Just about the time you thought nothing new could be done to a crawfish imitator that would be cutting-edge among plastic baits, Zoom comes along and builds a better mousetrap.
Zoom Products came from humble beginnings and has taken a leadership position in the very competitive world of plastic-bait manufacturing. Not only do they build one of the largest collections of fish-catching baits, but they arguably build some of the best. The success along the tournament trails is all the evidence you need.
One of their new ventures is the Super Speed Craw. Already a staple in tournament wins, it combines a compact profile and pinchers that are oversized and super-lively.
Cut is Critical
The Super Speed Craw comes in a package of 8. It has five segments and a tapered, pointed head section that's perfect for positioning the business end of a 4/0 hook.
The body is approximately 2 1/2 inches long and the pinchers add another inch. The pinchers are wide and beveled and have the patented Zoom cut that gives the Super Speed Craw an action that is unmatched in a bait of this size. There are also two sets of legs on the body.
We tested this bait under spring cold-front conditions. Air temperatures dropped from the mid-80s to the low 60s, and there was a brisk north wind. Water temps were in the low 70s.
We used a Setyr BNW184MH rod, an Abu Garcia Revo ST reel, 17-pound Berkley fluorocarbon line, a 1/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten T-Rig weight and a 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG off-set.
Downsizing from a large creature bait like a Brush Hog in these conditions has proven effective, and we decided to fish the heaviest cover we could find for our test. We were fishing blowdown hedge trees (Osage orange) and multi-floral rose bushes overhanging 2 to 4 feet of water.
The profile of the bait allowed it to punch easily through the cover and the 1/4-ounce weight allowed for a fairly rapid fall. Our color choice for the test was green-pumpkin and we dyed the tips of the craw pinchers in chartreuse Spike-It.
Going Down?
As suspected, the fish were holding tight in the cover, hugging the bottom, and most of the eight or so bass we caught hit the bait on the fall. They did not swim with it, but rather just held onto it and the line got heavy.
The fish we caught were in the 2- to 4-pound class and we did not have any missed hook-ups – meaning the bass held onto the bait on each bite.
Although we did not test the bait in matted vegetation, it is perfectly suited for that application as well. A heavier weight would definitely be in order when fishing mats.
It's hard to believe that Zoom continues to put out one effective bait after another, but they have again hit the mark with the Super Speed Craw.
Notable
> The retail price for a package of eight Super Speed Craws is $2.99. You can buy them at the BassFan Store by clicking here.