Berkley has launched a variety of new craw-style baits in the last 8 months. There’s the pre-rigged Clatter Craw with rattles built into the claws, a bait with widespread claws called the Crud Craw, and finally, the Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Stank Bug. The latter is the one we’ll talk about today.
Berkeley PowerBait MaxScent Stank Bug: First Impressions
When I first unpacked the Stank Bug and got a whiff of it, I felt confident they named it well. Berkley used their PowerBait MaxScent formula to make this one pungent craw. I also noticed the bait is pretty soft, with a spongy feel to it. The claws are similar to those on the Zoom Ultra Vibe Speed Craw and some of the other baits that have a sharp cutout in the bend of the claw.
When trying to decide how I wanted to test this bait, I decided on punching it. I rigged the Stank Bug up on a 1-ounce weight with a 4/0 VMC Heavy Duty Flipping Hook. The recommendation on the pack said to go with a 3/0, but I always punch with a 4/0, so I went with that and the hook carried the bait well.
Flipping mats of gator grass on Lake Eufaula, I found that this bait went through the mats easily. Honestly, it went through a little better than I expected it to with the claws on it. Most baits with these types of claws catch and hang up on the grass. These don’t catch on the cover much, perhaps because the claws are a little thicker, but I’m not quite sure.
Regardless, the bait punched through the grass smoothly, and it wasn’t long before a flip resulted in a bass around 3 1/2 pounds of bass pulling on the other end. I wrangled the fish free from the mat and flipped it into the boat. That was the highlight of the day. I didn’t catch any more fish punching the Stank Bug, but I did go through several more of the baits.
Stank Bug Durability
The Achilles heel of this bait is its durability. I liked punching with this bait a lot; it slipped through the mats well and got bit, but I went through half a pack of Stank Bugs pretty quickly. In the regular process of flipping into the mats and pulling the bait back out, I’d have to replace my bait every 20 or 30 minutes.
This is worth noting if you’re thinking about buying the Stank Bug specifically for flipping. It catches them, but you’re going to want a few packs on hand.
The Action
I also put a Stank Bug on the back of a vibrating jig to try it as a trailer. I found the bait had a duller action than a lot of other craws. I found out Berkley intentionally designed the Stank Bug this way to offer a bait with a more moderate action for high-pressure situations.
It still kicks pretty hard on the back of a bladed jig, but it would definitely be a softer action on a swim jig or casting jig.
The PowerBait MaxScent Factor
As is the case with all MaxScent baits, this one smells pretty rough, in a good way. Berkley used their proprietary process of incorporating PowerBait MaxScent into the Stank Bug to give it all the funk it needs to live up to its name. In most cases, a fish holding on just one extra second is all it takes to get a better hookup.
There has been a lot of research done to prove the difference this scent makes when it comes to getting a fish to hold on longer.
Berkley Stank Bug: Final Thoughts
There are some things I like about the Stank Bug and some I don’t. I like how easy it slips into a mat when I’m punching, and I like that the hook pops out of the bait with ease on the hookset. The only problem is that the hook point pokes through and catches the cover pretty easily, too.
This is kind of a danged-if-you-do, danged-if-you-don’t situation, because the tougher the bait is, the harder it is to get your hook through on the hookset. But the softer it is, the more of the baits you go through.
There are 10 colors available, these baits come eight to a pack, and they’re listed for $8.99 per pack. At more than $1 per bait, I’d have a hard time recommending them for punching. But, if you’re looking for a craw with a more subtle action to use as a trailer, the Stank Bug has you covered, or if you want a craw that brings quite a smell with it, again, the Stank Bug is for you.
