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Cermele: A Crawfish That's Too Real?
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March 10, 2010
Cermele: A Crawfish That's Too Real?
By Joe Cermele
Strike Pro (who I am not sponsored by or affiliated with, blah, blah, blah), I must admit, comes up with some very clever lure designs. In the hardbait category, I would say that their Flex X is one of the most realistic baitfish imitations I've ever fished. Its snake-like action comes from multiple joints--a recurring feature on Strike Pro lures. Not too long ago, the company unveiled their Flex Crawfish, with a multi-joint tail that folds under as it swims, replaceable soft claws, a weedless hook, and unique eye in the middle of the back that makes it work when flipping, pitching, or jigging. It's cool, no doubt, but I can't help but wonder how important that level of realism is when it comes to mimicking a crawfish.
I mostly use crawfish during the fall for smallmouth and during the late-spring largemouth spawn. I've fished them all: crawfish crankbaits, molded hard-plastic crawfish, soft-plastic crawfish. But nothing, and I mean nothing, works better for me when craws are on the menu than a green or brown tube. They are simple to fish and I think they look and move more like a natural craw than lures with actual claws and fantails.
Baitfish have such subtle movements and reflective qualities that I see more merit in striving for realism. I've watched realistic baitfish lures out-fish basic patterns more than a few times. But if smallmouth are on crawfish, I think they're swiping at anything that hops off the bottom and are looking at color and basic shape. They aren't going to turn their noses because the lure has no claws or antennae. Plus, a bag of tubes costs a lot less than some hardbaits.
Maybe crawfish imitations are your bread and butter, so feel free to argue. Do you think a crawfish that looks real enough to boil will out-produce my tubes? - JC
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Comments (22)
They would only out produce in a lake that has a lot of fishing pressure. Like in most things you only have to sell the product to the buyer regardless of what it's being used for. The lure only need look good to the fisherman not the fish. Just like hay, they hay has to look good to the buyer not he horse.
A little butta and you've got dinna on da bayou!
Sure looks real! I like how the weedless hook is positioned.
Fish do seem to know when crawfish are on the menu ... bite is on!
The near-nuff crawfish fly is the best fly imitation I've come across, tubes for spinning or casting can't be beat IMO.
I think the lure is designed as eye candy for the Buyer, not so much the fish. Strike Pro is looking to land Anglers and also a few fish along the way while making some $$$. Fisherman back in the 50's did not have these Gadget Baits and still hammered the fish...KISS..Keep it simple stupid as they say.
Got to go with you on the tubes, they are a much more practical and affordable solution. The flex craw seems more focused on catching the fishermen and without a doubt they will catch fish, any lure will but for consistency stick with the Gitzit. Plus I would rather break off a 50 cent piece than a $20 bill.
They do look good. Wonder what they cost? Bet it ain't cheap.
I really like all of these new swim baits and other lures that bring new designs and technology to lures. But I have trouble paying $17 for one flex craw when I can use 100 other lures for a lot less and still catch em. Or I could just go down to a creek and seine a few live ones for free.
It'll be tough to knock the Rebel Craw off the top of my list.
I just took a look at these on the Cabelas website. Not many reviews, but some pretty bad ones. People do not seem very happy with this lure AND it looks like Cabelas has already slashed the price in half (not a good sign).
I read a study where they were testing different crawfish imitators on bass. The ones that did the best eliminated the claws, which makes sense because the crawfish uses it's claws for defense and a mudbug minus its claws would present an easier meal. It is odd that few soft baits that are meant to imitate crawfish eliminate the claws, except of course for the tube which everbody on here has already documented their effectiveness.
Agree with buckhunter, the Rebel Craw is what I'll throw anytime crawfish are on the menu
most fishermen will go with the soft plastics like the tube baits because they work and the manufacturers and retailers are getting out of hand with their prices. 15 bucks for one lure?! really? no way! give me a bag of tubes any day!
so far i haven't found/tried a lure that will outfish either a pumpkin pepper or motor oil color twistertail. but i haven't experimented very much with tubes or crankbaits yet, so there is room for improvement and i will be testing new stuff this summer.
so far i haven't found/tried a lure that will outfish either a pumpkin pepper or motor oil color twistertail. but i haven't experimented very much with tubes or crankbaits yet, so there is room for improvement and i will be testing new stuff this summer.
were can i get one
Although I'm sure it catches fish,I've alway been a believer that lures were made to catch fi$hermen, not fish.
I bet it catches fish and it would probs be a sweet bed bait for largemouth! But, it aint cheep and I have confidence in other things so I will let it sit on the shelf. But if someone wants to give me one I will certainly accept!
neat looking baits i'd rather use a tube bait
i agree ill stick to my soft plastics
Yep nice looking bait to us fisherfolk, but we are not eating it, but it was sure made to catch us. For all the folks that have been BassFishing for more than a hour know this type of bait has been hanging covered in dust on a pegboard in every baitstore from Kentucky to Texas to Florida, and at one time or another we have all bitten. But if your fishing for money and you are targeting the crawdad bite, you will have either a tube in the color of the crawdadies in the water your fishing or Pig-N-Jig in old Black-n-Blue, maybe even a crankbait in crawfish pattern. It's just another spin on the old game.
ther expensive but at cabelas i got that flex crawfish that what originally $20.00, i got it for $19. it has good action but is very heavy on the line
I mean it was orignally 20 but i bought it for 10
Post a Comment
A little butta and you've got dinna on da bayou!
Sure looks real! I like how the weedless hook is positioned.
Fish do seem to know when crawfish are on the menu ... bite is on!
They would only out produce in a lake that has a lot of fishing pressure. Like in most things you only have to sell the product to the buyer regardless of what it's being used for. The lure only need look good to the fisherman not the fish. Just like hay, they hay has to look good to the buyer not he horse.
The near-nuff crawfish fly is the best fly imitation I've come across, tubes for spinning or casting can't be beat IMO.
I think the lure is designed as eye candy for the Buyer, not so much the fish. Strike Pro is looking to land Anglers and also a few fish along the way while making some $$$. Fisherman back in the 50's did not have these Gadget Baits and still hammered the fish...KISS..Keep it simple stupid as they say.
It'll be tough to knock the Rebel Craw off the top of my list.
Agree with buckhunter, the Rebel Craw is what I'll throw anytime crawfish are on the menu
most fishermen will go with the soft plastics like the tube baits because they work and the manufacturers and retailers are getting out of hand with their prices. 15 bucks for one lure?! really? no way! give me a bag of tubes any day!
neat looking baits i'd rather use a tube bait
Got to go with you on the tubes, they are a much more practical and affordable solution. The flex craw seems more focused on catching the fishermen and without a doubt they will catch fish, any lure will but for consistency stick with the Gitzit. Plus I would rather break off a 50 cent piece than a $20 bill.
They do look good. Wonder what they cost? Bet it ain't cheap.
I really like all of these new swim baits and other lures that bring new designs and technology to lures. But I have trouble paying $17 for one flex craw when I can use 100 other lures for a lot less and still catch em. Or I could just go down to a creek and seine a few live ones for free.
I just took a look at these on the Cabelas website. Not many reviews, but some pretty bad ones. People do not seem very happy with this lure AND it looks like Cabelas has already slashed the price in half (not a good sign).
I read a study where they were testing different crawfish imitators on bass. The ones that did the best eliminated the claws, which makes sense because the crawfish uses it's claws for defense and a mudbug minus its claws would present an easier meal. It is odd that few soft baits that are meant to imitate crawfish eliminate the claws, except of course for the tube which everbody on here has already documented their effectiveness.
so far i haven't found/tried a lure that will outfish either a pumpkin pepper or motor oil color twistertail. but i haven't experimented very much with tubes or crankbaits yet, so there is room for improvement and i will be testing new stuff this summer.
so far i haven't found/tried a lure that will outfish either a pumpkin pepper or motor oil color twistertail. but i haven't experimented very much with tubes or crankbaits yet, so there is room for improvement and i will be testing new stuff this summer.
were can i get one
Although I'm sure it catches fish,I've alway been a believer that lures were made to catch fi$hermen, not fish.
I bet it catches fish and it would probs be a sweet bed bait for largemouth! But, it aint cheep and I have confidence in other things so I will let it sit on the shelf. But if someone wants to give me one I will certainly accept!
i agree ill stick to my soft plastics
Yep nice looking bait to us fisherfolk, but we are not eating it, but it was sure made to catch us. For all the folks that have been BassFishing for more than a hour know this type of bait has been hanging covered in dust on a pegboard in every baitstore from Kentucky to Texas to Florida, and at one time or another we have all bitten. But if your fishing for money and you are targeting the crawdad bite, you will have either a tube in the color of the crawdadies in the water your fishing or Pig-N-Jig in old Black-n-Blue, maybe even a crankbait in crawfish pattern. It's just another spin on the old game.
ther expensive but at cabelas i got that flex crawfish that what originally $20.00, i got it for $19. it has good action but is very heavy on the line
I mean it was orignally 20 but i bought it for 10
Post a Comment