Taking a stab at imitating a craw

[StacyR]

I like to tie my own jigs for crappie and steelhead. Awhile back I traded some materials for some custom heads. These heads have a flat bottom and swooped front and I figured they would make a great back half of a crawdad jig.

I caught some nice smallmouth on my last trip to Strike, and every year in spring I see huge largemouth come in shallow. So I finally took a stab at tying up some crawdad imitations. Think the bass will like them?


[signature]

[cpierce]

They sure look good to me. Thanks for sharing.

Is that back smooth section lead? I couldn't see the hook eye, is it underneath?

I would also try some in brown or rust color.

The bass are going to love those bounced over the rocks.
[signature]

[StacyR]

The hook eye is on the top at the front. It's just hard to see in these pics because of the dark paint. I also paint them myself. The smooth part is the lead. The guy that makes them sells them here:

http://www.leadfreejigheads.com/gpage9.html
[signature]

[idahopanfish]

Those look real good!
[signature]

[hulapopper]

look great maybe some olive and brown accents would be great as well
[signature]

[flygoddess]

Cool hooks! As for the pattern, that is what I use. Try a Burnt Orange too.
[signature]

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF][cool]Lemme know if you would like to try some of those. Would be happy to send you a few "wobble jig" heads to experiment on. Smallest size is 1/16 oz...but you can cut off the barbed part and that drops the weight a bit. (see pic) That dish-shaped head does wobble on the retrieve...and flutters on the fall. It also glides up over rocks better than round heads.

I make most of my small jigs on 1/16 oz. heads and size 4 hooks. PM me if you would like some.

Here's a pic of some of the "Wob-Bous" I use. Get all species of Utah fish on them...even trout. Silly fish.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]

[hooknhunter]

They look awesome to me!
[signature]

[fish-o-holic]

Those look real nice. When i am on a boat i normally use crawdad crankbaits. But i always have a jig on stanby if the need arises and it always does. I would love to have some craw jigs.

If you ever want to trade some materials for your jigs. I would love to have some craw looking jigs. I can trade some Pheasant and pigeon feathers sometime. If things go well in a couple of weeks i might have some trukey feathers.
[signature]

[Tazasorus]

I had a number of guys steelhead fishing at Ellis that were bottom fishing with those rubber crawdads. I don't see why those good looking flies wouldn't work for those too!
[signature]

[gstott]

Those look like some smallie killers to me.
[signature]

[StacyR]

I wouldn't really call these flies since the heads are 1/4 ounce but they do come in smaller sizes.

I have a little 2.5 gallon aquarium I use to test how stuff looks underwater, and I was really impressed with the action. The zonker strip claws are slightly buoyant so they lift and spread out when it's at rest, just like a real craw that has spotted a predator.

I wanted to get out Monday to test them on some fish, but that wind was just too much. Later in the week hopefully.
[signature]

[Portbum]

First timer!!! I have been trying some crawdad patterns myself by watching U tube videos and taking what I like and attempting to apply them!! This is what I came up with!!
[signature]

[curt69]

They look great , if you want to sell some i would love to buy a few . Curt G.
[signature]

[curt69]

Oh yea , welcome aboard . I just noticed it was your first post . Curt G.
[signature]

[Portbum]

Thanks!!!! I'm only a dozen in and am finally getting quicker and getting them shorter than a lighter!!! What would they go for???
[signature]