Simple and Effective Trailer – Berkley PowerBait Shape 108 craw

Total Score: 8.08 - GREAT

Introduction: With countless jig trailer options on the market ranging from hyper-realistic designs to simple, throwback profiles reminiscent of the old pork trailers - Berkley’s Shape 108 stands out by combining the brand’s popular PowerBait scent with a streamlined, surprisingly versatile design that pairs well with a wide range of jigs.

The Berkley PowerBait Shape 108 Craw is one of the company's many craw options and is a cross between a worm body and a craw style trailer

Impressions: Whenever I’m fishing a jig, I always add a trailer—mainly for two reasons: to enhance the overall profile of the bait and to introduce a secondary action. Sometimes I want a little extra buoyancy, so I’ll opt for a plastic that floats. Other times, especially when I’m working a jig more aggressively along the bottom, I’ll go with a trailer that flaps and kicks to complement that movement.

A look at the underbelly. The Shape 108 has a few appendages and is not the most detailed style craw, leaning more into a generic profile design

Another reason to use a trailer is to add a splash of secondary color. While fish don’t see color exactly the way we do, matching the hatch is usually a smart move. Even if all you’ve got is a black or green jig, you can still dial it in by pairing it with a green or orange trailer, depending on what the local forage looks like.

The Shape 108 comes 10 per pack (3" model), the larger sizes come with 8 and 6 per pack

Then there’s scent. Whether you believe scent makes all the difference or think it’s mostly hype, there’s no denying the number of trailers out there that come infused with it. Personally, it’s something I personally pay attention to.

Berkley offers a lot of craw style plastics including the more realistic looking Crick Craw which seems better suited for Texas Rigs

Berkley checks all those boxes with their lineup of trailers, and they’ve got plenty. Their Power Chunks bring back that old-school pork look, while their craw-style offerings include staples like the Chigger Craw and Crash Craw, the ultra-detailed Crick and Clatter Craws, and more subtle profiles like the Crud Craw and Shape 108.

Notice the highly realistic claws on the Berkley PowerBait Crick Craw versus the more generic flapping style pincers found on the Shape 108

Real World Tests: I’ve been fishing the Shape 108 for a few seasons now, but I really started dialing in on its effectiveness when I began comparing Berkley’s MaxScent and PowerBait trailers. Those tests are still ongoing, but in the meantime, I’ve logged plenty of time, and success, with the Shape 108. It’s only available in the PowerBait formulation, unlike some of Berkley’s other craw-style baits, like the Chigger Craw, which comes in both PowerBait and MaxScent versions.

The Shape 108 seems tailor made to be paired with jigheads and skirted jigs. It paired beautifully with Bass Union jigs

To really get a feel for how the Shape 108 performs, I fished it on two primary jig styles: Bass Union football jigs for bottom contact, and Evergreen Jackhammers for bladed presentations. My go-to setup for both is 12lb fluorocarbon, though I’ll bump up to 15lb in stained water or when fishing snaggy areas, especially in parts of the California Delta.
Operation: The Berkley PowerBait Shape 108 Craw is available in three sizes - 3”, 3.5”, and 4”. That range makes it easy to dial in the right profile to match your jig. I’ve paired them with everything from 1/8oz to 1oz jigs and found the fit to be seamless. Most of the time, I reach for the 3” version when fishing jigs up to 1/2oz - it just hits that sweet spot in terms of size and creates a realistic, well-balanced profile.

Fishing ledges and bouncing bottom with the Shape 108

Unlike many craw-style trailers, the Shape 108 doesn’t have a bulky or overbuilt look. It’s got the key features, flapping claws and small side legs, but none of it feels exaggerated or overly detailed. This trailer is all about simplicity and movement, and the way those claws and legs respond to even subtle rod movements looks incredibly convincing in the water.

The Shape 108 increased strikes for me when paired with just about any jigs. I like how the seemingly subtle design of this bait creates a recognizable profile and a natural action that draws

In my experience, the Shape 108 is a very effective trailer. I consistently get more bites when using it versus running a jig without a trailer. And when I compare it to other trailers, the strike rate is on par - sometimes even better, especially in dirty water, where the bait seems to get picked up more often. That leads me to the PowerBait formula itself.

The smaller 3" size is a great option for micro jigs and even ned style jigheads when more finesse is required