Entry 335-1
Which Strike King Lures Are Hot and How to Fish Them with James Niggemeyer
Editor’s Note: Each year, Strike King comes out with a wide assortment of new lures. But where do these lures come from, what are they designed to do, how can you catch bass with those lures in a way other people aren’t using them, and what’s the best way to fish them? To get in-depth information on how to catch bass on some of Strike King’s newest and hottest 2010 lures, we talked with Strike King Pro James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas, who’s coming off one of his best years ever on the BASS Elite circuit, after qualifying twice for the 2010 Bassmaster Classic to be held on Lay Lake near Birmingham, Alabama, on February 19-21.
Part 1: Bet on the Baby Rage Craw
Question: What new Strike King lure do you like the best, why, and how do you fish it?
Niggemeyer: Without question, it’s the new Strike King Baby Rage Craw. The full-sized Rage Craw Strike King released last year has proven to be one of the most-effective lures I’ve fished. But with the Baby Rage Craw, I can use different lures, techniques and styles of fishing to catch bass that may find the full-sized Rage Craw too big. I really like the Baby Rage Craw as a trailer for the Tour Grade Football Jig. I can trim-down the skirt on the full Football Jig to give it a smaller profile and match that smaller profile with a smaller trailer with all the action of the Rage Craw, but that delivers that action in a more-compact way.
For instance, if I’m fishing in really-clear water for spotted bass, I know bigger trailers don’t tend to produce as many strikes as smaller trailers will. So, I now can downsize to the Baby Rage Craw and get the same action and look as I have with a Rage Craw in a smaller profile that will be more appealing to the spotted bass. When I’m fishing really-cold water, I often will want a smaller profile and a smaller trailer bait.
Another place I’ll be using the Baby Rage Craw is on the back of Strike King’s new Tour Grade Swimming Jigs. I like the Baby Rage Craw in either the pearl or the green colors, depending on which Tour Grade Swimming Jig I’m fishing. Again, I have a small-profile trailer I can use for a specific tactic and improve my odds for catching bass. Let’s be honest. 
Not every lake we fish homes really-big bass. On some lakes, a 4-pound bass is a monster, with the average-size bass weighing 1-3/4- to maybe 2 pounds. On those types of lakes, the standard 4-inch Rage Craw may be a little too big for those smaller-sized bass.
So, the Baby Rage Craw will be the lure I fish under those circumstances and conditions. I expect the Baby Rage Craw to be one of the new Strike King lures I use the most in many-different fishing situations, not only on the BASS Elite Series tournaments, but any other tournaments I fish.
