A Better Tail, the
Strike Pro Flex Crawfish

Date: |
3/07/10 |
Tackle type: |
Lure |
Manufacturer: |
StrikePro |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 6.83 -
FAIR
Introduction:
Strike Pro is one of those
companies that seems to offer every kind of lure imaginable and even has a few
lures that can’t be defined by one category alone, the Flex Crawfish is one such
a lure. Making use of the company’s “bike chain” design this new hardbait is
designed to be the most realistic crawfish hardbait on the market.
Strike
Pro Flex
Crawfish
Specifications |
Type |
Bottom bait |
Class |
Sinking |
Material |
Plastic |
Colors/Patterns |
7 |
Weight |
2oz. |
Size |
4" |
Hook |
Owner |
MSRP |
$19.99 |

The Strike Pro Flex Crawfish is a
highly realistic looking crawfish hard bait
Impressions:
We first saw the
Strike Pro “bike chain” joint design on the company’s Flex Phantom swimbaits.
This double reinforced design makes it possible create a tail with many segments
allowing for a unique side to side wave motion when retrieved. The Flex Crawfish
makes use of the same basic design but in a slightly different implementation.
The joints are placed perpendicular to the body so that when the crawfish is
retrieved the lure’s tail is designed to tuck underneath the body and straighten
out when at rest, much like a real retreating crawfish. A rattle is also added
to the lure to mimic the sound of a crawfish moving underwater.

There are plenty of
colors/patterns to choose from
The Flex Crawfish comes
with rubber claws which can be adjusted in different angles as well as realistic
looking monofilament whiskers. The body and head of this lure look just as
realistic as the tail section and Strike Pro offers the Flex Crawfish in a
number of lifelike patterns. Finally, the lure comes armed with a single Owner
hook complete with a weedless wire.

Each lure comes in a blister pack
The Flex Crawfish is not a
small lure and is larger than traditional jigs, the bait is nearly 4 inches in
length and weighs 2oz. It is designed to be a fast sinking lure that can be
worked on the bottom like a jig. Strike Pro advises anglers to adjust the claws
upwards on each bat so that it will fall properly and looks like a crawfish in a
defensive position when fished. The claws are held in place with a screw bracket
which doesn’t need to be loosened to adjust the claws, simply pull outwards and
the rubber will stretch and become thinner making it easy to rotate the claws.

The Flex Craw's tail settles into
whatever angle the lure sits on
Before heading out to fish
the crawfish we inspected each of the different patterns and found the quality
control on the baits to be excellent. There were not inconsistencies, and while
the lure does not look or feel like a custom made bait it does have a little
“swimbait” sort of appeal. I have to admit I had a lot of fun just posing these
critters for pictures before getting them in front of actual fish. Once we got
the shots we needed it was time to see what this realistic looking bait could do
in the water.

The lure is armed with an Owner
hook complete with a weedless wire
Real World Tests:
To test the Flex Crawfish we head to a number of Northern California Lakes as
well as the California Delta. We hit lakes where we knew there were plenty of
resident crawfish and others where we had never previously observed any of
crawfish at all.

Ok I admit it, I had a little to
much fun posing the Flex Crawfish for pics
Casting:
The Flex Crawfish is a relatively heavy bait at 2oz. and I quickly found it is
best fished with a stout football jig rod or flipping stick. With these heavier
sticks it is easy to both cast and pitch the lure much like I would normally do
with a heavy jig or Texas rigged plastic. Once the lure hits the water it sinks
relatively quickly and it is easy to feel positive contact with structure.

The rubber claws are held in place
with a clamp...