Wiggle Wart Or Spro Rock Crawler?

[Longball22]

RPS, 

I found the Wild Thing at Academy Friday night, and tried it a bit this weekend.  After about 20 minutes of trying to tune it (Yes, I can tune a Wart and a RKCrawler if needed), I took it off and retired it.  You have to work it REALLY slow to get it down, and it seems to bottom out at 6 feet or so on 10lb fluoro.  I'm not impressed at all.

I only tried one, so hopefully I purchased a bad one, because I really like the colors, and it throws a mile.

[Longball22]

Additionally, the Academy South of Springfield started stocking RKCrawlers, and they are $8.99 there.  Best price I've seen on them, and they probably had 40 of them on Friday.

[bluebasser86]

38 minutes ago, Longball22 said:

RPS, 

I found the Wild Thing at Academy Friday night, and tried it a bit this weekend.  After about 20 minutes of trying to tune it (Yes, I can tune a Wart and a RKCrawler if needed), I took it off and retired it.  You have to work it REALLY slow to get it down, and it seems to bottom out at 6 feet or so on 10lb fluoro.  I'm not impressed at all.

I only tried one, so hopefully I purchased a bad one, because I really like the colors, and it throws a mile.

Must have been a bad one because I've had very good luck with the Wild Thing. However, It is not anything like a wart or RC as it has a much harder thump, louder rattle, and doesn't dive as deep. Haven't had to tune one at all, but it's not the wart replacement it was touted as being. I agree that 6' seems to be about it's max depth, maybe 8 on a long cast but I doubt it. The Vintage Craw color has been a good one for me. 

[BearFisher10]

30 minutes ago, Longball22 said:

RPS, 

I found the Wild Thing at Academy Friday night, and tried it a bit this weekend.  After about 20 minutes of trying to tune it (Yes, I can tune a Wart and a RKCrawler if needed), I took it off and retired it.  You have to work it REALLY slow to get it down, and it seems to bottom out at 6 feet or so on 10lb fluoro.  I'm not impressed at all.

I only tried one, so hopefully I purchased a bad one, because I really like the colors, and it throws a mile.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought something was funky with those cranks. I tried one about two weeks ago with 10 lb. Sunline FC for about 5 minutes. I had about the same depth as you and action as well. It spins out too easily in my opinion. I was giving it about a medium retrieve. I don't like to give bad reviews but these seem like a waste of money. If anyone has had success with them already, I'd love to hear about it. 

[Longball22]

I agree.  I want to say this would be a good square bill substitute, but there was no way I could burn it at all without it rolling over on me.  

[abkeenan]

That's disappointing about the Wild Thing. Any time David Fritt's has his design input incorporated into anything cranking related I will at least listen. Was going to pick up a couple but guess I won't now.

[edyer]

On February 8, 2016 at 4:20 PM, 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, when I first came down to Table Rock in 1980, I was told that the V 38 Green Craw and V 37 Brown Craw were the two bait colors/patterns to buy for Table Rock. Makes some sense to me, that when you are fishing the clearer waters from point 9 to the dam, that the Phantom Colors would be most effective. Fishing in  more off-colored water like the Kings or the James River, do you stick with those colors, or do you throw a V 37 Brown Craw, V 209 Red Nat Craw, or even a V 45 Spring Craw or V 74 Fire Tiger? Michigan waters are usually very clear, similar to Table Rock, and I have used a lot of the techniques I have learned from from the great Table Rock fisherman here, for some great days on the water in Michigan. The Rock Crawler seems to be similar to the Mag Wart as far as length and depth go, but I rarely hear anyone using them here. I did see Brandon Palaniuk throwing it some on a Bull Shoals Elite tournament. I've had some success with the Mag AV 74 when the wind was blowing hard, but the fish were hanging out a little deeper on the point. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge. 

[eyedabassman]

2 hours ago, edyer said:

Bill, when I first came down to Table Rock in 1980, I was told that the V 38 Green Craw and V 37 Brown Craw were the two bait colors/patterns to buy for Table Rock. Makes some sense to me, that when you are fishing the clearer waters from point 9 to the dam, that the Phantom Colors would be most effective. Fishing in  more off-colored water like the Kings or the James River, do you stick with those colors, or do you throw a V 37 Brown Craw, V 209 Red Nat Craw, or even a V 45 Spring Craw or V 74 Fire Tiger? Michigan waters are usually very clear, similar to Table Rock, and I have used a lot of the techniques I have learned from from the great Table Rock fisherman here, for some great days on the water in Michigan. The Rock Crawler seems to be similar to the Mag Wart as far as length and depth go, but I rarely hear anyone using them here. I did see Brandon Palaniuk throwing it some on a Bull Shoals Elite tournament. I've had some success with the Mag AV 74 when the wind was blowing hard, but the fish were hanging out a little deeper on the point. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge. 

Is the color Coppernose a new wart color? I was thinking of picking up the Coppernose up and the green/blue Wart?

[Nitroman]

Yes, according to the BPS catalog it ( COPPERNOSE ) is " NEW & EXCLUSIVE " to BPS.

[eyedabassman]

11 minutes ago, Nitroman said:

Yes, according to the BPS catalog it ( COPPERNOSE ) is " NEW & EXCLUSIVE " to BPS.

I thought it may be Exclusive>That is why I looked at alot of on line site's and could not find the Coppernose!!!! I would think it may be a good color on the Rock?