as much as I want to deny it well, I´m about to break the fourth decade ( funny but I don´t feel the age I got ), and in those almost 4 decades of fishing I´ve lived through many stages, trends and novelties, gear and baits have evolved, however old baits, patterns, shapes, colors and so on still catch fish as well as they did decades ago, back then during the age of the dinosaurs when I began to fish. Hyper realistic ? oh yeah, that ain´t new.

 

Hyper realistic look good ? yes it does

Hyper realistic catch mo ? I don´t think it does, I do own hyper realistc and I still don´t see no difference,... well it catches more fisherman, it has caught me many times don´t see why others can´t fall victims of the BaitMonkey. 

 

This is like red hooks, you feel/ believe/ hope they help you catch more I´m the first one to tell you should use them.

hyper realism catches fisherman more than fish.

 

I like the realism because they look like a crawfish, but at the same time, I think a large profile more vibration inducing craw, as long as it's the appropriate color, would catch just as many and probably more fish.

 

The action on those sandeel double rig is amazing though. 

Personally I really like these alot!  I won't be buying many because the price is too much.  If I'm flipping or punching I don't care about realism, it's the reaction bite I'm after.  If I'm slow crawling the bottom where a bass has all the time in the world to look at it I would use these.  If I were on a spot that were holding a teen size bass I'd prefer a realistic craw over a plastic chunk.  Huddleston didn't create his huddlebug with the idea of just catching 2 pounders in mind.  

Forget the craw, those soft plastic swimbaits look nice.

Goggle Gene Larew Salty Hawg Craw!

It looks nothing like a crawfish but it's extremely deadly.

The 6" is especially deadly on big bass

I think I like this line of baits...

Love to hear about the durability of that inline-

 

in clearer rocky, dock lined lakes- I prefer realism

 

in weedy shallow lakes, I throw heavy lead.  Preference for all I guess.

I want that drop shot rig at the end....