I recently started playing around with the Crushcity Cleanup Craw and I have to say I’m impressed. You see, the soft plastic craw was the first bottom bouncing bait I learned on. It drew me in the way an action figure draws in a kid. My first bass on a soft plastic was a pre-spawner on a Texas rigged Sweet Beaver. From there I became enamored by the wide selection of creature baits out there.
I loved their rigging styles like the Carolina Rig, the Texas rig, and sometimes even on a drop shot, creeping them around in grass, waiting for that thump followed by a hookset. So, when I heard Rapala had worked with top Pro Angler Jacob Wheeler on the Crush City soft plastic baits, I couldn’t resist trying out the CleanUp Craw as part of their slow-moving lineup. And what better time to shoot around up shallow with a soft plastic than spring!
CrushCity CleanUp: Features
The body design is streamlined. So much so that you could punch with this thing. It has tiny leg appendages on the side that don’t hinder a fast entry into cover. It features two large pincers and two small antennas in the front. Unlike traditional craw lures, the pincers don’t put out a tone of action, making it more lifelike. Don’t get be wrong, a hulking-sized bait with wild action has it’s place, like the rage craw with its flapping pincers. But having a smaller, compact bait with less action targets pressured fish. This thing looks great on the fall. The compact size makes it bite size as it slips through cover.
Durability & Verstility
The material is made strong. I can Texas rig it with a heavy flipping hook and fish it around docks and grass. Even after I bring in a fish, I can continue fishing it. Rapala uses an interesting scent on the Cleanup Craw. It’s similar to other scents but also appears to stay on longer after soaking. As a trailer, the Cleanup Craw is a killer. I like flipping a jig and targeting larger bass and with the subtle action of the Cleanup Craw, you can entice those hesitant big girls this spring. Plus, it looks great on the back of all my flipping jigs. The design is ambiguous; it doesn’t aim to draw massive attention. The action doesn’t beg for hungry fish. Rather, it draws the fish in who have seen the loudmouths already.
