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Crawlin' the 'lil critter for Bass... The YUM Craw Papi.

Data for Review

Date – May, 2006
Manufacturer – YUM Baits
Reviewed by - Andrew Ragas

In early 2006, I purchased the YUM Craw Papi. Being an angler who buys many of the newest baits, I decided, "what the hell." What helped in makingthis purchase was the popularity in one of the Craw Papi's look-alikes, the NetBait Paca Craw. With the success anglers were having with the Paca Craw, I immediately knew I was going to be fishing with a winner.

Impressions:

I first saw the Craw Papi when I was at my local Dicks Sporting Goods for the first time over the winter of '06. The baits were on display in the very front aisle, in a "show-case" rack. My main intentions for buying a bait such as this was that I needed a bait that could be worked slowly and crawled along the bottom with my Quantum Energy caster and its low gear-ratio. Ever since I began to fish the Papi, it's been used for only that application - SLOW.

The Craw Papi looks like your usual craw imitating plastic. However, it is much different than the ordinary craw imitator. It has oversized claws, which have a waving action when used in a swimming retrieve. It is also loaded on salt, and the famous YUM LPT scent.

Out on the Water (Casting, Durability & Presentation)

Casting & Durability

The Craw Papi casts and pitches as well as any plastic bait made today. Although the main body is hollow, the bait has enough weight to allow for for easy casting either with or without the need of added weight. The majority of our presentations with this bait were made pitching into shallow water with timber and up to shoreline structure anywhere from 1 to 4ft of water.

The durability factor may be a slight issue. With most Texas-rigged plastics (I fished it this way), Bass will tear up one bait easily. However, its thick head allows you to have a pegged sinker attached, as well as having an embedded hook. Finally the main issue is with the oversized claws. If smaller fish such as Bluegills, or juvenile Bass begin to nip at the bait, the claws, or the individual bait, itself may not see much life in one piece, in the water.

Presentation

I fished the Papi with at least a 1/4oz Florida screw-in weight, which worked as a weedless texas-rig. The Craw Papi's claws twirl in the water on descent and anytime the bait is in motion, such as being crawled along the bottom. The action is so visible, it fishes in the same motion like a twin tail grub rather than a craw imitation. Not that it's a bad thing, cause the moving appendages give the bait a lively action, which is unseen from most other craw imitating baits.

The attraction of this bait is definitely built into a finesse/slow mode of retrieve rather than a power/active presentation. The Papi can be worked in many ways, and on many rigs. I found it to be best when worked on a texas rig, split-shot rig, and even as a trailer on a jig.

Special Features
 

Nothing much to report on with this department. It has oversized claws, which compared to other craw imitators, it gives the bait more action. Along with its claws are the YUM LPT scent. I believe this is one of the better fish scents that is out there. However, this evaluation of scent is my opinion, and nothing more.

YUM Craw Papi - (0/5)

Construction & Quality: Solidly molded into an awesome craw bait. While the body is durable, the claws are not. Despite the poor claw construction, this is one excellent bait. 5/5

Design (ergonomics): Created with detail and good forage-matching patterns. However, YUM could expand on the latter department. 4/5

Presentation: Bait can be worked slowly along the bottom when the bite dictates a slow presentation. It can also be worked as a jig trailer, as well as a free-swimming jig. 5/5

Price:  Nothing more to say, other than it's $3.99 for a pack of 10 baits. 5/5

Total Score - - - 4.5/5     


Positive and Negative Thoughts

Positive
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- strong body

- realistic available colors

- good action

- good slow-fishing bait

- juicy scent

Negative

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- weak claws

- could have more available colors