The 3.5” iCraw: Built to Imitate Nature

Few meals tempt a bass more than a crawfish scuttling across the bottom, and that’s exactly what I had in mind when I started fishing the 3.5” iCraw. With lifelike claw action and a compact profile, it has become one of my favorite baits for both largemouth and smallmouth. No matter the season, the iCraw finds a way to get bites when bass are keyed in on craws.

Color choice is always the first step in dialing in the bite. Karpers Kritter is my go-to when I need a natural look in clear water, a dead ringer for the real thing. Green Pumpkin Special is that all-around option I can throw almost anywhere, but it really shines around mid-depth cover. Smallie Craw has become a weapon of choice on rocky rivers and lakes where bronzebacks roam, while Candy Apple, bright and flashy, comes alive in stained or muddy water when visibility is low. And then there’s Fall Craw, a must when bass are feeding heavily on crawfish late in the season. With these colors, I feel ready for just about any condition the water throws at me.

The iCraw is built for versatility, and the rigs prove it. I’ll Texas rig it when I’m flipping into heavy cover, letting it slide through brush and weeds with ease. The Ned rig gives me a finesse option, subtle and deadly when bass are pressured or hesitant. As a jig trailer, it’s hard to beat—the claw movement brings a jig to life in a way bass can’t ignore.

As with any bait, how you fish it matters as much as how you rig it. My favorite is the slow crawl, dragging the iCraw along the bottom with just enough twitch to mimic the movements of a real crawfish. When the bass are aggressive, I switch to a hop-and-pause retrieve, lifting and dropping the bait to get reaction bites. Flipping and pitching into cover has put countless largemouth in my hands, while a simple drag on a Ned rig often fools smallmouth in clear, rocky water.

The iCraw has proven itself across both species. Largemouth crush it in shallow to mid-depth cover, especially around laydowns and grass. Smallmouth, on the other hand, can’t resist it in rivers, ledges, and rocky lakes where crawfish are part of their daily menu. No matter where I throw it, the bait’s lifelike claws and realistic movement seal the deal.

At the end of the day, the iCraw isn’t just another soft plastic—it’s a tool that adapts to my fishing style and the conditions at hand. From heavy cover to finesse situations, it’s earned a permanent spot in my tackle box. When I need a bait that can mimic a crawfish with confidence, the 3.5” iCraw is the one I reach for.