When using craws do you prefer more naturalistic craws like big nite baits craw worms and savage gear 3d craws, or more action like a rage craw or big bite swimming craw?

I personally like the more action on a faster moving bait such as a flipping scenario and the more natural on a dragging bait, however I will hop a pumpkin head jig with a swimming craw off the bottom for smallies...what's your preference?

It depends on the situation, if I have stained water I'll go with something with more action, in clear water I'll opt for the realistic craw, let conditions dictate your bait, not your preference.

My preference is action. Rage, chigger, and paca craws rocky my fishing world.

What is written above plus the following:

 

You have to work the craw like a craw so you have to learn how the craws in your area travel and hide from predators.

 

So check in with the Wisconsin game and fisheries department and ask for their crawfish expert and find out about their movements and colors during the year.

 

A rule of thumb for throwing craws is that you want fast moving pinchers in warm water and slow moving pinchers in colder water.

 

Only problem with that philosophy is that the bass can't read, watch YouTube or check out this Forum so they don't know they are supposed to go after either a fast or slow moving pincher craw.

 

So experiment and using the information you glean from the Wisconsin fisheries experts throw the colors and type of craw you think the bass will be seeking at different times of the year.

Sam is pretty much a living breathing bass fishing wizard!

Where I fish I don't feel the need for super realism, rage craws and speedcraws work great for me.

D-bombs and sweet beavers are definitely my favorite "non-realistic" craws. As far as realistic goes, the huddle-bug is a bait I'd like to try, maybe in my TW Black Friday order;)

My "craw" jigs don't have any pinchers, just a split tail pork rind that out fishes soft plastic craw trailers. The is a reason; largemouth bass prefer live crayfish that have small or no pinchers. The soft plastic pinchers are actually more like baitfish swimming action than a crawdad swimming backwards with stationary claws.

Tom

I usually go for more action because of the stained water I'm normally fishing. I have some Huddlebugs I use in clear water situations though. 

Pretty much what Sam said

Bass do not have a preference for crawfish with small pinchers, they have a preference for immature crawfish. As the crawfish matures the pichers get larger and the bass keeps eating them.

Why?

Cause at that time frame of maturity the precentage of large pinchers is three times that of small pinchers.

cold water- zoom critter craw or bass pro tournament craw-I want less action, crawbugs by yum can be good as well.

 

active fish- Bass Pro Flippin craw, crack craws, Rage craw, Mighty craw...so many good ones....

 

small profile- yum big show craw or culprit incredicraw

Most of the year, Rage Craw and Lobster.

 

Right now Rage Craw DB with more subtle action:  http://www.basspro.com/Strike-King-Rage-DBCraw/product/1306270655443/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&om_mmc=shopping_googleproductextensions&kpid=1306270655443&kpid=1306270655443_Green-Pumpkin#desc-tab

 

 

 

 

Have to admit I'm partial to  theGene Larew 4" Salt Craw, Hawg Craw and Biffle Craw. When I want more action, I'll go to a Zoom Speed Craw or Rage Craw. I use all of these either T-Rigged or as a jig trailer.

Nothing imitates a scooting craw better than a tube.