Rebel Craws...love 'em Or Hate 'em?

[ozark trout fisher]

For me, it will catch fish but mostly dinks. I dont recall ever catching a good one on a Rebel Craw. Good numbers bait though.

They do catch good fish, I can promise you that. I have with some regularity caught fish up to 17 inches on them, including a solid number of 14-15 inchers on my last outing. But yes, those 14 and 15 inchers were sandwiched between dozens of small bass and sunfish. I guess it comes down to whether or not you think that's a good thing. Personally I enjoy catching fish a wide variety of fish, both in size and species.

I especially love catching the longears, just because I think they're the prettiest fish native to Ozark streams, and the Rebel Craws bring in plenty of those. And who doesn't enjoy catching a few fat goggle-eye in between the smallies? I have no issue saying that's a big part of the draw for Rebel Craws (and Mepps, Rooster Tails, and other similar types of lures), at least for me.

For me, fishing Ozark streams is a whole experience, not a single-minded mission to catch as many and as large of smallmouth as possible. The more types of interesting, and in some cases beautiful fish I can catch and release on a given day, the better. Especially when I can do that on a type of lure or fly that will also take quality smallmouth.

[LittleRedFisherman]

^{They are a good lure for me, not really my goto lure, but always do well with them. I used them this winter and had success throwing them behind bolders in the current. Even when I am searching for Smallmouth with my flyrod, I've always got a rebel craw tied on a spinning rod in the boat.}

[jdmidwest]

The wisdom of strippers never ceases to inspire me.

They have seen more bait dragged in front of them than the average smallie.

[drew03cmc]

My lure rotation on creeks (say Big Sugar or smaller) consists of a 77 size diver and a 2.75" soft craw if I am fishing a light power rod.

[Nighthawk]

haven't spin fished river smallies for years but i do have a rebel craw. used to use a 1/8 oz strike king brown and orange jig tipped with a #11 uncle josh brown pork frog, and found it fit my water pretty well. anyone still fish that rig anymore?

[Riverwhy]

I routinely fish Rebel Craws and probably have six or seven in my box right now. They are effective for a variety of fish in a variety of conditions. Small fish only? Tell that to the Walleye in my freezer caught on the small brown and orange Rebel caught in Lake Norfork this spring. Having confidence in a lure does amazing things to how well they catch fish.

Put me down as a yes.

[Jack Jones]

Threw it tonight up from Hooten Town access. NO DICE! Still undecided on this lure. It hasn't produced for me yet.