When I packed my truck for the first two Elite Series tournaments of 2025 in Florida, I started with a plastic bait tub that had the word “Craws” written on it.
When it comes to fishing in Florida, I would argue that craws may be at the top of the baits list you just have to have. Half of the guys who end up in the Top 10 usually fish some kind of craw.
I filled that tub with three distinctly different types of craws. Which one I fish at any given moment depends on the conditions and the technique I’m employing. Relying on only one type of craw is like fishing the same crankbait regardless of how deep the bass are holding.
The main thing that differentiates one craw from another is the configuration of the claws. The three types of craws in my tub have claws with a nonaction, a moderate action and a big action. Many bait companies offer craws that fit into these categories.
Another term for this type of craw is neutral action. Because the claws don’t have a hook, curl or wedge, they flow with the bait without imparting additional movements or vibrations.
My longtime go-to bait in this category is Berkley’s Chigger Craw. I started with the PowerBait version. I now favor the PowerBait MaxScent Chigger Craw, because of its increased scent dispersal.
I opt for the Chigger Craw when the bass are lethargic. A cold front that drops the water temperature only 3 to 5 degrees can put Florida strain largemouth in a funk. They slow down and refuse to chase.
Because the Chigger Craw’s claws have a subtle, fluid motion, they mimic the activity level of the bass and the baitfish.
I also have better luck with this craw when I find a pocket or backwater in Florida that has ultra clear water. You don’t want a craw that has a lively action in that situation.
The most versatile craws have a moderate action. The claws on these baits have a little hook or curl that activates them without going to extremes. Berkley’s 3 1/2-inch Powerbait Maxscent Stank Bug works well for me.
I rely on the Stank Bug when Florida’s water temperature is right where it needs to be, in the 60s and 70s. Also, when the water isn’t too clear or stained. Under these conditions, the bass are feeling good and responding well to craws that have a little action.
The Stank Bug doesn’t have any appendages along its body, so it’s ideal for punching though matted grass. It also works well with a light sinker when I’m flipping it around reeds and pads. And it’s a tremendous ChatterBait trailer.
I truly believe MaxScent helps me get more bites than guys who aren’t using it, especially when 20 boats descend on the same grass patch.
Claws sporting large hooks, curls and ridges produce the biggest action. That’s what I get with Berkley’s PowerBait MaxScent Crud Craw. When you put it in the water, the claws move with wild waving and flapping actions.
I dig out the Crud Craw when the water is warm and the bass have a jacked-up metabolism. They’re moving quicker and so are the bluegill, tilapia and other baitfish they feed on. The animated claws match the activity level of the fish.
These claws also help bass find the lure in stained, but not muddy, water. Muddy water is the kiss of death in Florida. I flip this bait to all kinds of grass, but I don’t use it for punching through mats.
The Crud Craw is also great on the back of a swim jig because the claws make the jig shimmy side to side. However, I don’t use it on a ChatterBait because it offsets the action of the blade.
You can learn more about how I fish craws and other baits atwww.mikeiaconelli.com or www.youtube.com/c/goingike.
