Wiggle Wart Or Spro Rock Crawler?

[abkeenan]

2 hours ago, mjk86 said:

Teckel USA I think makes a wart knockoff...the drunker maybe?  I imagine there are also days where a jig beats any craw type crank and even days where live craws are what would work best.  A few years back there was an old fella at the dock that would use fish guts for crawdads traps.  He would catch some GIANTS.  I mean as big as your hand.  So some days maybe you'd need a 10xd in a craw parttern.  Or a huge jig.  I can't find any big ones so I've been tying up something hair jigs that are 6-8 inches long for that same purpose.

If you want a GIANT craw imitation bait, Wave Worm makes a Tiki Lobster that is 7" and bulky. I bought a few packs a couple years back when they were .99 on clearance at TW. They are HUGE and are HEAVY. Only 2 to a pack they are so big. But they do match the big crawdads that inhabit Table Rock pretty dang well.

I think they are discontinued but you can find them pretty cheap if you wanted to give them a look.

http://www.overstockbait.com/Wave-Worms-Tiki-Lobster-7-p/tlb-.htm

[mjk86]

1 minute ago, abkeenan said:

If you want a GIANT craw imitation bait, Wave Worm makes a Tiki Lobster that is 7" and bulky. I bought a few packs a couple years back when they were .99 on clearance at TW. They are HUGE and are HEAVY. Only 2 to a pack they are so big. But they do match the big crawdads that inhabit Table Rock pretty dang well.

I think they are discontinued but you can find them pretty cheap if you wanted to give them a look.

http://www.overstockbait.com/Wave-Worms-Tiki-Lobster-7-p/tlb-.htm

THanks, those look awesome.  Ill have to see if i can find me a few.  Zman makes a topwater frog that is a monster, i picked up a pack of those and put em on a nutech hair jig i tied up...the whole deal is probably pushing 8 or 9 inches long.  Looks pretty formidable...im afraid that craws that big can defend themselves to the point of not being prey...guess ill find out.  The beauty of it, is that it seems like if you want a large profile bait on a jig, most are like an ounce or more.  I like the big profile on the half ounce or 3/8 oz nutech. 

[abkeenan]

1 minute ago, mjk86 said:

THanks, those look awesome.  Ill have to see if i can find me a few.  Zman makes a topwater frog that is a monster, i picked up a pack of those and put em on a nutech hair jig i tied up...the whole deal is probably pushing 8 or 9 inches long.  Looks pretty formidable...im afraid that craws that big can defend themselves to the point of not being prey...guess ill find out.  The beauty of it, is that it seems like if you want a large profile bait on a jig, most are like an ounce or more.  I like the big profile on the half ounce or 3/8 oz nutech. 

I agree. More often than not a BIG hook equates to BIG weight. Not sure why some tackle makers don't jigs with bigger hooks for bigger baits yet only 1/4oz or 1/2oz heads on them but they don't. You don't need much weight on those Lobsters because they are already heavy. Any weight at all sends them to the bottom like and anchor. I haven't thrown one in about 2-3 years for a handful of casts without a bite but should give them a try again. Probably need to get into a big swimbait "mentality" with them understanding that you are going to get a very limited number of bites but they should be goods ones that are brave enough.

[edyer]

14 hours ago, Champ188 said:

This is why I have 200+ crank baits in my boat at any given time. Bandits, Bombers, Warts, Fat Free Shad, SK Series 3, old Rebel Wee-Rs, Academy H2O's ... they all have their places and times. And yall thought I was just a spinnerbait and Redfin guy.

I love catching them on the crank baits also, and find I carry way more than I ever use. I try to save my good warts for Table Rock because you don't have the Northern Pike that we have on our lakes in Michigan. Pike eat a lot of jigs and crank baits and we loose a lot of baits to them. The Rock Crawler looks good and Spro usually makes quality baits, but if I have a wart, I'll throw it. I don't have confidence in the RC that I have in the wart. I've had great success using Mag Warts for both smallmouths and largemouths in Michigan, and have caught them good at times on Table Rock with them as well. I don't hear you guys talk about the Mags at all. Secret weapon? 

[Bigmo]

Ebay has the wave worm tiki lobsters for $9.99 for 1 pound in several colors. I bet he gets a few extra orders in the next day or so. 

[Bill Babler]

Really nice points made here by all.  I am kind of one of those guys that won't hang with a crankbait long unless I'm getting some attention.  I have never just exchanged colors, sizes and brands throughout the day.  I may change a color once, or a brand or a wobble style but that pretty much puts me on something else if they don't start on it fast.

I have of course being from Lake of Ozarks  been in love with the wart.  Fished it from the start.  Now I fish the Phantom Green, Phantom Brown or Spring Craw R. Crawler more.  Only time I throw the wart, is if they are "Dead Shallow"  Someone mentioned it and he hit it on the head.  The wart just works shallow I'm talking under 5'.  At times fishing the R. Crawler, it is sticky fished super shallow.  It will however work deeper.  Mike McClelland says 12' on light line.  I have seen guys fish a wart on 6 pound line to get it deeper.  Scott Pauley and Kelley Power.

I have never had to tune a R. Crawler.  I have had to tune every Wart I have ever fished. No where near as bad as a Redfin, but can be mentioned in the same sentence for having to tune.  I have several that just won't run.  I have never had the hooks catch each other on a Rock Crawler.  I have the hooks catch each other all the time on the Wart.

Tim may remember one of our old Guide Buddy's Ron Vaughn.  He guided here in the early 90's  He did not care if the wart was even near the bottom.  He would set in 40' and crank it back all the way.  Caught a ton of SM when no one else was cranking that wart, pretty much like we do now, swimming a grub.

Rock Crawler is not going to leak.  Just not.  When Spro first came on board with the McStick's the complaint was the bait leaked.  No body even mentions it now, same with the Crawler. 

As Champ mentioned, be careful with it.  I know that is a strange statement for a crankbait, but you throw it on the rocks or hit a tree and I'm going to pretty much assure you, you  won't like what you get back. Kind of funny however, cause you can get it replaced.  Send it back, they send you a new one.

I think in 30 yrs. I have broken maybe a dozen warts.  Every time it has been my fault. Biggest reason they break is slamming them on the water to get a leaf or some moss off.  If your so lazy ie, meaning me.  To not just pull that leaf or piece of moss off and have to slam the lure on the water, you pretty much get what you deserve.   Again worth mentioning it twice.  Don't slam that RK Crawler.  Never.

Personally I'm going to load the gun with an RK Crawler in Phantom Green and put a V38 wiggle wart in the other chamber.  I miss with both of those, I'm headed Deep.

Good Luck

 

[rps]

1 hour ago, Bill Babler said:

Really nice points made here by all.  I am kind of one of those guys that won't hang with a crankbait long unless I'm getting some attention.  I have never just exchanged colors, sizes and brands throughout the day.  I may change a color once, or a brand or a wobble style but that pretty much puts me on something else if they don't start on it fast.

I have of course being from Lake of Ozarks  been in love with the wart.  Fished it from the start.  Now I fish the Phantom Green, Phantom Brown or Spring Craw R. Crawler more.  Only time I throw the wart, is if they are "Dead Shallow"  Someone mentioned it and he hit it on the head.  The wart just works shallow I'm talking under 5'.  At times fishing the R. Crawler, it is sticky fished super shallow.  It will however work deeper.  Mike McClelland says 12' on light line.  I have seen guys fish a wart on 6 pound line to get it deeper.  Scott Pauley and Kelley Power.

I have never had to tune a R. Crawler.  I have had to tune every Wart I have ever fished. No where near as bad as a Redfin, but can be mentioned in the same sentence for having to tune.  I have several that just won't run.  I have never had the hooks catch each other on a Rock Crawler.  I have the hooks catch each other all the time on the Wart.

Tim may remember one of our old Guide Buddy's Ron Vaughn.  He guided here in the early 90's  He did not care if the wart was even near the bottom.  He would set in 40' and crank it back all the way.  Caught a ton of SM when no one else was cranking that wart, pretty much like we do now, swimming a grub.

Rock Crawler is not going to leak.  Just not.  When Spro first came on board with the McStick's the complaint was the bait leaked.  No body even mentions it now, same with the Crawler. 

As Champ mentioned, be careful with it.  I know that is a strange statement for a crankbait, but you throw it on the rocks or hit a tree and I'm going to pretty much assure you, you  won't like what you get back. Kind of funny however, cause you can get it replaced.  Send it back, they send you a new one.

I think in 30 yrs. I have broken maybe a dozen warts.  Every time it has been my fault. Biggest reason they break is slamming them on the water to get a leaf or some moss off.  If your so lazy ie, meaning me.  To not just pull that leaf or piece of moss off and have to slam the lure on the water, you pretty much get what you deserve.   Again worth mentioning it twice.  Don't slam that RK Crawler.  Never.

Personally I'm going to load the gun with an RK Crawler in Phantom Green and put a V38 wiggle wart in the other chamber.  I miss with both of those, I'm headed Deep.

Good Luck

 

What will be fun will be to compare the new Berkley Wild Thing with both of the above. I have not yet ordered some, but it will be interesting to see if the big corporate can imitate accidental random and polished accidental random.

 

[abkeenan]

2 hours ago, Bill Babler said:

Really nice points made here by all.  I am kind of one of those guys that won't hang with a crankbait long unless I'm getting some attention.  I have never just exchanged colors, sizes and brands throughout the day.  I may change a color once, or a brand or a wobble style but that pretty much puts me on something else if they don't start on it fast.

I have of course being from Lake of Ozarks  been in love with the wart.  Fished it from the start.  Now I fish the Phantom Green, Phantom Brown or Spring Craw R. Crawler more.  Only time I throw the wart, is if they are "Dead Shallow"  Someone mentioned it and he hit it on the head.  The wart just works shallow I'm talking under 5'.  At times fishing the R. Crawler, it is sticky fished super shallow.  It will however work deeper.  Mike McClelland says 12' on light line.  I have seen guys fish a wart on 6 pound line to get it deeper.  Scott Pauley and Kelley Power.

I have never had to tune a R. Crawler.  I have had to tune every Wart I have ever fished. No where near as bad as a Redfin, but can be mentioned in the same sentence for having to tune.  I have several that just won't run.  I have never had the hooks catch each other on a Rock Crawler.  I have the hooks catch each other all the time on the Wart.

Tim may remember one of our old Guide Buddy's Ron Vaughn.  He guided here in the early 90's  He did not care if the wart was even near the bottom.  He would set in 40' and crank it back all the way.  Caught a ton of SM when no one else was cranking that wart, pretty much like we do now, swimming a grub.

Rock Crawler is not going to leak.  Just not.  When Spro first came on board with the McStick's the complaint was the bait leaked.  No body even mentions it now, same with the Crawler. 

As Champ mentioned, be careful with it.  I know that is a strange statement for a crankbait, but you throw it on the rocks or hit a tree and I'm going to pretty much assure you, you  won't like what you get back. Kind of funny however, cause you can get it replaced.  Send it back, they send you a new one.

I think in 30 yrs. I have broken maybe a dozen warts.  Every time it has been my fault. Biggest reason they break is slamming them on the water to get a leaf or some moss off.  If your so lazy ie, meaning me.  To not just pull that leaf or piece of moss off and have to slam the lure on the water, you pretty much get what you deserve.   Again worth mentioning it twice.  Don't slam that RK Crawler.  Never.

Personally I'm going to load the gun with an RK Crawler in Phantom Green and put a V38 wiggle wart in the other chamber.  I miss with both of those, I'm headed Deep.

Good Luck

 

Bill, funny you mention the "deep cranking" wiggle wart pattern. Like I've said in the past my family has been fishing Table Rock basically since it was dammed up. My family has been fishing Wiggle Warts pretty much since that time. My grandfather and uncle threw wiggle warts at all times of the year and at times all depth ranges. I've seen them catch them off the corner of docks in 15 feet of water and out over submerged tree tops in 40 feet of water. People think you have to be bumping bottom for the wart to work but I've seen otherwise. Not saying that is the best use for a wart or crank and I myself would recommend grinding bottom to get bit. But, like I said I've seen fish caught on them which where nowhere near bottom nor shallow on the good ol' warts.

[Champ188]

Think how many fish have been caught over the years by trolling crank baits in 100 feet or more of water. Yes, grinding the bottom is the percentage play and it's pretty much the only way I fish a crank bait these days. But it's not the only way a fish ever bites one. It's just that there are probably better options for swimming a lure these days than in the old days, i.e. swim baits, the modern curly tail grub, suspending jerk baits, underspins, etc.

[eyedabassman]

Thanks for all the info on my question. And Bill that was some real good info for me to chew on. I was going to buy one or two crawlers and some of the new color warts like the green/blue craw.But now I am thinking 3 to 5 Crawlers will do me better now I just need to rob a bank to get them!!  Just kidding.