Our take on the DoLive Craw

The dual density does all the work: the salt-loaded body sinks while the unsalted claws stay light and paddle the water throughout the fall. As a result, the lure keeps moving even when it sits still on the bottom, which is rare on a soft craw. If you only buy one size, go for the 4 inch.

Salted body, unsalted claws: what you need to know

• Japanese soft craw by OSP, in three sizes: 3 inches (about 7.6 cm), 4 inches (about 10 cm) and 5 inches (about 12.7 cm)
• Dual density: salt-loaded body with added attractant, unsalted and therefore lighter claws
• Swing hands claws that catch water on the fall, then stand up in a defensive posture once the lure settles
• Four reversed legs and sensory tentacles that keep vibrating while the lure is at rest
• Slotted back for a clean Texas rig and a snagless presentation in cover
• Rigs: light and heavy Texas rig, jika rig, jig trailer, Carolina rig, offset jig head
• Black bass first, perch and trout on the 3 inch, sea bass from the shore
• Five colours available, including TW918 Natural French, a limited release for France

On the water, the fall gets the bite

OSP developed this soft craw in a clear test pool before validating it in real conditions, with one precise goal: every part of the body had to keep moving. The fall is the decisive moment, when the claws swing and the tentacles tremble. As it reaches the bottom, the body lands first and the claws drop slowly behind it, which extends the action by several seconds without you touching the rod.

Light Texas rig, jika rig and jig trailer

The slotted back takes a Texas hook without distorting the body, and the Texas rig remains the safe bet for working cover. Along cluttered banks, a 3.5 to 7 g weight is enough to keep contact while letting the claws work. Move up to a heavier setup as soon as you fish dense weed beds or deep sunken wood.

• Light Texas rig to cover banks, fallen trees and log jams
• Jika rig to lift the lure off the bottom and make it vibrate on the spot
• Jig trailer to add volume and vibration, for instance behind the OSP Zero One Jig
• Carolina rig over large flats, on a slow retrieve

Plan on wide gap Texas hooks: the body is thick and the hookset gains in sharpness.

From 3 to 5 inches: matching size to the spot

The 3 inch is the finesse size in the range. It goes everywhere, sits on a fine wire hook and suits light fishing for perch as well as trout in reservoirs. The 4 inch is the reference for black bass, big enough to be spotted from a distance and subtle enough for educated fish on high pressure waters. The 5 inch takes over when you want to select bigger fish or fish deep, where volume is needed to be detected.

On colours, Green Pumpkin Red and Ghost Shrimp cover clear water, while Ebimiso Black and Amezari take over in stained water. TW918 Natural French was developed for the French market and works well on our rivers. This craw complements the other lures for black bass in the catalogue, which play more on a baitfish profile. It also joins the OSP lure range we stock.