I've been looking to pick up a couple firecraw chatterbaits for the coming spring and I'm trying to decide what to pair them up with. I've seen posts here of people using SK Rage Menaces and SK Rage Bugs, and I've also been looking at the kamikaze swimon, but I'd love to know what you guys think!

Netbait Tiny Paca Craw 

Rage tail menace in delta craw.

I've used the Menace or other beaver styles but hooked on so the appendages are sideways. 

I use two, the Paca Slim and the Rage Craw. I’ll use the Paca if it’s one if those days where smaller/slower is the deal but the Rage Craw almost always gets the nod. A Rage Craw on the back of a @Siebert Outdoors Fogy (matching skirt and craw with just two sections clipped off the craw) has made for some of my best days on the water. 

I have a rage menace in Falcon Lake Craw rigged horizontal on my fire craw right now. Couldnt find the Swimon in Flamethrower for the life of me. I have Rage Craws in Falcon lake too but havent tried it yet. Ive heard the Berkley Chigger Craw has a good flappy action but havent tried them yet. 

Menace (delta red), Rage Bug (falcon craw), and tomorrow I'm trying the orange zako.

After trying a bunch of different craw trailers to imitate a craw with a chatter, the fish decided that a particular paddle tail was a better option, so that's what I use. A beaver knockoff is also a good one for me.

 

On 1/30/2021 at 10:46 PM, Luke Barnes said:

 I have Rage Craws in Falcon lake too but havent tried it yet. Ive heard the Berkley Chigger Craw has a good flappy action but havent tried them yet. 

 

+1 for Rage craw in Falcon.   Jordan Lee seems to like the Chigger craw combo..   Green pumpkin with tips in orange.

 

 

Rage Craw ?

Rage Menace 

On 1/30/2021 at 4:51 PM, Team9nine said:

Netbait Tiny Paca Craw 

I tried one on a Z-Man Custom to see how it looked. It was buried in the skirt. Trimming the skirt to the hook bend would solve that problem. Is that what you do or do you tip hook them to the length desired.

 

Joe

56 minutes ago, 5/0 said:

I tried one on a Z-Man Custom to see how it looked. It was buried in the skirt. Trimming the skirt to the hook bend would solve that problem. Is that what you do or do you tip hook them to the length desired.

 

Joe

 

Thread them on and trim the skirt to whatever length looks best. Probably varies depending on model of vibrating jig. I do the exact same with football head jigs. 

Zako or Rage Craw. 
I’ll cycle through both till they tell me to stop. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

On 1/30/2021 at 7:18 PM, ThatFishingGuy said:

I've been looking to pick up a couple firecraw chatterbaits for the coming spring and I'm trying to decide what to pair them up with. I've seen posts here of people using SK Rage Menaces and SK Rage Bugs, and I've also been looking at the kamikaze swimon, but I'd love to know what you guys think!

*Really , you have some fine choices there listed already which you can match in color to your new fire craw chatter bait .

I ran across this today and thought it would pair nicely, its the newer Z-man Goat. It might have the same action as a Menace, but it could be a bit more durable. Just another option to look at. Color is "Hot Craw"

This is a new one from Gambler called a Komodo. Looks interesting. This color is called "Red Hot."

Zoom Super Chunk or Chunk Jr. most of the time.

Rage Structure Bug

Rage bugs rigged horizontal or vertical?

Horizontal for chatterbaits, vertical for swim jigs and J-rigged. 

On 2/2/2021 at 10:28 PM, EzyEric said:

Rage bugs rigged horizontal or vertical?

Vertical so the tail swims like a fish's tail is how I rig them.

 

A Menace or Pitboss are 2 of my favorite trailers for them.

20 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Vertical so the tail swims like a fish's tail is how I rig them.

But the question was about craw trailers. So doesn't rigging it vertical sort of negate the craw factor here?

 

I ask this because I much prefer the vertical myself but I want to do some more traditional horizontal craw action. One of the biggest issues I find is the amount of rise this causes on the retrieve.

34 minutes ago, EzyEric said:

But the question was about craw trailers. So doesn't rigging it vertical sort of negate the craw factor here?

 

I ask this because I much prefer the vertical myself but I want to do some more traditional horizontal craw action. One of the biggest issues I find is the amount of rise this causes on the retrieve.

Just because it's a craw bait doesn't mean you have to make it look like a craw. Rigged that way it works with the action of the bait instead of fighting against it, which greatly reduces the lift and increases the action of both parts of the bait.

The Rage Menace and Yum Christy Craw are exactly what you're looking for.