Okay, so after watching everyone fish this past weekend and seeing the different styles/methods/gear everyone uses, I have a question:

What size crawler do you use?

Personally, I rarely ever use more than half. And when I put it on the hook, I hook it at least 3 times, so that it is basically a small ball with a couple small ends sticking out. Looks appetizing to me! I guess I feel that if most fish grab the crawler they are pretty much going to have the hook in their mouth.

If I use a full crawler, IMO, rarely can I get the whole thing on the hook, thus there is always a large trailing chunk that fish can grab and rip off too easily. Some guys I talked to this weekend like the large trailing ends and felt they get more bites than with a half chunk. Maybe I’m missing something here and need more patience to let the fish run long enough to swallow the full crawler?

Obviously, what you are targeting plays a factor. Bigger fish (carp, cats, sturgeon) will take the whole with no issue, but with the smaller redhorse and suckers, it seems like more of an issue. So answer in terms of general river fishing.

For me it depends on the target fish and its method of feeding.



For rough fish like the following:

Bass ~ Whole crawler hooked midway once

Walleye ~ Half threaded with a tail



For Game fish like the following :

Catfish ~ Whole threaded with a tail

Shorthead redhorse, Golden Redhorse, Hog suckers, White sucker ~ A little less then half threaded

Greaters, Silvers, Rivers ~ Whole crawler hooked a few times with a tail

Bigmouth Buffalo ~ Tiny crawler about a 1/2 long

Drum ~ Anything lol



One thing I noticed is I get far less bites on the head end of the crawler then the tail end.
My dad doesnt even use the head ends anymore.

anyone else notice this? and if so any theorys

Rarely do I use more than 1/2 of a crawler. If I do (for bigger fish) it is balled up with both ends sticking out a little.

I don't use crawlers for trash fish like walleye and bass, as they will hit about anything

Jknuth I actually seem to have more luck with the head end of the crawler and always use that first only resorting to using the tail when the head is gone. Weird, if I were still in WI I'd offer you plenty of crawler tails for crawler heads.

But I'm in CO where people get angry if you are fishing with something other than a fly rod and they think you are a space alien if you fish for anything other than trout

I actually prefer heads, but only because I think they stay on the hook better.

I divide it up like this:
Bottom fishing: 1/2 to 1/3 crawler balled up on hook, ideally with no loose ends. I have had to many worm tails get bit off. Also, I feel that I don't get fewer bites with less worm. I figure that most of the suckers are feeding on benthic inverts by feel and taste. So even 2 inches of nightcrawler is like a steak to them.

Trolling or Casting:
Whole worm hooked twice through the collar.

But that being said, I am no expert...

I've had good catfish and bullhead luck using crawlers this way:

Whole or half crawler, hooked three times like and "S" with each end pointing in opposite directions away from the clump.

For trout, steelhead and most species of sucker, I prefer to use those nice plump 3" crawlers. I call them "trout worms". I thread them on through the collar, so the worm can squirm. To get some of their sweet scent into the water and attract suckers, I will pinch off the last half inch of the tail.

With large crawlers, I like to use thirds. My bro has more confidence in the heads, and I like the tails so it works out when we go fishing together. A reason I like to use tails is because the head section will live and heal up after a while but the tail will just rot in the bottom of your worm bin.

I always prefer to thread the crawler section on, not hook it into an "s" or ball it up(unless I'm using a gob of them). It has more visual attraction this way. Often I will keep on threading it until it is threaded up the line a ways then poke the hook through.

~andy

Interesting in the heads and tails.

OH and dont forget waxworms on bottom! Hogsuckers and smaller redhorse and quillback love the little things.
Tiny circle hook with a tiny waxworm on a sand flat or gravel run does the trick.

It depends on my target, and the water itself.

I like to thread the worm on, too, at least over the eye of the hook, especially in clearer water. Sometimes I'll double or triple hook it on the shank, then leave some tail trailing for a little action and visual appeal. But often, it's just threaded up through the collar, and the rest hangs free.

If I'm fishing in muddy water, I just gob it on there. More holes in the worm means more scent in the water, and the visual appeal isn't as important if the fish can't see.

If I'm targeting smaller fish, I'll use a half-crawler or less, and I don't really have a preference between head and tail. Probably because I haven't really thought about it that much... I'll start paying a little more attention.

Great info...thanks for sharing.

Wow, I never really thought about the head/tail that much. I might have to start fishing with guys that only use one half, so I can have the other!

I never think about wax worms in the summer, but I bet they might work well in those applications where you are sight-fishing and need to see your bait. Hummm...

I use a 1/3 to 1/2 for redhorse species, white suckers, carp, bullheads, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and panfish. I use both ends but always use the head end first. I like a little bit to hang off the hook and squirm.

Actually, in stained water I use the tail half preferentially (lighter in color and more visible) and in clear water the head. I always thread them on completely, usually sliding the threaded crawler up the line. I never ball them up on the hook unless I am targeting catfish or sturgeon and using a big hook with several crawlers.

Corey wrote:

QUOTE:
Actually, in stained water I use the tail half preferentially (lighter in color and more visible) and in clear water the head. I always thread them on completely, usually sliding the threaded crawler up the line. I never ball them up on the hook unless I am targeting catfish or sturgeon and using a big hook with several crawlers.

Corey I think this is unusual but...............I agree with you 100%

=)