Mann's Baby 1- Crankbaits

[Zach P]

I've seen these work with great success on some of the tidal waters I fish in Maryland. Anyone have recommendations for rod and reel setup to throw these? They only weigh 1/4 oz which makes it kinda difficult to throw. A 5" senko and a 3/0 or 4/0 hook weigh more than this bait does. 

[MarkH024]

It's an awesome bait! The bluegill color gets crushed pretty good on my lake. That little guy was turned on to me from when I joined this site.  I throw those on my Dobyns 705cb glass with a Ci4 and 12# or 14# fluoro.  For me its more of a target cranker and not so much getting great distance. I'm still able to throw them a good distance.  I've also thrown them on a 7' Medium/Fast graphite rod with great success.

[smalljaw67]

I have a shallow cranking rod that I like to use but a decent medium power fast action rod works well for these. Any rod in the 6'6" to 7' range medium power fast or moderate if you aren't going to be in cover.  Right now I'm looking at getting a Fenwick Aetos 6'6" ML-M rated 1/4oz to 1/2oz for my river cranking rod, I normally use a 1 minus, a Storm Sub Wart, and a Mid 1 Minus and they all fall right in that range.

[Choporoz]

Do you guys get any size with these?  I've pretty much stopped throwing 2 inch cranks (other than lipless) due to hooking dinks exclusively.

[Munkin]

Do you guys get any size with these?  I've pretty much stopped throwing 2 inch cranks (other than lipless) due to hooking dinks exclusively.

 

 I have caught several 4-5lb bass that have swallowed the whole bait.

 

Allen

[Zach P]

Ok so from the comments it does seem like you can actually you baitcasting gear for this lure. I was honesty worried that a lot of guys were throwing it on spinning gear because of it's weight.

[MarkH024]

Ok so from the comments it does seem like you can actually you baitcasting gear for this lure. I was honesty worried that a lot of guys were throwing it on spinning gear because of it's weight.

I think that would depend on your casting skills and set up.  Might take you some practice but like anything  you'll get there eventually.   I hate throwing cranks on spinning gear but that is just me. I know the sub 1/4oz or wood Rapalas is almost a must on spinning but rarely do I throw anything that light.

[Logan S]

 

I'm guessing you are talking about the Potomac?  

 

It's not your typical crankbait fishing in that usually the goal is rip it out of or just over the shallowest grass.  You shouldn't have issues casting, it's about the size of a standard squarebill...It actually casts pretty well in my opinion.

 

I use the Powell Squarebill rod (6'9" heavy/fast), a 6.4:1 reel (not exact..just not a slow or fast one), and usually use 14 lb flouro.  With 10lb flouro you can get it down to about 1.5 to 2 feet if you try...Rod tip down and a long cast.  With 17 or 20 lb flouro you can keep it way up even on a long cast/fast retrieve.  I'll use these setups if I need it to do one of those things, but most of the time the 14 lb covers everything.

 

I also change the hooks since the ones that come on it are pretty wimpy when using a heavy rod, heavier line, and  there's more crap to get stuck in then in a typical crankbait scenario.

 

The way the Potomac is these days, it's a more of time-and-place thing..Since the grass is so minimal compared to what it was a few years ago.  A lot of times you'll need to get a little deeper than the 1-minus will go (wood/rocks/deeper grass edge, stuff in 3 or 4 feet) so squarebills seem to be the top choice if you are going to fish a crank.  

 

But if you get an overcast/rainy day or a flood tide, anything that gets the fish way up and spread out, you can crush on the 1-minus.  There's not really anything else besides topwater that can get a good reaction bite when the fish are spread out with only a foot of water between the grass and surface...And a lot of times they don't seem to commit to topwater in that scenario (as much as it seems like they should).  

 

I don't consider it a dink-only bait...I know it's called the Baby 1-minus, but it's really not much different in size than any standard size crank.  I too have caught some pigs on it.  

[ww2farmer]

I use a 6'6" or 7' M power casting rod. I tend to use cheaper gear, and I have found the 6'6" M Lightning rod shock is a great rod for these cranks in and around  tight cover and/or target casting, and when I need a longer cast and am covering water over flats or just looking for random biting fish,  my 7' M Abu Vendetta works well. I have current generation Daiwa Exceler casting reels in the 6.3:1 ration on both, spooled with 20lb braid, and they cast them a mile. I have tried them on one of my "better" combos, a 6'9" M/XF Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth w/ a Curado 51E..also with 20lb braid..but I just liked the way they fished on the other rods better.

[Zach P]

 

 

I'm guessing you are talking about the Potomac?  

 

It's not your typical crankbait fishing in that usually the goal is rip it out of or just over the shallowest grass.  You shouldn't have issues casting, it's about the size of a standard squarebill...It actually casts pretty well in my opinion.

 

I use the Powell Squarebill rod (6'9" heavy/fast), a 6.4:1 reel (not exact..just not a slow or fast one), and usually use 14 lb flouro.  With 10lb flouro you can get it down to about 1.5 to 2 feet if you try...Rod tip down and a long cast.  With 17 or 20 lb flouro you can keep it way up even on a long cast/fast retrieve.  I'll use these setups if I need it to do one of those things, but most of the time the 14 lb covers everything.

 

I also change the hooks since the ones that come on it are pretty wimpy when using a heavy rod, heavier line, and  there's more crap to get stuck in then in a typical crankbait scenario.

 

The way the Potomac is these days, it's a more of time-and-place thing..Since the grass is so minimal compared to what it was a few years ago.  A lot of times you'll need to get a little deeper than the 1-minus will go (wood/rocks/deeper grass edge, stuff in 3 or 4 feet) so squarebills seem to be the top choice if you are going to fish a crank.  

 

But if you get an overcast/rainy day or a flood tide, anything that gets the fish way up and spread out, you can crush on the 1-minus.  There's not really anything else besides topwater that can get a good reaction bite when the fish are spread out with only a foot of water between the grass and surface...And a lot of times they don't seem to commit to topwater in that scenario (as much as it seems like they should).  

 

I don't consider it a dink-only bait...I know it's called the Baby 1-minus, but it's really not much different in size than any standard size crank.  I too have caught some pigs on it.  

 

 

What's up Logan? lol I guess you must have just created an account, welcome to the forums. Yeah my biggest issue with these were the couple of things you mentioned. Mostly line diameter, rod, lure weight, and the hooks. It's good to hear you don't have any issues throwing this with a powell because I swear by their rods. It's funny because the reason I brought this topic up in the first place was due to the fact that you crushed them this last tourney using this bait. I have an abundance of cranks in different depths, brands, colors, etc. but I've never considered this bait just simply based on size and weight. I'll have to stock up on some and get some new mustad hooks for them too. Do you throw endurances?

[Logan S]

What's up Logan? lol I guess you must have just created an account, welcome to the forums. Yeah my biggest issue with these were the couple of things you mentioned. Mostly line diameter, rod, lure weight, and the hooks. It's good to hear you don't have any issues throwing this with a powell because I swear by their rods. It's funny because the reason I brought this topic up in the first place was due to the fact that you crushed them this last tourney using this bait. I have an abundance of cranks in different depths, brands, colors, etc. but I've never considered this bait just simply based on size and weight. I'll have to stock up on some and get some new mustad hooks for them too. Do you throw endurances?

Ha! I thought your pic looked familiar but I didn't want guess wrong haha...I used to have an account for a long time but I never really posted and ended up forgetting the name/password/email I used, I just browse while I'm supposed to be working  I know a lot of our guys are on here too, Brian has recruited a bunch haha.  

 

I have a couple Powells, they're great...Although now that the price jumped they are less desirable to me for new rods.  I got the Squarebill, Wacky, and a Max 6-8 Heavy all for $139 each (retail) a few years back.  I think they jumped it up to $169 now, still worth it, but before they were a screaming deal.  The Wacky is a 6-10 MH/XF and is the best sliderhead rod ever made

 

 

Being a Co-angler, you can be limited in what you bring so if you want throw it in you bag you can definitely get away with throwing on a spinnerbait/chatter rod so you don't have to add a whole setup to the load out.  That's where having the 20 foot floating tackle box helps , I just throw everything imaginable in the locker if I think I might need on TX day.

 

Like I said, it's not a sure bet, but it's certainly worth keeping in the bag.  If you have a high tide early in the morning you can probably pop a few on it before the water falls and the sun gets up in the right areas.  The fish really have to be up in the 1 foot zone for it to really excel...at least in my experience on the Potomac.  

[Zach P]

 

Ha! I thought your pic looked familiar but I didn't want guess wrong haha...I used to have an account for a long time but I never really posted and ended up forgetting the name/password/email I used, I just browse while I'm supposed to be working  I know a lot of our guys are on here too, Brian has recruited a bunch haha.  

 

I have a couple Powells, they're great...Although now that the price jumped they are less desirable to me for new rods.  I got the Squarebill, Wacky, and a Max 6-8 Heavy all for $139 each (retail) a few years back.  I think they jumped it up to $169 now, still worth it, but before they were a screaming deal.  The Wacky is a 6-10 MH/XF and is the best sliderhead rod ever made

 

 

Being a Co-angler, you can be limited in what you bring so if you want throw it in you bag you can definitely get away with throwing on a spinnerbait/chatter rod so you don't have to add a whole setup to the load out.  That's where having the 20 foot floating tackle box helps , I just throw everything imaginable in the locker if I think I might need on TX day.

 

Like I said, it's not a sure bet, but it's certainly worth keeping in the bag.  If you have a high tide early in the morning you can probably pop a few on it before the water falls and the sun gets up in the right areas.  The fish really have to be up in the 1 foot zone for it to really excel...at least in my experience on the Potomac.  

 

 

I'll definitely agree with you on that. Obviously the bait runs true to about 1 foot or less usually from what I've read and it probably excels in super shallow situations or when the bass are higher in the water column.

 

I have two Powell Endurances, one was when the rods were are the price point you mentioned. I loved the first one so much I've bought a second one too. The first was a 7'3" medium heavy which I've used a ton for pitching and flipping and it handles flawlessly. The second was a spinning rod, which I'm pretty positive is 6'10" M and I pretty much use that for different finesse techniques.

 

I've been reading a lot about the new inferno rods recently and from what I can tell they are just as sensitive and lightweight as the endurances but I have yet to try them out.....even though I know I eventually will haha.   Pretty positivie I'm going to committ to strictly using powell rods for the foreseeable future just because they feel so natural in my hands. 

 

Also, that's just the one big challenge with being a co in that you only have so much space for rods and tackle. I'm sure for specific circumstances I could just throw it on a spinning rod but I would prefer to throw it on baitcasting.

 

The only person I know of on here from the club is Brian.

[Logan S]

Yea, I wouldn't use it with a spinning rod...But any baitcaster should work in a pinch, it doesn't really need to have a dialed in set up.  

 

I would grab a Chart. w/black back model and throw in your bag.  If you end up in a shallow grassy area on the river, start chuckin'! 

[Comfortably Numb]

I throw them on a 6'6" m spinning with 20# PP braid. Catches everything in the lake including some big bluegill and shellcrackers.

 

I just got a 6'6" Quantum Lindners edge baitcaster to try. Nice light rod I will team up with an old Curado 101b greenie.

[FishTank]

I have a 6'ML St. Croix Avid and a Shimano Stradic that I use for these.  It works perfectly and is a bunch of fun one I hook into a decent size fish.

[iabass8]

It's an awesome bait! The bluegill color gets crushed pretty good on my lake. That little guy was turned on to me from when I joined this site.  I throw those on my Dobyns 705cb glass with a Ci4 and 12# or 14# fluoro.  For me its more of a target cranker and not so much getting great distance. I'm still able to throw them a good distance.  I've also thrown them on a 7' Medium/Fast graphite rod with great success.

I also use the 705cb glass but /w a 51 size shimano for manns -1. with the recent shad spawn, wake baits are killer.

[Munkin]

I don't know why you are having trouble casting the bait? I fish them on a 7'MHM St Croix crankbait rod with 12lb line and can cast it a long ways. These baits excel when the grass/etc. is about 12-18 below the surface. Just run the bait over top of the grass and hold on.

 

Allen