Review of the Crocodile spinner: characteristics and manufacturers. Spinner Mister Cro Crocodile

What does a crocodile look like?

A crocodile-type spinner has a convex-convex configuration; in water flows, even without additional actions, it rotates around its axis and constantly oscillates.

On one side of the bait there is a ring for tying the fishing line, on the other there is a single, double or triple hook. In non-hook models, springy stops hang over the tips of the hooks from under the metal body, which prevent obstacles from stopping the bait.

Surface treatment is realized by painting, polishing and electroplating. The bait is available in three main world standard colors: S (silver-white), G (golden-yellow), C (copper-red).

The most favorite among our fishermen are: the Mister Cro crocodile spinner, the Flumen crocodile hook-free lure (20 g), the Williams Wabler, Atom and Bergaman oscillating lures.

Form

A distinctive feature of crocodile oscillators is their shape, determined by stamping with a given deflection. Special proportions of length and width allow you to get the desired action of the bait. To create crocodile vibrators, standard configurations are used that roughly resemble a spoon. In addition, there are baits in the shape of atom, cobra, pro, spoon, prokhorovka, tobik, blackback, and Ural.

The most interesting property - the nature of the movements - is equipped with the bait due to its longitudinal bending:

A simple arc causes it to actively oscillate with its rear end, somewhat reminiscent of a sick fish. Such spoons are unstable during the current, they go into a tailspin and rotate.
The "S" shaped model moves more realistically, twisting along its entire length. Stable both in the current and during active tracking along the bottom.
In addition to the two main ones, there are options in the form of a snake and a caterpillar. This is an improved configuration derived from the first two.

Size

The size of the oscillating bait is characterized simultaneously by the ratio of length-width, metal thickness, and stamping depth. It's all inseparably connected. There is a direct influence of one quantity on another.

The thicker the finished product, the higher the weight. This means that the bait's action becomes slow and lazy. At the same time, it is easier to throw the spoon over a long distance and ensure its descent to deeper places. For manufacturing, sheet metal with a thickness of 0.8–3 mm is used.

The width of the bait affects the ease of play. The frontal surface responds to the flow of water and takes on a rotational movement. The larger the width, the faster the rotation speed. But this must be taken into account for different currents. Weak water flows require an increased width of the spoon. Strong waves are better received by narrow models.

The length of the product directly affects fluctuations. The larger it is, the lazier the bait. It practically doesn’t go into a tailspin, but most anglers prefer to use medium-sized spoons.

Lures weighing from 5 to 35 g are available in factory production. Spoons with the same weight can be of different sizes. This is due to the material of manufacture. The most common spinner for pike fishing, Krokodil, weighs 18 g and its length is 70 mm. With the same weight, a crocodile differs from a Mister Cro or a Spinnex shaker. Everything is connected with the technology of creating alloys and stamping.

Coloring, embossing

A workpiece cut from a sheet of metal with a stamped shape is carefully polished to form a smooth surface. It can be decorated with carved elements imitating scales to give the bait a more realistic look.

After polishing, the Mister Cro spinner (crocodile) is qualitatively coated with ultra-modern paints and varnishes using technology that prevents peeling of the coating even after very long use.

Spoons Crocodile

The Crocodile spinner is well known to many seasoned spinning anglers.
This famous spinner is in the arsenal of, perhaps, every fisherman who began to master predator fishing from the time when the main baits were spinners, and one could only dream of the modern variety of wobblers and “rubbers”. Today, despite the emergence of a huge number of diverse baits, the spinner called “Crocodile” has not lost its relevance. It continues to show stable results on our rivers and lakes, catching predators in any weather, regardless of many factors influencing the fish bite.

Features of the spinner

Nowadays, the Crocodile spinner is no longer just one model from a specific manufacturer. This is a type of bait that differs from all others in body shape, game, purpose and other performance characteristics that determine its uniqueness among other artificial baits.

The Crocodile spinner has an original shape. It is quite wide in the middle, but narrows sharply towards the ends. Somewhat reminiscent of a rugby ball or American football. The profile is slightly curved inward. The body is embossed in the form of fish scales.

There are holes along the edges of the bait. At the bottom, a treble hook is attached through a winding ring; there is a double or a single hook. The top one also has a winding ring for fixing it to the main line. There are options when the spinner is additionally equipped with a swivel to minimize the twisting of the cord when inserting it.

The crocodile comes in a non-hooking version for fishing in toad fields

note

Depending on the manufacturer, the Crocodile spinner can be produced in different sizes and weights. Today it is not difficult to find a model for shallow water or a spoon specifically designed for fishing in deep holes and riverbed areas.

Review of the Meps Aglia Long spinner

Many believe that this spoon is a classic bait for hunting toothy beasts. They are partly right; the Crocodile spinner for pike has proven itself on the positive side, especially in the following conditions:

Oxbow lakes, backwaters and other branches from the main channel, where the flow slows down or is absent;
Returns, whirlpools, incisions into the coastal zone;
Slopes, slopes and edges with a decrease in depth, where the strength of the current decreases, and the pike has a place to hide;
Lakes, ponds, canals, quarries, swamps with little aquatic vegetation.

The Krokodil spinner is very productive in the summer if it is applied in the middle horizon along the coastal strip of algae. The spoon also works effectively over large areas with creeping bottom vegetation.

In addition to pike, the Crocodile spinner can be used on northern rivers when hunting salmon representatives of the ichthyofauna. It is used for casting when fishing for lenok and taimen. Some anglers use this bait when trolling deep lakes and reservoirs.

Heavy models designed for deep areas can be used for walleye fishing. They are not suitable for snags and other strong places, but they are quite catchy on riffles and dumps with a clean bottom, where they confidently compete with classic jig baits.

Important! You need to be prepared for the fact that when fishing holes, a giant river catfish may land on a hook.

Small Crocodile models can be used for catching perch. The spoon cuts off the small striped robber well, attracting the attention of a seasoned, weighty humpback whale. The best period for fishing this predator is the end of summer, the first half of autumn, and the beginning of spring.

Manufacturers

The Crocodile spinner was developed back in the 40s and 50s of the last century. Then it was produced by the Swedish company ABU. Later, the bait gained such popularity that many fishing companies began to copy it. Some people brazenly made clones of the original, others tried to add their own twist to the vibrator, giving it unique properties.

Today, the Crocodile spinnerbait on the shelves of domestic fishing stores is represented by several manufacturers:

Luhr Jensen;
Mr Cro;
Oscillator Peter;
Bete.

There are also various Chinese “no names”, but they are not worthy of serious attention, since they are made of low-quality materials, have low repeatability, inexpressive performance indicators and questionable catchability.

The Finnish Luhr Jensen Crocodile spoon has been produced for about 30 years and is widely known among our fishermen. This very balanced spinner has the following advantages:

Capable of operating at any wiring speed;
Flies far and accurately even in windy weather;
Catches any predator;
Suitable for spinning, vertical trolling and trolling.

Luhr Jensen quality is visible to the naked eye

Luhr Jensen's Crocodile comes in sizes ranging from 1/6 to 7 ounces. This is the most versatile size range on the market. The number of colors is also decent. The assortment includes different colors to suit all fishing conditions.

Mister Cro

The manufacturer Mister Cro also offers a very good bait that can catch fish in different situations. The spoon is made in the best traditions and has a classic shape. It is embossed on both sides with the image of a crocodile's profile.

Classic Crocodile from Mister Cro

The spinner from Mister Cro has a wide range of models, starting with a light bait weighing 8.0 grams, ending with a weighty spinner weighing 33.0 grams. By length it is divided into subseries 45, 60 and 70 mm. Equipped with a sharp tee and reliable winding rings.

Kolebalka Peter

This manufacturer's version of the Crocodile comes under the name "Laguna". The shape is almost identical to the spoon discussed above; it tries to imitate the classic version of the spoon. Equipped with hooks from Mustad and fittings of good quality.

Advice! The Crocodile spinners from Mister Cro and the Peter Spinner qualitatively complement each other.

Crocodile equipped with single hooks

The bait is endowed with good ballistic data. It has an interesting sweeping game with a pronounced vertical component. Due to this, its main purpose is fishing in lakes, other enclosed bodies of water and areas with slow flows for pike and large perch.

What kind of fish under what conditions is caught with a crocodile?

The crocodile-type spinner has proven itself well in all reservoirs of the country. With the correct choice of weight and size, a very high-quality constant bite is observed even during the dead winter period.

The Mister Cro spoon is designed for catching all types of predatory fish and even salmon, but such baits are most suitable for hunting pike.

There are no restrictions when choosing a fishing area. You need to choose several sizes and colors, get to your destination and start tasting the “taste” of the fish that day. Experienced fishermen claim that the bait that catches pike well today may not always be of interest to it tomorrow. Therefore, after some attempts, we make the right choice and wait for our prey.

Spinner baits for pike are suitable for both shallow and deep waters. They are convenient to use in stagnant bodies of water and on stormy rivers. In thicket areas, non-hooking spinners have proven themselves to be excellent.

During the quietest time for fishermen (mid and late January), the Mister Cro crocodile spinner with additional decorations can arouse the interest of even the most apathetic predator. However, don’t get too carried away with the glitter. It can even scare away fish. Some fishermen darken the spoon with soot from the fire.

Spinner spoon "Crocodile" for pike

The wholesale price is indicated without discounts for Crocodile 60mm (18g) with galvanic coating.

Description of the spinner spoon "Crocodile"

A spinner with a shifted center of gravity and a complex profile geometry; when retrieved slowly, it does not simply roll from side to side, but makes a series of movements that are barely perceptible to the eye in the vertical plane.

The spinner seems to be constantly “nodding” and trying to go deeper and to the side at the same time. When retrieving the spinner, you get the impression that at the other end of the fishing line there is a live fish, caught on the hook and trying with all its might to break free.

How to make a crocodile spinner with your own hands

The process of making a crocodile with your own hands consists of mechanical stamping, drilling, polishing and, if necessary, painting in the desired color.

Materials used

To create spinners with your own hands, you need to acquire a metal plate made of copper or brass with a thickness of 2-3 mm. To simplify working with such unruly material, it can be annealed. Copper must be heated until red and then immediately immersed in water to cool. It is better to cool brass in the open air.

The bends are created using an oak or beech matrix with pre-cut shapes and steel strikers with a diameter of 2-3 cm. On one side of the striker, the ends should be rounded, on the other - faceted.

Manufacturing process

A metal blank is placed into the recess of the matrix with strikers and a hammer is used to give it its final configuration. The chamfers are processed with a file or needle file. Then polish with felt or GOI paste.

To attach the hook and ring, small holes are drilled. The surface is degreased, covered with solder, paint or varnish. If there are no metallic shades, use yellow, gray or red.

After the coating has completely dried, all the necessary elements are attached to the body of the spoon.

How to choose the best crocodile lure color for pike

time of year; time of day; features of the reservoir (bottom type, water transparency, presence of vegetation, flow speed, etc.) The color of the spoon should match the activity of the pike.

In spring and early autumn, when this predator is most hungry, the spinner should be as bright as possible. In hot summers and after the first frost, it is better to use baits of discreet natural colors: white and yellow without additional patterns.

Some spinners call the Crocodile a specialized bait for trolling, others consider it a salmon bait designed for fishing in stormy rivers, while others are delighted with it as the most effective lure for pike.

Some fell in love with it so much that they forgot about the noisy wobblers and edible silicone that are fashionable today. They confidently declare that for spinning fishing for perch, pike and pike perch, they have not yet come up with anything better than this spoon.

Practice shows that there is a great deal of truth in their words.

Finally, I would like to once again mention falsification. Counterfeits of Krokodile Luhr Jensen spinners are quite rare on sale.

Most of them are made in Asia, sometimes with the same name and even similar shapes, but they still look plain compared to the original. As a rule, barely noticeable inclusions, jagged edges and other irregularities indicate counterfeit.

But it costs mere pennies, and they say it even catches something. Does it make sense to buy such baits? Experienced spinning players know for sure that no.

One high-quality spinner brings more benefits than a hundred cheap Chinese products.

How to catch a crocodile correctly

Crocodile fishing is similar to fishing with other types of bait, but there are a few tricks you can use to increase your chances of attracting the attention of predatory fish.

Wiring

The use of crocodile bait already allows you to catch fish without additional manipulations; fishing (catching) pike with a spinner will improve if you use wiring.

There are several most effective methods that will help you catch even the most finicky fish:

The bait is cast to the very bottom of the reservoir. Then the fisherman slowly begins to move it along the bottom, slightly tugging the line.
Vertical wiring is effective, for the implementation of which the spoon is lowered into the places where the fish are supposed to live. Gradually the line twists, lifting the catch to the surface.
Some fishermen actively use certain pauses with a further small jerk during any retrieve.
For active trolling, we make a long cast, which in itself will attract the attention of the pike. Using jerks mixed with small movements from side to side, we lift the bait up.

Fishing depth

When fishing with a spinning rod equipped with a crocodile spinner, there are no restrictions on the depth of hooking, but there may be some difficulties if the bottom of the reservoir is uneven and covered with large depressions. In such places you can fish from a boat, armed with a short rod.

Advantages of Crocodile by Luhr Jensen

The Finnish crocodile spinner for pike is available in a weight range from 1/6 to 7 ounces (an ounce is equal to 28 g). It flies beautifully, plays consistently regardless of the speed of the retrieve, and during pauses it perfectly imitates a sleeping fish. According to many anglers, it bears some resemblance to the reptile after which it was named. Namely, an elongated body and a smooth natural move with slight vibrations, which do not frighten the fry scurrying nearby at all. The bait seems to sneak up on its target, showing real crocodile cunning. And it all ends with a death grip and the capture of another predator.

Optimal balance is one of the main advantages of this vibrator. It works itself, and the fisherman only needs to reel in the fishing line, making stops if necessary. By the way, balanced proportions do not allow you to fake the spinner 100%. It plays attractively, provoking any predatory fish it encounters along the way to attack. By and large, when fishing with a Crocodile lure, you don’t need to experiment with wiring at all; you just need to take several products with different weights and sizes to the pond. In this regard, it looks like a clear leader against the background of other vibrations, and all 15 options work (from the lightest 4.6 g to the heavyweight weighing 196 g). Luhr Jensen specialists have developed an impressive range of colors for their brainchild, which also includes a holographic coating. And this is not a glitz, but a very necessary invention for fishing in low light conditions (in rainy and cloudy weather).

On our reservoirs, two primary colors performed best - yellow (non-enameled brass) and white (also without enamel, but only chrome).

In addition to the seductive coloring, the surface of the Finnish Crocodile spoons has notches under the scales, which adds to their resemblance to small fish, and therefore greater attractiveness.

Advantages of the crocodile over other lures

The properties and design of the oscillating bait (oscillating spoons) have been developed over the years by specialists and fishing enthusiasts. The body shape of the crocodile has been tested, it has justified its existence in all kinds of areas, at different times of the year and day, regardless of weather conditions and the type of fish.

Each model of these baits has a catch-catching configuration, and the use of non-corrosion metals ensures a long service life.

Luhr Jensen Krocodile spinner reviews

— In general, the Luhr Jensen Krocodile spinner is great, you can’t catch anything with it… 7, 10, 14 grams are great for catching trout on Lake Ontario, and 26 grams of silver and blue catch large salmon… A solid 5 for sure
— I have 5 of them or 6 pieces. Also those that are not with winding rings, but with welded rings. Excellent hardware, which can only be compared with Professor, and only because it is more diversely presented. But I didn’t come across any bad ones.

— I don’t have the original Luhr Jensen Krocodile, I have a copy from . The game is simply super, it wags its “tail” and plus it also moves in a zigzag, exactly like a live fish. It doesn’t go into a tailspin even in strong currents. Well, of course, he catches fish well too.

Crocodile spinner review: characteristics and manufacturers

With the advent of wobblers, the good old spinners did not become history, as many predicted. On the contrary, they have become even more in demand.

In our difficult times, few people can afford to catch predators in strong places with expensive baits and leave part of their arsenal on the bottom after dead hooks. Another thing is a relatively inexpensive oscillating spoon. For example, Crocodile. Instead of one fancy wobbler, you can buy five of these baits and fish for your pleasure in snags or grassy places. If suddenly one of them got very caught and still had to be torn off, it’s okay. Place another one and continue enjoying fishing. Of course, avoiding being thrown into a dangerous place.

Features of the spinner

The crocodile comes in a non-hooking version for fishing in toad fields