Okay, probably this has been done to death but there are also probably some new baits to hit the market that deserve notice so that's why I'm asking. I know most creature baits derived from the Zoom Brush Hog and Baby Brush Hog but are there any out there that you would consider a definite cut above the rest and why?

I used to carry and use a variety.  But, Except for very rare occasions, I rarely see any reason to use anything other than a Rage Bug.  It is a creature, a jig trailer, a chatterbait trailer, a swim bait, a c-rig creature, a flipping bait, a slow dragging t-rig, bait........

Yamamoto Cowboy.  ?

6 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I used to carry and use a variety.  But, Except for very rare occasions, I rarely see any reason to use anything other than a Rage Bug.  It is a creature, a jig trailer, a chatterbait trailer, a swim bait, a c-rig creature, a flipping bait, a slow dragging t-rig, bait........

Ditto

 

 

Mike

Berkley Havoc Pit Boss. Something about the shape of this bait makes it magic when flipped, pitched or retrieved through the water. The flapping "legs" make a nice commotion.

 

Looks like a craw, a frog or a baitfish on it side.

I have had very good luck with Zoom ultra vibe speed craw and Berkley crazy legs chigger craw.

I use all the usual suspects mentioned above (except the Cowboy, haven't tried it yet)...but I have an underrated option for you: The Netbait Baby Action Cat. It is my go-to creature for finesse applications like mojo/splitshot.  It's actually a tube rather than solid-bodied, so it hooks up very easily with light-wire hooks when rigged weedless. 

Rage Bug and Pit Boss are up there. But one that I've had a lot of success on, that I never see anybody mention, is the Dynamic Lure's Ten Craw. The orange crush is especially deadly on smallies.

 

http://dynamiclures.com/shop/lures/ten-craw/

I've had great success with the Pit Boss and started this year out with the Rage Tail Structure Bug and have had a couple nice days with that.  If I want a bigger profile I'll usually go to the Brush Hog.

Love my magnum rage bugs. It is the ultimate mix between creature, craw, and baitfish immitstor in my opinion. Have never done well on a brush hog. The pit boss is a solid choice as well. Just ordered some 5" ones to give them a shot to get me a bigger bite. 

On 5/14/2018 at 2:24 PM, NYWayfarer said:

Berkley Havoc Pit Boss. Something about the shape of this bait makes it magic when flipped, pitched or retrieved through the water. The flapping "legs" make a nice commotion.

 

Looks like a craw, a frog or a baitfish on it side.

Agree. Extremely versatile.

Megastrike Megabug

I like a cut down craw fatty for a jig trailer and when punching its a  double wide beaver only.

For me the Sweet Beaver and the Smallie Beaver do such a good job I don't really need any other creature bait. That said, I like the Baby Brush Hog as well and it is my "finesse" creature bait. When the beaver style baits are getting bumped but no real strikes, I'll use that Baby Brush Hog and more often than not I'll start getting better bites.

Most of these baits are the usual suspects (with a couple exceptions) but I'm really surprised that no one has mentioned Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig, they seem like a hot bait but of course that doesn't necessarily mean they are good as they could just have the most hype dollars to spend.

18 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

Most of these baits are the usual suspects (with a couple exceptions) but I'm really surprised that no one has mentioned Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig, they seem like a hot bait but of course that doesn't necessarily mean they are good as they could just have the most hype dollars to spend.

 

I'm sure it's a fine bait, but there are now so many like this that are basically variations on a Brush Hog, it's hard to justify buying them all.

My favourite the last couple years has been a Berkley Power Bait Theif. 

Nice subtle action and the bass around here slurp it up. I use the standard colours, they all seem to work for me. 

I like the Zoom Super Hog.  It's kind of a shortened version of a brush hog, and not as bulky as some of the other creature baits out there.  Sometimes that smaller profile is the key.

I like the Sweet and smallie beavers. When the bite is tough I can almost always use a smallie beaver on a Siebert Outdoors Zenith shakey head and catch a few fish.

On 5/14/2018 at 2:24 PM, NYWayfarer said:

Berkley Havoc Pit Boss. Something about the shape of this bait makes it magic when flipped, pitched or retrieved through the water. The flapping "legs" make a nice commotion.

 

Looks like a craw, a frog or a baitfish on it side.

Agreed.  This is also one of the more affordable soft plastics out there, and they are sold just about everywhere.  

The Gambler Ugly Otter is becoming my go to creature bait. Bought it on a whim during a TW sale, and have bought a bunch since. I think it’s different enough from other cookie cutter creature baits that the bass jump all over it. 

I have several different creature baits in my boat.

Most of the time a havoc Pit boss is what I am throwing.

It has produced more quality fish for me than all others combined. Plus The local Walmart always has a good supply of them at a reasonable price.

My favorites are the Strike King Rage Bug, Strike King Rodent and Missile Baits D-bomb. Have had particularly good success with the baby rodents and baby D-bombs. I liken them to a finesse jig. Sometimes bass don’t want those big arse creature baits near them and prefer the smaller snacks instead. 

Just to toss one of my favorites into the ring: V&M J-bug. Between that, the rage bug, sweet beavers, and brush hogs rounds out my usual creatures.

You'd have to define creature bait a bit to help narrow down your answers. To me, a Pit Boss and Sweet Beaver are beavers. A creature has to have multiple legs/flappers in my book. Hard to beat an original brush hog in black or a baby brush hog in watermelon red magic or plum apple.