Wakebait Question

[FCPhil]

I have a few crankbait style wakebaits (their action comes from a bill as opposed to arms like a jitterbug). They all dive slightly below the surface when the line is laying on the surface. When the bait is close I can keep the line above the water and keep the lure on the surface but when the lure is far away the line lays on the water and the lure dives down. 

 

Does anyone know of an affordable bill style wakebait that always stays on the surface rather than dives?

[wdp]

I'm guessing what you want is something with that characteristic "V" swimming motion bulging just beneath the surface. 

 

I have some Lucky Craft wakebaits that stay near surface well, but they're little pricey. You can check out Academy Sports H2O Express wakebaits. They are def a bargain at $4 and got some good colors & good stock vmc hooks. Deepest they go is about 6". I think the Storm Arashi Wake crank stays near surface & has a really wide wobble. But I've heard it's tend to blow out when retrieved at high speeds. Mann's also makes a wakebait that bulges well on the surface. It looks kinda like a fatter & little bigger baby 1-. But it doesn't go as deep. 

 

Usually you can do a couple of things to help keep the bait at the surface. The easiest is to raise your rod tip & gradually lower it as bait gets closer to end of retrieve. Also, a slower retrieve helps while raising the rod tip. I haven't tried it, but I'd assume going to a larger diameter line would help keep it closer to surface. Mono line would be best since fluoro sinks a little. 

[Deleted account]

You can use heavier mono and keep the rod tip hi to keep the bait from diving, also you can bend the line tie down, and finally you can bend the lip down some. I just got a couple of discontinued Mannn's wakers in bluegill, just like what you describe.

[wdp]

24 minutes ago, reason said:

I just got a couple of discontinued Mannn's wakers in bluegill, just like what you describe.

Where did you get the Mann's Wakers if you don't mind telling? I've got 2, one of which is bluegill. I bought mine a few yrs back from Bass Pro. 

 

I didnt realize they were discontinued. I might wanna grab a couple more before they're hard to find. 

[FCPhil]

I do raise the rod tip to keep it higher in the water and this works when the lure is closer to me. When the lure is far away even if I raise the rod tip the line still sags all the way down to laying on the water so the wakebait still dives. I have heard the Ima Roumba does what I am looking for but they are expensive and out of stock. Anything similar to the roumba?

[standman]

I JUST (yesterday) ordered couple of the Mann's Baby 1 Minus from overstockbait - $4.79 each.  

[wdp]

58 minutes ago, FCPhil said:

I do raise the rod tip to keep it higher in the water and this works when the lure is closer to me. When the lure is far away even if I raise the rod tip the line still sags all the way down to laying on the water so the wakebait still dives. I have heard the Ima Roumba does what I am looking for but they are expensive and out of stock. Anything similar to the roumba?

According to the specs, the Ima Roumba dives 0-2 ft. Not sure that's gonna be what you want either. 

 

Try the Storm Arashi wake crank. It's only like $8, but you can find them cheaper on sale at times. As long as you're not wanting to burn it back, I would think it'll work. You can check out videos of them before you purchase to be sure. 

[j bab]

Are you using mono? Also try reeling slower

[smalljaw67]

If you look on ebay you may be able to find some Mann's Waker Elite baits. I never understood why they didn't get a lot of sales but they didn't and were discontinued. I called Mann's direct a few years ago and I was able to get a dozen of new old stock, and that wake bait only dives to 3". It is a big body but light at 3/8oz, it produces a big wake and has a loud rattle, I love them because I can reel them at a pretty good speed while still producing a big wake, something that is hard to do with other wake baits of that style. The Arashi wake crank is another good one but I use it when I want a slower presentation because rather than dive deeper with speed like most do, it will blow out but when you get the speed dialed in it produces a good wake and it too is pretty loud.

[ChrisD46]

Bass Pro "The Egg" (large size) reeled on top for a slow wobble will produce as will the old school Bomber B14 minnow type wake bait - just reel slow on top with #12 lb. Big Game or #14lb. Stren with a 7' MH rod with rod held between 10 and 11 o'clock.

[WIGuide]

It's not a wake bait, but you might want to check out the Bill Lewis Stutter Step. With a straight retrieve, it'll stay on the surface but give you a similar action to what you're looking for. It's a topwater bait so it's not meant to dive, so it will stay up no matter how long of a cast you make with it. 

[papajoe222]

The bait is doing exactly what it is intended to, but it sounds like you want to work it as a topwater. If so, just slow your retrieve down until you find a speed that will keep it on top. 

Give a CrazyCrawler a try if you're looking for a topwater similar to a Jitterbug

[Big Swimbait]

I love wake baits. Just ordered this JDM Lucky Craft beast - 4 inches, 2 oz. 

 

The Bulldog Wake Bait. It comes with a rear prop that you can change out to a willow leaf blade.