Winter/Early-Spring Craws

[Buzz Wing]

Guys,

I've been eyein' a few pigskin jigs on a certain Web site lately, mainly for pitchin' to the rip-rap early in the spring. I'm torn on what color to buy though.

What color are most craws in muddy water in the spring? Zooker, I know me and you discussed this way back, and I figured you'd be a reliable source.

Thanks,

-Buzz

[bamabassman]

i would think that your reds and browns and blcks and blues would be your best bet buzzie. i have some white pork, but never had any luck with em. blacks work good for me. gonna put black on the new jigs i got. KILLER LOOKING!!!!!

[Buzz Wing]

I, too, was thinking black. Traditional muddy water, but I was going to try to match the hatch as much as possible. Let me know if you find anything.

-Buzz

[JB]

black or brown, i use black uncle josh #11

[woody]

I can remember reading somewhere that the color RED works really good in muddy water, but I'm not sure how well it would work on a Jig though.



Mark

[doc]

The color of craws change with location, and season. But generally spring is mating season, something bright, oranges, chartruce, etc....

thats what I use in the spring

[Buzz Wing]

Doc,

Do they, craws, vary in water clarity? Will a normally orange craw in clear water be bright brown, or faded yellow, in muddy water?

-Buzz

[doc]

Originally Posted by Buzz Wing

Doc,

Do they, craws, vary in water clarity? Will a normally orange craw in clear water be bright brown, or faded yellow, in muddy water?

-Buzz

they vary in every body of water slightly. Best bet is to go to your local fishery and turn over a few rocks. For a more general Idea of what they will look like when in your location try google. There are many different species of crayfish varying greatly in color / size, you need to find out whats native in your area (or the fishery your going to) then match the hatch.

When I first started throwing a jig I did a lot of reading online about crayfish. I even found a site that listed the native crayfish in my area (there were a crap ton native to Arkansas). Ill see if I can dig the site up and post it back here.

http://iz.carnegiemnh.org/crayfish/c...s/michigan.htm this has Michigan natives, with pictures, and species info.

[Buzz Wing]

Doc,

Thanks a ton man. There are more than one kind here in MI as well. Hard to believe but I thought a craw was a craw!

-Buzz

[JB]

Check under shoreline rocks to see what size craws are most common. Then match the hatch. Bass may show seasonal color preferences in crawfish lures. In spring, when water is murky, June bug (purplish blue with green flake) might be productive. But in summer and fall, more realistic colors like pumpkin and drab green may work better. You can credit this to seasonal changes in water clarity. As a rule, try the brighter colors in low visibility and the more subdued hues in clear water. Crawfish lures are naturals for lakes with dense cover. In the spring, bass will bed in pockets in shallow grassbeds. You can flip a heavy jig with a pork or plastic craw trailer. Or you can take the finesse route and use a small plastic craw rigged on a 1/16-ounce sinker, fished on a medium-action spinning rod. Pitch the craw into the hole, shake the rod tip and watch the bass suck in the bait.
MORE TIPS FOR FISHING CRAWFISH LURES:
• Unless bass are suspended in open water, avoid chrome or metallic-finish crankbaits and use crawfish colors (brown/orange, red, blue, fire tiger). Root these lures on the bottom, or bump them off rocks and stumps for maximum crawfish appeal.
• Tiny tube baits in pumpkin and June bug colors are effective mimics of small crawfish. They are especially deadly when sight-fished in open pockets in grassbeds for spawning bass.
• Many anglers find lure scents most effective in cold water. Try them in early spring on your jigs and other slow-moving crawfish lures.
• Don't use a stiff rod when fishing any crawfish lure. Bass often inhale live crawfish. Using a rod that's too stiff may cause you to overreact and pull the lure away from the bass. Unless you're flipping dense cover, use a medium-action rod.
• Balance the triggering and attracting qualities of your crawfish lures. Drab colors are more natural and therefore more convincing to wary bass. Bright colors can trigger strikes, however, especially in muddy water. Start with a lure that's two-thirds natural colored and one-third bright colored (for example, a brown crankbait with an orange belly or a black jig with a chartreuse pork frog). If you're not getting strikes, perhaps it's because the bass can't see the lure. Shift the balance to the triggering side with brighter colors.
Having trouble with bass pecking or short-striking the lure? This may be a signal that they're reacting negatively to its bright colors once they've moved close enough to grab the lure. Switch to the same lure in a more subdued color.

[BassAddict]

I use to have A LOT of luck with a black/blue/purple jig and a Barnyard Red #11 pork chunk. Used to SLAY them with this combination and for the life of me I don't know why I don't fish that anymore. I need to get some more red #11's!

[BigBassin144]

In clear water, I fish mostly a black and blue jigs or a green pumpkin ish one.

Buzzie, The Lake Hudson Special color (white and chartreuse) jigs I've got, I designed for lake Mudson, lol, since that was the only color we ever got any hits on with spinnerbaits. From solid white to solid black and everywhere in between, White and chartreuse was it. So I figured, why not try it in a jig I personall can't wait to fish those up there this spring.

BB

[Buzz Wing]

Big,

I was thinkin' about pitchin' the rip-rap by the launch when the sun starts to pop out in March/April. If you wanna join me for a day of fishin', I'd be glad to have you, or join up and fish with our boats...

-Buzz

[MIbasser]

Originally Posted by Buzz Wing

Big,

I was thinkin' about pitchin' the rip-rap by the launch when the sun starts to pop out in March/April. If you wanna join me for a day of fishin', I'd be glad to have you, or join up and fish with our boats...

-Buzz

Buzz, once again you have to bring up breaking the law. Here are the '09 fishing regulations. Also, I know that you are on another forum and those guys are not fans of people breaking the law. You should THANK the person who runs that forum for the early season catch and release. HE is the one who was spending his time working with the Michigan government to allow us that special season. You can ask Bender about that if you would like.

Note 2 - Largemouth and
Smallmouth Bass

On

L. Michigan, within one-half mile of
the following islands of the Beaver Island
Archipelago: Beaver, Garden, High and Hog,
(Charlevoix Co.�������������������������������������������������� ������

- Dec. 31, (see p. 17).

Catch and immediate release seasons:

On the following waters, bass may be
caught and released on the dates listed.
All bass caught must be immediately (see
common terms p. 22) returned to the water:

L. St. Clair, St. Clair R. and Detroit R.

,
from the last Sat. in April - Fri. before the

��������������������������������������

All Lower Pen. waters
including Great Lakes: Last Sat. in April
- Fri. before Memorial Day; All Upper Pen.
waters including Great Lakes: May 15

- Fri. before Memorial Day.

[Buzz Wing]

MI,

I wasn't sure of the exact date, so I posted a "rough" plan. Thanks for posting though, now I know when to legally begin bassin'. Anyhow, from my experience fishing in March/April last, year, I think I'll skip it and turkey hunt. I don't think I caught a bass until a few days after the season opened anyway.

-Buzz

[Lilmoosecountry]

Check out Yums Big Money Craws. The color combos are just to perfect. I like the action on them as well.