Ultra shallow/subsurface crankbait

[ClackerBuzz]

SK 1.5 are running too deep.  Conditions are 5-6 ft visibility, flats that are 2-3 ft max. I'd like to burn a crankbait ultra fast w/o it diving.  Is there anything that runs under 12", just subsurface?  Or a wakebait that slightly dives?

The bass are very skittish b/c there is very little current flowing thru lake so the faster the better.  Silent or flat sided would be a bonus.

Seems like alot of wakebaits have extra wide wobble/thump which I'd like to avoid.

[primetime]

Manns minus series, almost any "Wake Bait" will bulge the surface and if burned will only dive up to a 1' in most cases.

 

BPS Egg, Bandit Footloose, Storm Subwart is a favorite of mine.... Most crankbait companyies have a wake bait for the most part, Rebel has a small one which is cheap called the Tiny R which I like to use in Ponds over weeds. 

 

The Mann's series is probably the most popular as they have a bunch of sizes. Strike king also has a good one that only dives a 1'. I am hoping to get my new Bomber Long A wake bait I just ordered. 

 

Sometimes simply slowing down with a shallow running crank is just as good. Good Luck.

 

Actually Strike King had a really good wakebait which was swimbait size with a joint in the middle, sold for about $15 and is still a lure I always keep with me. Fish of all sizes seem to like it when a wake bait is working. 

[moguy1973]

SK makes a 1.5 HC shallow that dives 0-3ft.  They also make a 1XS that runs 0-2.  Rapala makes a DT Fat 3 that also goes 0-3 and the DT Fat 1 that only goes down 1'.  Spro makes the  John Crews Baby Fat John that runs 0-2.  Bomber square A is 0-3 also.

[smalljaw67]

Mann's Baby 1 minus, the mid 1 minus and the regular 1 minus, all are excellent!!!! The Yo-Zuri 3DB and 3Ds wake baits, both dive to about 6" to 10" with rod tip down and a fast retrieve, again, it dpends on the size as the 3DS is a small 1/4oz bait and the 3DB is just a hair over 1/2oz at 9/16.

[Bluebasser86]

The only Arashi crank that I've liked is the wakebait.

[Spankey]

I prefer the Footloose Bandits to run real shallow. I'm for the most part a Rapala Junkie. But like you I have that need to stay shallow and not dive. Try them. Not too expensive for the most part. 

[Catt]

Bill Lewis Echo 1.75 

 

The same combination of low-knock & high-frequency rattle that has made the Rat-L-Trap legendary!

[Dens228]

I have a couple of 6th Sense wake baits that do just that.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Big-O if you want a larger bait

[Munkin]

Jointed Rapala minnow like a J9 should work.

 

Allen

[Lil fat guy]

I like the h20 outdoors and bandit footloose wakebaits.  If you want a bigger profile the 6th sense wakebait would be a good one.  

[Rick Howard]

How about a spinnerbait? 

[Spankey]

52 minutes ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Big-O if you want a larger bait

 

52 minutes ago, Comfortably Numb said:

Big-O if you want a larger bait

I like this bait also. I don't do it intentionally but I don't talk about them that much. I generally have one tied on ready to go. 

 

I go way back with the Bandits. Sort of feel like I'm the first guy to buy one. But for anyone new to them their quality isn't for diddly these days. They are Guatamalan Junk. And any of the hot/productive colors special runs are long gone. I'd buy older used ones first. The newer ones chip/peel way too easy. Heavy varnished over split ring eyes. It just gets me peeved off because they are/were a great bait. Now their selection is smaller, lesser quality, plus the price went up on them for Guatamalan Junk. They should be $2.99 baits. 

 

They were bought out by pradco I believe. Pradco has been down hill for years.

 

When Bandit stopped making a fire tiger craw pattern you know they are idiots. They have a fire tiger version but not the one I'm referring to. The version similar to a Bomber pattern. They had primo treble hooks also back some time ago. Was called a triple grip treble. They use to hook in. 

 

Sorry for for being long winded but I have no desire for their new stuff. Corporate mental midgets there now. 

[WRB]

Rapala Shallow Rap size 9  works good in  1" to 3" range as long as you keep the rod tip up!

Tom

[Scott F]

For burning a shallow running bait, I use an inline spinner like a #4 or 5 Mepps. Many crankbaits will turn on their side when burned.

[Ktho]

Use heavy line, like 20lb and those shallow squarebills won't dive nearly as deep, keep the rod tip up too. 

[smalljaw67]

I almost forgot, if you like the larger profile baits there is a Rapala DT- Fat 1, big body but does surprisingly well on fast retrieves.

[1234567]

Spot fat john 50 on heavier copoly or mono. I throw it with 17# and it runs about 12-18 inches. 

 

Waddlebats will do the same. I have better success with these. 

[scaleface]

 The Bomber Long A Minnow . I believe that lure has caught me the largest average bass than all others and there are times I cast and reel . Won a fishing derby { all legal fish counted ] by burning it past stumps . 2 bass 13 lbs . 

 

 The largest spotted bass I ever caught , about 4 lbs was caught on a Pico Pop retrieved  slowly just below the surface . At the right speed it wiggles like a crankbait and pushes a wake out in front of it .

[A-Jay]

On ‎8‎/‎31‎/‎2017 at 10:17 PM, ClackerBuzz said:

SK 1.5 are running too deep.  Conditions are 5-6 ft visibility, flats that are 2-3 ft max. I'd like to burn a crankbait ultra fast w/o it diving.  Is there anything that runs under 12", just subsurface?  Or a wakebait that slightly dives?

The bass are very skittish b/c there is very little current flowing thru lake so the faster the better.  Silent or flat sided would be a bonus.

Seems like alot of wakebaits have extra wide wobble/thump which I'd like to avoid.

Check out the Rapala X-Rap Sub Walk ~ 

It's a very subtle, silent, suspending sub-surface bait that runs less the 18 - 24 inches. 

It has a sweet hunting mode and a devastating 'roll' on the pause. 

I fish it like a jerkbait and it works all season long. 

I've mentioned it before but it's a true sleeper. 

The color shown is called Moss Back Shiner and it's the Only one I throw - if that means anything.

A-Jay

 

[RPreeb]

I got this for $2 on the sale rack at Cabelas a week ago.  Supposed to dive to 3', but I'd imagine that would be controllable by holding the rid tip higher.  Haven't used it yet, so I can't say more than that.  It was an impulse grab when I was there buying my Tatula CT100 reel. 

 

[mcfishing620]

Manns Baby 1 Minus