I fish on a lake with cold, clear water and plenty of rocks. The place is crawling with crayfish. I generally catch plenty of fish using chub and shiner imitations, but i would like to start trying to imitate crayfish. What are the best imitations and how should i fish them?

I like the *** and beaver style bait that *** makes.  The *** is my #1 bait, but sometimes they will bite the beaver and not the ***.  GYCB Flappin Hogs are good as well, but considerably more expensive.

Try the Netbait Baby Paca Craw or the Paca Craw,  they are a killer bait! Fish them on T-rig or a C-rig, or on a jig head. Bass Pro has them!

I've had luck with GYCB fat baby craws.  Black or their green w/ black flake color is best.  I fish them texas rigged with a bullet weight if needed.  

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] five.bass.limit.

Strike King Bitsy Bug with the trailer of your choice. I have used Zoom ultra vibe craws, and Zoom swimming chunks, various craw fish trailers and just ordered some Paca craw trailers. I personally like using the Bitsy bug jig in shallower water and will go to a 1/2 to 1 oz jig for anything over 15-20 feet. If you are like I was you think that the bigger jigs are too big for smallies. I have caught 8" rock bass with one ounce Boo jigs and ultra vibe trailer.

As far as how you fish them, I personally like baitcasting gear, MH pole a fast action.  Cast it out let it sink and SMALL hops back, I like doing a three hop and rest routine.  Or just drag it on the bottom, remember a little movement on the pole can provide more than enough action on the lure.  Watch how the craws move and try to imitate that, that is why when I am actually jigging I do a three and rest.  Seems like that the crawfish here when swimming away from danger do three quick darts and then a glide.  

I like the brush hogs (get them from ***, called bush bugs), and another bait I started doing well with is the * that *** has.

I like YUMs craw papi. I also like a smaller profile jig with a craw trailer.

Obviously a Jig-N-Craw, a plain football jig head with a creature bait but never underestimate the fish catching ability of a Texas Rigged Craw Worm.

Now your talking.  Small craw imitations are killer.  I like the Bass Pro Shops Finesse Craw in watermelon/chart. claws.  I put it on 6lb line, 1/16oz tungsten weight, and a 1/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook.  This little setup is what I caught my 14.7 on.

Just cast it out and crawl it back to the boat.  Make sure your drag is right, because your gonna catch some big fish doing this.

Generally, I prefer a soft plastic as a trailer, not fished

alone.  However, after fishing with the Shak-E2, I have

found the naked jig to be very effective. As trailers

or by themselves,  these are my favorites: GYCB Flappin'

Hog, NetBaits Baby Paca Craw and for a smaller presentation,

GYCB Fat Baby Craw.

8-)

1/4oz green craw bitsy bug with matching trailer. id use flourocarbon line because you said the water was clear.

assuming youve never fished with a jig:

slowly crawl/drag it by moving your rod tip a few inches at a time. give it little hops from time to time. shake it in place. pause it for several seconds.

best way to practice this is to move it in shallow clear water where you can see what its doing.

this is my favorite way to fish for smallmouth.

This might help:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1189609782

8-)

Here ya go.  

http://www.huddlestonstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7

Hard to beat a t-rigged flappin hog in green pumpkin or black IMO

t-rigged paca craw = money bait

t-rigged paca craw = money bait

I have to agree with flippin on this one!

I have caught so many bass on the Baby and the Paca Craw last year! I guide at night and I had two 7 lb'ers on two guide trips on the Baby Paca. The bait has some very cool action and the pork sent helps too!

See thread on Eakins Finesse jig.

Try the YUM MONEY CRAW

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10201621____SearchResults

8-)

Huddleston Huddle Bug. I don't believe you will find any imitation craw that is more realistic.

http://www.huddlestondeluxe.com/huddlebug.html

I use the Yum CrawBug.

Falcon