I'm fishing really clear water. The smaller Zoom Critter craw ora Baby Brush Hog seem to work best. I mostly go with green pumpkin color, and fish them t rigged.

Zoom baby brush hog and Zoom lizards

WOW some good information posted.

If there was one brand to purchase for someone just starting to use creature baits what would you suggest?

To be honest a googan Bandito bug. You can find them usually in the discount bin at most tackles shops for a dollar or two a pack and they flat out catch them no matter the hate they get because of the googan name.

4" Salt Craw (now made by Yum) in Black/Neon or Black Neon/Chartreuse Claws)

Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver in Coonasty color (perfect replica of a crawfish in the Atchafalaya Basin)

Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw (Sapphire Blue, Black/Red Glitter, or Junebug)

Zoom Brush Hog (standard size) - Black/Red Glitter, Watermelon/Red Glitter, and Junebug

Zoom Baby Brush Hog (same colors as standard size)

Rage Craw (Blue Sapphire, Black/Red Glitter, Junebug)

Rage Bug (same as Rage Craw)

Forgot to add Bitter's Bait and Tackle Salty Hog - it's a little beefier version of the Baby Brush Hog

Let me add that when Gene Larew made the 4" Salt Craw there were many other colors available that are no longer made by Yum. In particular Black/Blue Glitter/Blue Claws has been my most productive color for many years in the marshes south of the Atchafalaya Basin. Thankfully I still have a big supply on hand.

Edited March 25Mar 25 by river-rat

5 hours ago, ike8120 said:

If there was one brand to purchase for someone just starting to use creature baits what would you suggest?

Just one BRAND for creatures/craws? Definitely Strike King. Berkley a close second. IMO.

I like the Rapala Customs Cleanup craw in green pumpkin and red. I T-Rig them. I like Rage Bugs and the Rage Craw too. I don't know most of the craws mentioned in the this thread and I don't want to meet them. I have too many lures already! This is what I hope to do to the Bait Monkey going forward:

I haven't used many creature baits.

OSP Dolive Beaver is the GOAT on the Free Rig...

19 hours ago, ike8120 said:

WOW some good information posted.

If there was one brand to purchase for someone just starting to use creature baits what would you suggest?

Just bought some Missle D-Bombs, Thanks for everyones input.

RI Sweet Beaver

RI Spicy Beaver

Crush City Bronco Bug

Crush City Cleanup Craw

Berkley Maxscent Chiggar Craw

Berkley Pit Boss

Strike King Rage Menace

Yamamoto Flappin Hawg

All are used for Trig and/or a jig trailer. My main lake is fairly clear so the usual colors are green pumpkin with blue in the spring and orange when it starts warming up.

This year I’m excited to try out the Yamamoto Yama Bug

I’m not much into creatures. I like a jig. But I like two. As mentioned, a brush hog works well. I like black ruby. And the other is a hidden secret but I’ll spill the beans and it’s old school! The Arkie salty crawlin grub in GP. If I had one creature forever it would be this one

It breaks down to 3 categories in my mind, Creature, Craws, Chunks and Hog style baits.

When it comes to creatures there's a bunch, but for me one stands out as incredibly versatile and its proven.

Biffle Bug

honorable mentions

Punchin Predator

Palmetto Bug

Fuzzy Beaver

Craws, surprisingly is the hardest category to pick a #1. Theres a winner, but it just edges the other out and the others are in like a 3 way tie.

Adrenaline Craw

Ring Craw and Bubbling Craw

Jackall Chunk Craw

Air Craw

Had GrandeBass not DCd the Mega Claw, it would have been 1st place. I had grabbed a bag of Okechobe Craw and Ballistic Bluegill when I went down the Airtail Ratller rabbithole, and they sat in a box for a couple seasons. I brought them out in June one year and started pitchin them around and that bait dominated. That bait caught the biggest bass every time I used them. It outfished D bombs, it outfished Brush Hogs, Super Hogs with a dyed tail nearly beat them, but I stuck a #6 in the last 5mins of the day, like 50' from the boat ramp, same color as the picture. (Ballistic Bluegill)

Chunks are easy

SuperChunk/SCJr

Rage Chunk

Hogs

Super Hog -Game Hawg tie. As good as the Brush Hog is, I like the profile of the Super Hog more. Its got a decent profile, but isnt too long. The SK Game Hawg has the profile of the Super Hog in terms of width. SKs plastic is superior IMO to Zoom, there are great colors to choose from, and I actually think that coffee scent is effective.

Tiny Brush Hog

On 3/24/2026 at 12:06 PM, Rockhopper said:

Riot Baits Fuzzy Beaver

Glad to see it mentioned, its a real sleeper. I think Riots plastic formula is superior to most brands.

On 3/25/2026 at 11:19 AM, IYAOYAS said:

To be honest a googan Bandito bug.

Theyre good baits, but many on here won't admit it. Clam shell ensures every bait is perfect and the quality of the plastic is very good.

Beaver style -

OSP Do-Live Beaver

- Zed-Man TDR BugZ

- Missile D-Bomb

Craw style -

RAID Japan Egu Chunk

- RAID Japan BataBata Craw

- Net Baits Baby Paca Craw

Creature style -

Keitec Little Spyder/Hyper Spyder

- Nories Escape Chibi Twin

- Signal Mamba Slim

SK Rage Menace

SK Rage Space Monkey

SK Rage Bug

Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw

Use all in either black/blue flake or green pumpkin

Zoom speed craw, watermelon red, watermelon red magic, moon dust

Zoom baby brush hog, watermelon gold,

Zoom Z craw jr. White, green pumpkin flash

Buzz Baits cutter craw, green pumpkin magic, magic craw

Berkley baby pit boss

Missile baits Baby D bomb love bug

YUM Christie Craw in Black/Blue Flake

Baby brush hog in GP or avocado

RI Sweet Beaver

Rage Craw in GP

I have others but I seem to use these the most.

Rage Craw

Rage DB Craw

Brush Hog

Baby Brush Hog

Rage Bug

Rage Menace

On 3/24/2026 at 11:16 AM, IYAOYAS said:

Crush city Bronco bug and I was using them before "The Welcher incident" I'll have you know! 😂Craw baits would be the crush city cleanup craw. I'm kind of a fan of Crush city.

I'm afraid our mutual friend (Steven B) and myself might need to get you some Wise Whackers. 😀

Strike King Rage Tail 4 inch

Bass Pro Shops XPS Crawdigy Bug

Rage Tail Menace

Bass Pro Shops Bio Bait Brawny Craw

Yum Craw Papi

Googan Bandito Bug

Googan's smell gets me to buy more

The Rage tail craws and crawdigy bugs are both very durable and are great jig trailer options when you want a good amount of action. The Brawny Craw, craw papi, and bandito bug have an action that's a little more subtle.

On 3/24/2026 at 8:54 PM, Glenn said:

It's this:

They're a larger-than-average creature bait, about 5" long. I don't know if they still make them.

I think I remember seeing Denny Brauer fishing one of these on tv once. He said it was one of his favorites.

As far as soft plastics with appendages I use lizards and Hula grubs.

Reins Ring Craw- one of my favorites this time of year when the water is still cold. 2.5 inch.

For craws I’ve caught a lot on th adrenaline craw on a Texas rig or muscle back craw on a jig. Favorite creature bait is the d bomb no question. I’ve thrown the regular and the baby D

Strike King Falcon Lake Craw Rage Bug on a 5/16oz free-rig

Zoom 6” lizard in Cherry Seed on a 1/4oz free-rig

Nikko 6” Shakey Worm in Earthworm on a 1/4oz Texas-rig.

Bandito Bug