Craws

Crayfish imitations from photo-realistic to a pair of flappers on a slug — the bottom and flipping bait for both bass, and the jig trailer.

Soft plastics are the biggest family in bass fishing: 36 shapes, each designed for a rig, a depth and a mood.

• Shape = design purpose: fish, worm, craw, creature, tube, frog
• Finesse tier vs power tier: the same shape at 3.5 in and 7 in is two different techniques
• Tail type decides the action; body decides the fall
• Rig it the way it was designed to be rigged

Craws split into two design philosophies. Realistic craws have true claws, antennae and segmented tails; they are for slow bottom fishing where the fish gets a long look. Abstract craws — flapping claws on a fat body, or the beaver silhouette — trade realism for action on the fall and a compact shape that enters cover cleanly. Both go on Texas rigs and jigs; the finesse end (2-3 in) goes on Ned heads and drop shots for smallmouth.