What does my Uncle Fred, a Blue Whale and a Largemouth Bass all have in common?

They’ll all knock you over for a good feed of crustaceans. In fact most living organisms on this planet bigger than the smallest brine shrimp will make a quick meal out of these poor, exploited anthropods. Call them what you want: crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, prawns or krill - we love to eat them as much as the next carnivorous creature. And it’s by no accident that they make up the greatest biomass on the planet. So as a fisherman, it would behoove you to mimic the preferred snack of your slippery quarry, no matter the species, to maximize your success.

I’ve stated for a number of years now, that if I was to be lost in the wilderness or stranded on a desert island, there is only one lure that I would need (if a rod, reel and lure were an option) to provide myself with sustenance. That lure is the Rebel Crawfish (sub 2 inch being my preference). I’m fully, completely and utterly convinced that this bait would catch fish anywhere in the world, be it fresh, salt or brackish water. An obvious prey imitator, the bait looks the part, but more importantly acts the part as its action reminds one of a crawdad scooting backwards in retreat. I haven’t encountered a game fish or pan fish yet that hasn’t been enticed by its tight rhythmic wobble, coupled with a set of perfectly tuned internal rattles screaming out I’m tasty! Colour choice runs the gamut from natural browns, reds, molts, chartreuses and mirror options also being available. I do prefer the brown colour set, but have had much luck with the green and yellow and copper offerings as well. My favorite technique with this lure is to throw a shallow running version tight to the bank or shoreline, letting it sit motionless for a five count, and then beginning a slow retrieve, pausing every six or seven feet for a moment or two (letting the bait slowly rise to the surface). Finally I add a couple of short, quick, burst-like jerks - I call it the stunned crayfish presentation – and vicious strikes soon follow. I throw this bait on a thin diameter super line (3-8 pound test), spooled onto a medium action reel and rod combo.

Topwater Bottom Line: This is a lure that needs to be in your tackle box. If you haven’t thrown one, you are missing out on a whole lot of fun, as fish tend to commit often and hard on this realistic looking bait – heck even I’ve been tempted to crack few open and tie on a bib now and then. I’ve caught my personal best Bluegill, Shellcracker and Yellow Perch on this lure, including a significant number of Small and Largemouth Bass. At 4.99 per unit, the Rebel Crawfish is a relative bargain when one takes into consideration its performance on the water, including the different types of fish it can catch, the number of fish it can put in the boat, and its ability to bag largest fish within any group. You should be keeping at least one of each colour in your box, as pound for pound, this is the tastiest looking lure going today. As always, please practice catch and release with this lure. You know something - It must really suck to be a crustacean, what with everyone always looking at you like you’re dipped in butter and garlic.

Topwater Rating:

5 out of 5 bobbers

Real Crawfish are eaten by people in Europe, China, Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United States and the Caribbean. The Rebel Crawfish is eaten by fish in the same places.