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

[Buzz]

This is a good subject. I have fished them for a bunch of years, more than I can remember. I've caught fish of all varieties and sizes from the smallest perch to some pretty respectable smallmouth and largemouth. Although I don't fish them as much as I used to I have bought a few recently to restock the tackle box and plan to use them more this summer. I prefer the deep diver teeny wee craw with the green back and orange belly . I've tried the brown back, but it doesn't seem to produce as well. Rebel has made a few slight changes in the color recently. They aren't the shiny paint as before, but still similar with red hooks added. They will catch fish in almost any situation you run into. They are a great and productive bait to introduce a kid or newcomer to lure fishing. Just cast and crank. They also make a pretty good topwater bait. Just cast to the bank and those big perch will nail it.

As Stoneroller said, the hole between the pinchers can be a pain, but it may be what sets it appart.

While walking the fishing isle of Wal- Mart last night I found some new small crankbaits made by Arkie that look almost exactly like the Rebels, 2 minnow baits and teeny craw. The main difference in the craw is that the paint is somewhat muted and is more white on the sides instead of the light tan that is on the original Rebel. They have also filled in the hole and the price is only $1.96 compared to $4.96 for the Rebels. I bought a one of each and I hope to try them out soon.

[RSBreth]

I'm another one in the "nope" camp.

Every time I've been with someone using one I've outfished them with a different crank, or a different lure.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE cranks for river smallies - but I use other cranks versus the "crayfish cranks".

[Wayne SW/MO]

Jack take a look at the tried and true Lucky 13, you could even throw a skirt on it like Al does his. The red head has been a good shallow lure going back even before my time.

[Daveinozark]

they have too much wiggle and I can't get the little ones deep enough. I'd rather slow crank a wiggle wart

[Feathers and Fins]

I am another No... Don't even own one! I think to many people think there is a (1 Lure) that is better than another. I have found that confidence in my ability to pay attention to what is going on around me is more valuable then any 100 lures. When I get a chance to hit rivers and creeks I stock my box with (Leach, worm, grub's and swim baits for plastics....Hard Baits I like X-raps and Warts ) I try to keep it very simple. If I see smallies chasing Chubs I use swim baits, If i see a creek swollen i will throw grubs and worms. Paying attention In My Opinion is more important than any bait.

[ozark trout fisher]

Well, you've got to at least try them...

Anyway, I don't think that Rebel Craws are some kind of magic lure, by any stretch. And don't get me wrong, I have several other lures (and flies) that I have a lot of confidence in when I'm smallmouth fishing...Including Shad Raps, Poppers, Jitterbugs, and marabou jigs, or black and olive woollies on the fly rod (I don't use soft plastics at all unless absolutely nothing else will work, ever since I've read about some of their potential ecological implications.) But on the other hand, I do think it's important to have one "go to" lure that you can turn to. And for me that's the Rebel Teeny Craw.

And they're not just smallmouth lures either. Before I got started pretty much exclusively fly fishing for trout, the Rebel Craws were one of the best lures for them too...And they are dynamite for goggle-eye and longears as well-even caught gar on them. Along with the Mepp's Spinner, I don't know of a better searching lure for targeting multiple species.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I agree that the Mepps is a good searching lure, but over the decades I've found that Rooster tail is just as good with more options and for less money. I've seen times when a black RT would take fish while a white or yellow would be ignored. If you use a simple seraching bait like an inline spinner it pays to have it in as many colors as possible.

Even the blade color can sometimes make a difference. Fish sometimes key on what's abundant and that is where color and size can be a deciding factor. More often then not the more active baits, such as the Rebel Craw will take agressive fish, but the more subtle feeders will pass. It's important to mix it up to find the best strategy for any given day.

[Mitch f]

I was just thinking I don't even own a rebel craw, not that I have anything against them. Maybe I should buy one again and get reaquainted. I'm a wiggle wart and Bandit guy.

After reading these posts, it made me think about the lure industry in general. It seems all lures are pretty much designed and created for the LMB. Even the so called finesse lures form Japan are still created for the LMB for use in the heavily pressured waters of Japan and the deep clear water of the western USA. I guess the overlap between LMB and SMB baits is so big that there is virtually no difference. Or maybe there should be a difference(?)... food for another thread I guess

[ColdWaterFshr]

True story. I was in a seedy part of town and down on my luck. Drank up all my money at a dive bar and then shot billiards with a stripper until the rain stopped and I was bumming menthols off the waitresses. And we got into a pretty intense discussion about fishing crankbaits on small streams and she said to me, "you know, Paul, Rebel Craw fishing is the vibrator of the fishing world . . . and it just don't do it for me". Truer words have never been spoken.

Hoffmeyer swears by the them and always has one rigged on one of his rods. You're not casting into tight pockets with those. You're not throwing into heavy cover. You are basically trolling a vibrator when you fish a rebel craw and there is little skill involved other than retrieval and feeling a tug and a treble hook takes care of the hookset. Fisherman's involvement to fish is one step above a nightcrawler on a hook undr a bobber. Nothing wrong with it, just doesn't do it for me. Thanks, Trixie.

[Gavin]

I still have 1 Wee Craw...Found it in a corner of the basement while doing some plumbing earlier today.Looks unfished. Free to the first one who wants it. Claim it and PM me with your addy.

Hey Coldwater...pools open....bring the fam by after 1pm if you want...BYO everything.