Crawfish are a bass diet staple, making soft-craw baits an excellent choice for anglers looking to catch big fish. Whether fishing in rivers, lakes, or reservoirs, properly presenting a soft-craw bait can make all the difference. Here are some essential tips on how to fish a soft-craw bait effectively.
Choose The Right Soft-Craw Rigging Method
The way you rig your soft-craw bait affects its action and presentation. Here are some of the most effective rigging options:
- Texas Rig – Great for fishing around heavy cover, like rocks, laydowns, and grass. A pegged weight helps keep the bait in place, mimicking a crawfish burrowing into the bottom.
- Free Rig – The free rig allows the soft-craw bait to move naturally as the weight slides down first, creating a lifelike fall. Red Angle Fishing Products offers excellent soft plastics that work well with this setup.
- Jig Trailer – Attaching a soft-craw to a jig creates a deadly combination, especially when dragging or hopping it along the bottom. This is ideal for mimicking a defensive crawfish.
- Carolina Rig – Perfect for covering deeper water structure. The leader length allows the soft-craw to float naturally off the bottom.
Match The Soft-Craw Color to The Conditions
Crawfish change colors depending on the water conditions, time of year, and habitat. Choosing the right color can make a big difference:
- Red/Orange – Best in spring when crawfish have a reddish hue. Great for stained or muddy water.
- Green Pumpkin/Brown – A go-to color for clear water and when bass are feeding on natural-colored crawfish.
- Black/Blue – Works well in low-light conditions or murky water.
Fish a Soft-Craw Bait Slow & Natural
Crawfish don’t move fast, so working a soft-craw bait with a slow, natural presentation is key. Try dragging it along the bottom, pausing between movements to mimic a real crawfish. Occasional small hops or twitches can trigger reaction bites, especially around structure.
Focus on Key Crawfish Habitat
To maximize success, target areas where bass naturally find crawfish:
- Rocky banks and riprap – Crawfish love to hide in the cracks and crevices of rocks.
- Submerged wood and laydowns – Fallen trees and stumps provide great hiding spots for crawfish and ambush points for bass.
- Grass edges and vegetation – Crawfish often burrow in soft bottoms near grass lines, making these areas prime targets.
Fish a Soft-Craw Bait By Season
Bass feed on crawfish year-round, but their behavior changes with the seasons:
- Spring – Bass are aggressive and often hunt for red-colored crawfish near shallow rocks and hard bottoms.
- Summer – Crawfish move to deeper water; dragging a Carolina rig or deep jig works best.
- Fall – Bass feed heavily before winter, so a faster presentation with a jig or free rig can be effective.
- Winter – Bass become lethargic, requiring a super-slow presentation with a soft-craw bait on a finesse jig or Texas rig.
Use The Right Fishing Gear & Soft-Craw Baits
Fishing a soft-craw bait effectively requires the proper setup:
- Rod – A medium-heavy to heavy-action rod with a fast tip helps detect subtle bites and drive the hook in.
- Reel – A baitcasting reel with a gear ratio between 6.3:1 and 7.5:1 offers the right balance of speed and power.
- Line – Fluorocarbon (12-17 lb test) is ideal for most situations due to its low visibility and abrasion resistance. If fishing heavy cover, bump up to 20 lb test.
- Soft-Craw Bait – Zeke Craw provides aggressive action and realistic features that bass can’t resist.
Final Tips on How to Fish a Soft-Craw Bait
Fishing with a soft-craw bait is one of the most effective ways to catch big bass. Increase your catch rate by choosing the proper rig, matching the color to the conditions, and fishing it naturally in prime crawfish habitat. Whether dragging a free rig or hopping a jig with a Red Angle Fishing soft-craw, this bait is a must-have in your tackle box.
Next time you hit the water, tie on a soft-craw bait and get ready for some serious bass action!
