Evan Gregor: Red craw is red hot during spring bite

For a very long time, I rejected the notion that red crawfish-imitating lures would ever have a chance of catching fish.

After all, of all the times I had caught crawfish by hand or by trap, never did I see one that sported a similar hue to that of a lobster, which is what a lot of red craw baits looked like to me. There was one thing that I never considered, though: I had never caught crawfish outside of the warm summer months, let alone in the springtime. As it turns out, that is why I never saw red crawfish.

In the springtime, crawfish go through a process called molting, where they shed their old exoskeleton for a new one. As a precursor to this, their exoskeletons shift from the brown/green hue that is normal during the spring and fall to a bright red/orange one. For pre-spawn bass, a nice crawfish is a great source of protein, and during the spring, they are keyed in on bright red to find their favorite protein source.

With these things in mind, it is no wonder why so many people insist on throwing red craw imitations in the spring. Whether it be a crankbait, bladed jig, spinnerbait or plastic, red craw gets bit. As far as fishing a craw imitation, it pays to think like a crawfish. Crawfish tend to relate to bottom cover, specifically rock and wood. Areas like these should be the focus of your efforts.

Depending on the style of bait you are fishing, you will want to change the method in which you fish it. Since pre-spawn bass tend to be aggressive, banging crankbaits off rock is a favorite presentation. If you like to fish a jig, dragging and hopping off the bottom is a big bass ticket. Moving baits like bladed jigs and spinnerbaits work well fished slowly with intermittent pauses and jerks.

While red craw is not the only colorway that can have success during the spring, it is an ideal bait color if you like to match what fish are feeding on at a given time. It is to this end that the red craw color has exploded in popularity on both the professional and amateur circuits. If you are looking for an edge in the early goings of spring, choose red craw.

Fishing licenses: In Illinois, 2021 fishing licenses expired at midnight April 1. In order to fish legally in public waterways, you will need to purchase a 2022 license, which is good through March 31, 2023. Licenses can be purchased online at takemefishing.org, or at select retailers and fishing stores. Licenses are required for those older than 16.