Flat Sided Crankbaits

[Bassfisherman94]

What are some of the best flat sided crankbaits that won't break the bank?

Thanks!

[scaleface]

I like the Bomber Flat A.

[tkite16]

IMA shaker is an awesome bait as well

[Sam]

Anything you can find in the stores.

Give 'em a try.

Also remember the Rat-L-Trap type baits.

[hercdoc]

Bandit Flat Maxx. Runs true out of the box and won't empty you wallet.

[Megastink]

Carolina Custom Crankbaits. Google it; very affordable for a hand made balsa bait. They were just mentioned in either FLW or BASSMASTER magazine.

[hercdoc]

Carolina Custom Crankbaits. Google it; very affordable for a hand made balsa bait. They were just mentioned in either FLW or BASSMASTER magazine.

So....whats the price for these? I Googled it...went to their website...went to their Ebay site and there are none for sale. Would you know how much they cost each?

[WRB]

Diving crankbaits that consistantly straight with even wiggles are poor bass catchers. It's the crank bait that runs straight, but with quirks out of rhythm ossasionally that triggers strike. This is why it's pure luck to find one.

Tom

[Megastink]

So....whats the price for these? I Googled it...went to their website...went to their Ebay site and there are none for sale. Would you know how much they cost each?

$9.99 a bait. VERY affordable for a hand made balsa crank.

Try emailing the seller on eBay OR email the company.

[hercdoc]

Diving crankbaits that consistantly straight with even wiggles are poor bass catchers. It's the crank bait that runs straight, but with quirks out of rhythm ossasionally that triggers strike. This is why it's pure luck to find one.

Tom

I understand what you're sayin about a crankbait that hunts but that's only if you reel at one speed in a straight line. When I work a crankbait I'm constantly varying my reel speed, and rod tip angle. Crankbaits are more effective when you're no just chunkin' and windin'.

[senko_77]

The most affordable, decent flat sided crankbait that I've found is a Bandit Flat Maxx, but my favorite flat sided crank is the Spro Little John shallow and medium runners and I consider it to be pretty affordable, but it is higher than the Bandit.

Also, definitely take into account what WRB said on specific actions that make certain crankbaits more effective than others that are the same make and model. When you find a crankbait that seems to catch more fish than any other in its same diving class, then you have a bait that WRB is talking about. It can happen with a .99 crank or a $30 Megabass, but I've found a higher number of "great" crankbaits in the better quality baits, like the Spro.

Good luck, my friend.

[hercdoc]

The most affordable, decent flat sided crankbait that I've found is a Bandit Flat Maxx, but my favorite flat sided crank is the Spro Little John shallow and medium runners and I consider it to be pretty affordable, but it is higher than the Bandit.

Also, definitely take into account what WRB said on specific actions that make certain crankbaits more effective than others that are the same make and model. When you find a crankbait that seems to catch more fish than any other in its same diving class, then you have a bait that WRB is talking about. It can happen with a .99 crank or a $30 Megabass, but I've found a higher number of "great" crankbaits in the better quality baits, like the Spro.

Good luck, my friend.

Ryan...Just wonderin if you are sponsored by SPRO. Most "huntin" crankbaits are made of wood (balsa, cedar, bass wood). I have fished the SPRO Little John series and they just dont "hunt" like a good, wooden crankbait. Most plastic crankbait manufactures have tried to get a crankbait to "hunt" like a wooden bait but it just doesnt happen.

[senko_77]

Ryan...Just wonderin if you are sponsored by SPRO. Most "huntin" crankbaits are made of wood (balsa, cedar, bass wood). I have fished the SPRO Little John series and they just dont "hunt" like a good, wooden crankbait. Most plastic crankbait manufactures have tried to get a crankbait to "hunt" like a wooden bait but it just doesnt happen.

I was actually sponsored by them up until 2 years ago. I got way too busy with school and guiding, so because I stopped tournament fishing, I felt it wasn't fair for me to be getting product when I wasn't holding my end of the bargain. I only have sponsorships with companies I have fished exclusively before our partnership began and now, I have zero affiliation with Spro but I am in love with each and every one of their products.

Everyone has their own beliefs, most of the time based on personal experiences out on the water but sometimes from what they have read in articles, online posts, etc. I for one have found just as many plastic crankbaits that "hunt" as I have wooden cranks. I think the term "hunt" is really misunderstood. Most anglers think it is a specific action that a bait must possess to be classified as a "hunting" bait. I think it's any crank that has some unique trait to it outside of the basic, side to side wobble during the retrieve while still maintaining the direction you have tuned it to go.

Did that reply make sense? Haha. For some reason I had a little trouble getting my thoughts down in a way that sounded right

[WRB]

I understand what you're sayin about a crankbait that hunts but that's only if you reel at one speed in a straight line. When I work a crankbait I'm constantly varying my reel speed, and rod tip angle. Crankbaits are more effective when you're no just chunkin' and windin'.

The original wiggle Wart became a top bass catching lure when the molds began to wear out and the Warts became more eratic in their movements. Today Rapala bought the Warts, retooled them and they no longer catch bass nearly as well, regardless who fishes them.

Everyone works their crankbaits, but crankbaits are not equal and every pro has their pet crankbait for good reason, it out fishes the others of the same brand and color.

I agree with the Bandit Maxx recommendation, excellent lures at a reasonable price.

Tom

[BobP]

Hunting is "something different" but it doesn't include just anything. Hunting crankbaits swim on the edge of instability but are not so unstable that they plane off to one side on a fast retrieve. They follow the general axis of the retrieve but occasionally flit off to either side for a few beats, then always return to the main retrieve axis. If they do it just to one side, that's not hunting - it just just bad tuning. Is hunting desirable? Yes, but it isn't necessarily the end-all of crankbait action. You can and should produce a similar effects by bouncing the crankbait off of every piece of cover it swims by. Nowadays, plastic bait manufacturers go to a lot of trouble to design and test crankbaits so they run reliably. Do they design hunting cranks? I'd say no, because to hunt, you have to build a crankbait on the edge of instability. Get it on the edge, it hunts. A tiny bit over the edge and it's uncontrollable and worthless. If you're manufacturing thousands of crankbaits, you don't want a significant percentage of them to be worthless. That's just bad business so manufacturers design cranks within the stability envelope to maximize the yield of reliable crankbaits. That suggests that you will find more hunting crankbaits among those from hand built custom wood crankbait builders who don't use modern factory techniques. Re old Wiggle Warts, it's easier to find one that's impossible to tune than one that runs well and hunts.