ESPN

Among bass fishermen, there's little argument over the merits of crawfish as a bass forage. They are protein-packed morsels, and the fish know it. In trying to duplicate these freshwater crustaceans, anglers have utilized any number of crawfish imitators with the most popular being the venerable jig-and-pig, the crankbait or a plastic craw. Of these, the plastic craw may be the most overlooked.

Whether fished Texas style or with a leadhead jig, the goal of any plastic crawfish presentation is to duplicate the bottom-scuttling motion of a crawfish and its claws-raised defensive posture. Lure manufacturers accord much of their design emphasis to creating arms and claws that will move readily and flare seductively as the bait is retrieved.

Just about every fisherman who's ever used one of these baits has rigged it precisely the same way: with the hook pointing away from the claws, not toward them. While this rigging is required in a jig-and-pig setup, it's not the only option when rigging Texas style or with a leadhead.

In the standard configuration (with the hook point facing away from the claws), the craw is pulled or hopped along the bottom. When the bait is moved, shaken or lifted, the claws do respond somewhat. However, in most cases, the direction of the line pull lifts the body of the lure; forcing the claws back down.

By rigging a craw with the hook point facing in the same direction as the claws, every lift of the rod tip brings the claws first down (then upright) in an active portrayal of the classic defensive mode. Although some might argue that the claws will be folded back under the lure as it's moved forward, the majority of crawfish presentations are relatively target-oriented. In most cases, the bulk of the retrieve is focused in a very confined area. Moreover, when the lure is falling through the water column, with the weight pulling the lure down from the claw end, the action of the craw — with its claws fluttering upraised — is greatly enhanced.

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