Pool Test: Which creature bait looks best underwater?

Рет қаралды 322,319

Күн бұрын

Creature baits and craws are almost as popular among bass and even redfish anglers as trolling motors, but not every one is created equal. Slick packaging and pro-angler endorsements don't mean a lure will attract more bites than its competitors.
So Marsh Man Masson went to his neighborhood pool to put some of the most popular creature baits and craws to the test. He videoed each underwater, and surveyed the footage to give the lures scores based on three factors.
Some lures looked better than he expected, while others were profoundly disappointing. The test was eye-opening, and will definitely influence what Marsh Man rigs up during his bass and redfish trips.
Like the video? Be sure to give it a thumbs-up, and please subscribe to Marsh Man Masson on KZfaq. Also, leave a comment below. Are you a fan of the pool videos? If so, what types of lures would you like to see tested next?
Get your favorites here:
Zoom Z-Craw Jr.: amzn.to/2WSEq2a
Zoom Speed Craw: amzn.to/2WS3JkV
Zoom Brush Hog: amzn.to/2D4siDM
Zoom Baby Brush Hog: amzn.to/2D4nmij
Zoom Z-Hog: amzn.to/2U3AWs2
Sweet Beaver: amzn.to/2KdAhVf
Strike King Rage Tail Menace: amzn.to/2UL8a3X
Facebook: Marsh Man Masson
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Twitter: @tmassonFISH

Пікірлер: 434

@bradenwebb3675 2 жыл бұрын

The beauty of baits like the Sweet Beaver and the Z Hog is how subtle they are. Fantastic for clear water or cold water finicky fish. They get bit so well yet the didn't get a good rating... Not everything revolves around how much kick or thump a lure has.

@takayama1638 5 жыл бұрын

Hey, cast over by that ladder! I saw a big one!

@charlespinson6693 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you Brother, this was fabulous! Thank you for taking the time to create this post.

@jakechapman1770 5 жыл бұрын

First time watching you. I really liked your video. You had a lot of really good energy, well some, and very clean edits. Also no BS which is pretty rare with today's KZfaq. Thanks man, I appreciate it.

@colepontzeroutdoors6526 5 жыл бұрын

Great video, definitely love seeing how they act underwater. Hope to see more

@timb8970 5 жыл бұрын

great video, keep coming back to it. very useful.

@truesouthernadventures7740 6 жыл бұрын

Great info loved watching it and took some good notes! Keep up the great videos!

@michael2one 10 ай бұрын

These underwater videos are the best

@perrycorbett6846 5 жыл бұрын

Great video, love seeing what the baits are actually doing underwater🤙🤙

@mikemason4792 5 жыл бұрын

Excellent review. I subbed. I'll be watch all your videos.

@richardhenderson8870 5 жыл бұрын

Very informative and helpful. Speaks well for the video. I agree about store bought tomatoes. Worth while watching.

@larrymlynch9608 5 жыл бұрын

Nice video and techniques to observe lure action underwater. Good work! I subbed!

@Grogers70426 5 жыл бұрын

I love using the baby brush hog during the spawn. Nice to see a fellow Louisiana angler. I live on the Northshore and generally fish farm ponds or abandoned gravel pits

@matthewrome1947 5 жыл бұрын

hey i’m from louisiana too

@humblelifeoutdoors4299 5 жыл бұрын

Can’t thank you enough bro 🙌🏽 Epic video 🎣💪🏽🙌🏽✊🏽

@ggwildlife 5 жыл бұрын

excellent test loving the pool tests.

@54climbing 3 жыл бұрын

Great job on the video with the creature baits. Always look forward to your pool videos that really give a good look at how the baits really retrieve. Ive come across a few from the video that I thought were good but alas they were not as good as I thought. Keep up the good work. I know it takes away from your fishing so thanks again for your time and effort.

@morosso1968 4 жыл бұрын

big help for a newbie like me. you got it covered nice and clear, thank you!

@ethandaniel1978 4 жыл бұрын

morosso it’s a good vid but the z hog and sweet beaver are punching baits and they shouldn’t have action so definitely don’t pay attention to his opinion on those cause he’s wrong. Check out tactical bassins vids they know everything

@gilbertrobles1374 5 жыл бұрын

Really enjoying the pool videos. It's a great idea. Surprised no one has thought of it by now.👍 you're on to something.😁

@RockyTopSplash 5 жыл бұрын

There is literally about 200 under water pool videos ….

@FishingPleasures 5 жыл бұрын

I'm a big creature/body bait guy when it comes to flipping and pitching in and around docks or other structures. One of my favorites is the KVD Rodent. I'll typically fish it weightless, but once in awhile on a jig. I'm going to pick up some of those Zoom Speed Craws though, great action from the looks of this video.

@Lear356045 5 жыл бұрын

Love ur vid!! gives me now a better knowing the action the Reaction beaver does!! not impress and I was using it a lot. The Rage menace I started using them during the 2018 summer and I LOVE IT. Seeing your video I know why!!! thanks for your greta work.

@FishyAngler 5 жыл бұрын

Zoom Z-Craw one of my favorites.

@MarshManMasson 5 жыл бұрын

Gotta agree with you.

@stephenholland132 5 жыл бұрын

Just started using this in the UK for perch and pike. Great video footage, gives me a good idea of which baits to avoid. Been using mainly crazy flappers and they certainly bring out the bigger perch. Not yet had a pike, maybe a larger bait is needed. Thanks for a very insightful video. Tight lines.

@phdyoutubedegree1939 5 жыл бұрын

Nice. I want to try my baits. Gathering up my baits and headin to the tub.

@drumandball 5 жыл бұрын

Great video! Just shared it with a friend of mine.

@crashbomber 4 жыл бұрын

Gotta check out the Berkley Pit Boss. CRAZY paddling action, and they hold up pretty well too.

@fishingfanatic1100 Жыл бұрын

Yes, i LOOOVE the pit boss!

@gregoryjones6143 5 жыл бұрын

this was a good piece! great job!

@frankmanuele9787 5 жыл бұрын

Watching the action of a lure underwater is extremely important. Your vid. supports that big time! What a lure 'looks like' to a fish is nonsense because almost no artificial lures are perfect duplicates of anything that lives, so the different actions you demonstrated and which stand out catching bass, can't be stressed enough. Thanks for supporting the concept acknowledging significant design differences which more angler should pay attention to. But one thing I differ: just because a lure moves a certain way doesn't limit its uses or is even one fish wouldn't strike. Only bass can tell us that. IE The Beaver when used as a trailer for a jig or spoon works great; T-rigged, it has it's moments. More action doesn't mean better. Senkosam

@smashinthatbass 5 жыл бұрын

Nice video man I've caught a lot of bass off the Strike King rage Menace green pumpkin and watermelon that's a great bait keep up the good work 👍👍👍👊👊👊

@Shurmash 4 жыл бұрын

That's the twin tail grub correct?

@Robjmar7 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Learned a lot. You saved me a lot of time trying to pick baits. Thank you so much. Going with the Zoom Baby Brush Hog creature bait, and the Zoom Z-Craw, Zoom Speed Craw, and Strike King Rage Tail Menace crawfish baits.

@TheCoonass1988 6 жыл бұрын

Baby brush hog has always been one of my favorites....now I see why!

@MarshManMasson 6 жыл бұрын

You and me both. It's a great bait!

@czrider3999 5 жыл бұрын

Speed Craw is also really durable. I fish them weightless over and through the grass and trash in Bayou Lacombe. Green with the orange claws. Nice video 3M.

@koroba01 5 жыл бұрын

CZRider ...my grandfather (Ralph Bird) used to fly fish in Bayou Lacombe back in the 50’s and 60’s. I’m from Slidell (now in Boise, ID).

@HBeretta 5 жыл бұрын

great video dude! i'm with you on the sweet beaver, felt the same way when i used which is why i switched to berkley's pit boss. that z-craw looked good...gonna try it now.

@bassintheburgh 5 жыл бұрын

Blue Rage menace on a black and blue jig just slays for me!!! Ive used them as swim jig trailers also. Love it

@codyjohnson4116 5 жыл бұрын

This past summer I caught 8 smallmouth bass on one Texas rigged menece grub, I believe they hold up pretty well

@anthonylawson7073 5 жыл бұрын

Best way to rig any strike king creature bait is screwlock hooks last a lot longer.Loved the video

@funkymojo111 3 жыл бұрын

New sub! Thanks for the vid. Agreed with your observations.

@catfishcolt8149 5 жыл бұрын

Great video, I enjoyed it a lot

@bowhunter63sm 5 жыл бұрын

Love the Z craw

@SpookyRedz 2 жыл бұрын

Love the pool videos , appreciate it too

@bobkulick127 5 жыл бұрын

Great Vid!!! More more more!!!!

@onthemoney7260 3 жыл бұрын

Lol I was rigging my speed craws with the "head" first rather than tail first. I really thought it would be tail first based on action but didn't want to reinvent the wheel. Learned something today. Thank you

@Osprey1955 5 жыл бұрын

Useful video.👍

@0017Bulldog 5 жыл бұрын

First time viewer and now a sub! Good job man!!

@MarshManMasson 5 жыл бұрын

Welcome to the team! Thanks for watching

@rodneyjohnston6280 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you thank you thank you you are the Very 1st angler that made a video That I like and I really understand

@IowaLayoutman 3 жыл бұрын

Almost closed the tab when this started off with a botany/tomato opening....Good work and please keep the content coming......hold off on the tomato updates.

@jonboll2066 5 жыл бұрын

Good video.. more pool videos!!

@heathmartin3706 6 жыл бұрын

Great video, Marsh Man. I have enjoyed both pool fishing videos, keep up the great work. Not too supersized with the results. I have fished most of the lures tested and my personal experience reflect your results. I hate to say this (wink-wink) but the super speed craw is even better. Now I'm on my way to pickup a few bags of Z-craws (color, top secret). Tight lines!

@MarshManMasson 6 жыл бұрын

The Z-craw was probably the biggest revelation. I haven't fished it all that much, but definitely will in the future. Thanks for the feedback!

@Imbatmanmf 5 жыл бұрын

You earned yourself a lifetime subscriber in the first minute

@anyanjr 5 жыл бұрын

Very glad I found this video. Have been using the two worst ones predominantly and that will change!!!

@bottomlinebassin2001 3 жыл бұрын

I tell ya Mason the Z Craw is one of my favorites, jig trailer or flipping I just always catch fish with it. Good work brother!

@mikegrieshaber169 5 жыл бұрын

Great pool video!

@rogerrosendale3369 6 жыл бұрын

Love the pool videos. You can break the little front legs on the brushhogs and get more action.

@petecampa 5 жыл бұрын

I even split/cut the tails in half for more action...

@controlavirus9839 5 жыл бұрын

Roger Rosendale exactly. Thought that was pretty much a mandatory thing (though not talked about) that everyone did

@dannywelch9492 5 жыл бұрын

@@controlavirus9839 yup yup. can snip or split the D section to make great action or even snip and melt to make it do all kinds of crazy things. I also like to half and use the end on jigs over rocks

@Dss-bm3rz 5 жыл бұрын

I've always wanted to do this but id probably get kicked out of my neighborhood if I tried fishing in the clubhouse pool. Great video, now to do some online shopping

@paulsteffes7205 5 жыл бұрын

Great underwater details....

@DavidEButler 6 жыл бұрын

Great video! Thanks! Would have loved to see a summary ranking of totals of each lure at the end.

@MarshManMasson 6 жыл бұрын

Good point. Probably should have included that. Here's the final standings: Speed Craw - 27, Z-Craw - 25, Baby Brush Hog - 25, Rage Menace - 22, Matrix Craw - 21, Brush Hog - 20, Sweet Beaver - 11, Z-Hog - 9.

@DavidEButler 6 жыл бұрын

You ROCK!

@LowBudgetBassin 5 жыл бұрын

New friend here! Love the content Man👍

@timg2088 4 жыл бұрын

I went out and bought some baby brush hogs as after seeing this! Fantastic video, and being from Louisiana is just a bonus!

@cnault2 5 жыл бұрын

Good video - thanks for putting in the time for us. I spent 18 years stationed at Barksdale AFB. Loved every minute of fishin the cypress lakes in the Sportsmans Paradise. One suggestion to you and the other folks who have done pool tests on soft plastics - please let the bait rest for 2-3 seconds in between a couple of the hops. Your slo-mo is the closest I've seen so far to doing that. Most flippers/pitchers care what the baits do at rest - for me it's especially important in the Winter. Thanks again! Subscribing now...

@jeffreylunday928 5 жыл бұрын

What time frame were you there? I was stationed there '92-'96 @ 2nd SPS. Second to none.

@sorensictitan3538 5 жыл бұрын

Great Video!

@roxxerface 4 жыл бұрын

The Zoom Speed Craw is second to none! Hands down the best all around soft plastic bait there is.

@5krunningdad769 Жыл бұрын

awesome pool videos. baby brush hog is my favorite

@bradkretzschmar6772 5 жыл бұрын

The more subtle presentation baits shouldnt have gotten such low ratings, here in the Midwest in the early spring we dont want super high action baits like the speed craw or matrix craw or paca craw, things still need time to warm up so we like the slower, subtle, low action baits.

@justinshaw8594 2 жыл бұрын

Yes absolutely, the sweet beaver is a superb winter jig trailer.

@cjr4497 5 жыл бұрын

it took me a long time to warm up to beaver style baits due to their lack of action. i love them now and are a go to bait for me. i caught my PB, 9 even, on a d-bomb. i catch more on them than regular craws now.

@Shurmash 4 жыл бұрын

So even with a lack of action it catches fish?

@toxic1698 3 жыл бұрын

@@Shurmash thinking about it most people fish them in heavy cover so they probably have a lot more action when there bouncing off of sticks and stuff.

@SergioGomez-by2hm 5 жыл бұрын

great video!

@MaximilianTheBassFisherman 6 жыл бұрын

I was surprised that the sweet beaver didn’t place higher but there’s also a time and place to fish it which is more flipping into brush or pads and not really hopping back to the boat

@jamestobin2529 3 жыл бұрын

Those big tails hardly move and it's designed to do that. Sometimes they want something slower.

@kyleashbaugh8914 5 жыл бұрын

Check out Netbait Paca Craw. I love the claw action on them, especially as a jig trailer.

@johncoleman7308 4 жыл бұрын

It’s literally the same as the matrix craw he used in this video. Same mold.

@frankiesiwinski1494 4 жыл бұрын

great vid by the way

@NormanBesJack17 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome video brother! You should definitely check out Keitech's Crazy Flapper creature bait!! Best action by far!!

@bamadondon0495 5 жыл бұрын

Need an angle of the lures falling as they hit the water an falling to see the fall action but over all nice vid.

@ddempsey83 5 жыл бұрын

Great video... try power team lures "mauler". Amazing action.

@fishingwcp 5 жыл бұрын

Great video

@BassAckwards2020 5 жыл бұрын

How can I get some of those mater seeds up here in Oregon boss? Great video!

@rayadouno7811 4 жыл бұрын

Best video on lures I have come across so far (I am new but been watching at least 100 videos so far) I like it, I can clearly see the motion and because of this video, I am shuffling my lures which i just got yesterday. So I can return some and get better choices too. Thanks for the hard work on your video! Only thing i will suggest is, do a demo of the technique on the rod, I guess this ir oriented for experienced people, but that would have been the complete package for a newby like me. Thanks again! Much Apprecciated! A question that came to my mind was, is it possible that those lures that didn't show much action or any at all, a different technique should be implemented for presentation?

@707SonomaComa 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. It's nice to see what the baits actually do underwater. I would definitely be using a bobber stopper to keep the weight next to the hook.

@MarshManMasson 5 жыл бұрын

I don't peg the weight for two reasons: 1) The fish is less likely to spit the lure if it doesn't feel an unnatural amount of weight, and 2) Throwing the hook during the fight is much less likely when the weight is free-floating.

@jrloutdoors6685 5 жыл бұрын

The sweet beaver is one of my favorite bed baits

@BeyondTheBoundsOutdoors 5 жыл бұрын

Speed craw looks amazing underwater

@bignick47331 3 жыл бұрын

Love the rage tail menace works great on a drop shot

@jornelindberg5127 5 жыл бұрын

Man I been using the rage stuff but them zooms looked dang good

@nickmenard6477 5 жыл бұрын

im from lafayette. great vid i mainly use the normal brushog watermelon seed and junebug are my go to colors

@dtc4201 5 жыл бұрын

I fish june bug hog out at lake martin

@brmicklos 4 жыл бұрын

I fish mostly Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin and I always have a Reaction Innovation Sweet Beaver tied on. I have just had too much success with it regardless of the body of water, season, or weather. In warmer months I do switch to a Kinky Beaver or Strike King Rage Bug to have something with more action. Sweet beaver can pick up some extra bass that were to wary to hit the more active baits on the first pass through an area. Texas Rig creatures, jigs, drop shot, & ned rig ... I keep tied on year round.

@joeytaylor8767 4 жыл бұрын

I watch you from Australia. I think you do the best job with home made underwater videos. Have you tested ned rigs?

@jornelindberg5127 5 жыл бұрын

Wish u woulda added the rage tail craw I been using them for trailers and seem to work really well

@emccloud70 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. Do you recommend any particular attractant to use with these lures??

@MarshManMasson 5 жыл бұрын

I like imbedded attractants, but in my view, spray-on attractants wash off after two or three casts.

@cfbwarzone 5 жыл бұрын

Id like to see some googan baits in there, maybe with some rage craws or other rage baits. Great video though, really nice!

@pain_weaver 4 жыл бұрын

Googan is trash

@pha7le 4 жыл бұрын

Love the havoc pit boss

@boomn216 5 жыл бұрын

Actually have caught some Walleye on the Rage one. I like that one the best as well.

@rolandosunavaldez2452 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks very good lesson how to use this baits l hope to catch a good base this wekend using this technic

@perrymatherne2021 5 жыл бұрын

One creature bait i love pitching is yum's bad mamma, you should try it todd, i believe you'll be impressed

@Shurmash 4 жыл бұрын

Rigging the Strike King Rage Menace with the tail vertical is crucial. Moves so much water.

@fishhubbd 3 жыл бұрын

Good one indeed!!!

@chasinthewind8649 5 жыл бұрын

Cool video. Although I am a lil confused are you testing these baits for just regular Texas rig fishing are flipping are pitching I live in Florida an when I’m flipping it’s pretty heavy cover an I always have a bobber stop are the weight pegged even on a regular Texas rig I either run the screw in weight are a bobber stop unless I’m Carolina rig fishing. The baits with no action are designed specifically for flipping heavy cover.

@robt.1097 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video! Just curious if that's the 3.5" or 4.25" z craw?

@MarshManMasson 5 жыл бұрын

I shot the video a few months ago, so I'm not entirely positive, but I think it's the Jr.

@MarshHog 5 жыл бұрын

Great video. Is that a standard size Z Craw or is that the Jr?

@MarshManMasson 5 жыл бұрын

To be honest, I don't remember, but I'm almost certain it's the junior. I fish that one far more often than the standard size.

@noahway13 4 жыл бұрын

Can you test a loose fitting type knot and a regular knot and see if it affects lure action?

@alequarichardson9378 5 жыл бұрын

The sweat beaver is one of my fav only because of the distance I can skip it to get waaay back into large docks or into a large and thick overhang with a few inches of clearance