Seeking a better Mann’s Baby One Minus

[mheichelbech]

Anyone know of a lure that is just like a Baby 1 Minus but is made better?  I have found that usually 1 out of 5 of them actually run right.  Even the images of them you see on websites show imperfections in the mold.  I’d like to find something with same size, action and depth but better made.  I have sued the Bandit Footloose and they are good but still are different...they seem to run a bit shallower than the minus one.

[jbsoonerfan]

5 minutes ago, mheichelbech said:

 I have sued the Bandit Footloose and they are good but still are different...they seem to run a bit shallower than the minus one.

 

That's taking it to the next level. I was going to suggest a Bandit, but if you have already sued them, I guess that is out of the question.  

[Fishes in trees]

 

Timber Tiger had a wake bait in their DC line up - but they've been discontinued for a while now.

I know the Minus 1 comes in several sizes - have you tried all the different sizes?   I must have gotten lucky - I have a couple of the largest size and 4 or 5 of the medium size and they all run like they are supposed to.

 

Excalibur used to offer a wake bait - they've been discontinued for a while now too.  I don't know, but Rebel probably offers a wake bait - they offer every other type of crank bait or they have at one time or another.

 

You could try making one.   I made mine out of a Cotton Cordell jointed Red Fin.   Take a lighter, heat up the lip and bend it down to a 90 degree angle.  Be sure to keep the face of the bill in line with the body like when you started.   I found this easiest to do in the kitchen because I could instantly cool the plastic by holding the bait under running water, but a pan of cool water in the shop works just as well.

 

Mine wobbles on the surface and if you reel it pretty fast it might dive 6" if you hold your rod low.

This is the bait I go to if the fish say they don't want the minus 1 that day.

[Smells like fish]

@Fishes in trees I see you mention the Timber Tigers often and thought you’d enjoy seeing this salesman sheet of Tigers I picked up just before Christmas last year. I was gonna remove them and put rings and hooks on them and use them but have got attached to the look of them on the board. There is 10 of the models you mention that dive a foot or less. 

[mheichelbech]

1 hour ago, Fishes in trees said:

 

Timber Tiger had a wake bait in their DC line up - but they've been discontinued for a while now.

I know the Minus 1 comes in several sizes - have you tried all the different sizes?   I must have gotten lucky - I have a couple of the largest size and 4 or 5 of the medium size and they all run like they are supposed to.

 

Excalibur used to offer a wake bait - they've been discontinued for a while now too.  I don't know, but Rebel probably offers a wake bait - they offer every other type of crank bait or they have at one time or another.

 

You could try making one.   I made mine out of a Cotton Cordell jointed Red Fin.   Take a lighter, heat up the lip and bend it down to a 90 degree angle.  Be sure to keep the face of the bill in line with the body like when you started.   I found this easiest to do in the kitchen because I could instantly cool the plastic by holding the bait under running water, but a pan of cool water in the shop works just as well.

 

Mine wobbles on the surface and if you reel it pretty fast it might dive 6" if you hold your rod low.

This is the bait I go to if the fish say they don't want the minus 1 that day.

I have a couple of the Timber Tigers stashed away somewhere and had forgotten about those!  They had a Brush Baby crankbait I really like and still use for 6-8 foot water...caught quite a few bass on them and they seem to work all over.  Appreciate the reminder.

 

Btw, I’ve tried a Lucky Craft shallow runner which smaller than the Bandit or Minus Ones but hadn’t had any success.  It’s hard to get away from the Minus Ones...especially for paralleling shallow docks or the bank.

2 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

 

That's taking it to the next level. I was going to suggest a Bandit, but if you have already sued them, I guess that is out of the question.  

Btw I do like the Bandit!  There are situations where I need something that runs a few inches shallower than the minus one and it works great for that.  One thing I prefer about the minus one is I can get a size 4 triple grip on the back.  Both baits really come alive with a feathered treble on the back.  I’ve gotten a lot of hits when I stop it and the feathers spread out...somehow that provided that last bit of enticement needed for a finicky bass.

[jbsoonerfan]

I don't know if they even make them anymore, but I had success with a Lucky Craft 1.5 SSR. Like I said, not sure they are even still in production so that suggestion may not be worth much.

[scbassin]

This is what use https://shop.northlandtackle.com/bagley-bait-co/.  

 

Go to the Wake Bait. I probley have a dozen of them. They work just fine.

[Columbia Craw]

Strike King 1.5 Shallow might be an option.  I’ve done really well with it.

[Bankbeater]

They're out of production now, but I always had good luck with a Storm sub-wart.

[Festivus]

Academy makes two different versions, three if you count the saltwater ones. One is called the Crank SS, for super shallow, and looks very similar to a Mann's Baby 1 Minus but much better quality, paint is better and will hold up and the hooks are good VMC hooks. They have another that is an acronym, something like SCSFW and that has been around for a while, looks alot like the Strike King. Mentioning SK, they have a 1.5 shallow, which is basically a wake bait, and a larger 2.5 actually labeled wake bait. I haven't had a chance to throw the SK 2.5 yet. The academy brand is very good. 

[KCFinesse]

I second the academy ones as far as cheaper 1 minus alternatives that run better. I had a lot of success on Table Rock last year on the Rapala bx wake minnow, but they do have a bit different action and they seem to be really picky about chop on the water.

[Munkin]

Nothing has worked better than the Baby 1- for me. Mine are all older ones though and I buy them whenever I find them at fishing flea markets. While the Baby is #1 two other ones I use a lot are the Team Daiwa Scouter crank and the Jackal zero footer.

 

Allen

[Born 2 fish]

Did you ever just try tuning the bait?

[Smells like fish]

I’ve heard Epic Eric say that the ones that’s say Mann’s on one side and Minus 1 on the other side is the ones to get. I guess the later ones didn’t have that on them. I’ll have to dig mine out and see what I have. 

[WRB]

Rapala Shallow with L bill Rap works great and has for decades.

Tom

 

[PhishLI]

These are different in that you can run them slower than the Baby using heavier mono to keep them at 1ft, and will dive up to 3ft with lighter line and a faster retrieve. Worth the sale price if you like these types of baits. I've done well with them.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Ima_Bill_Lowen_Squarebill_Crankbait/descpage-IBLSB.html

[FishTank]

The Lucky Craft LC SSR.  I have bought at least 3 or 4 in ghost minnow over the years and they flat out catch fish.  

 

I always have one tied on when I am fishing shallow water.

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

The Arashi wake bait is (was? not sure they still make it), really nice.

 

Strike King makes the newer 2.5 wake that is a really nice wake bait also.

 

I have several older Baby -1 that I haven't used in years. I heard they've changed but haven't fished them to notice any changes.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

On 12/19/2020 at 4:25 PM, PhishLI said:

These are different in that you can run them slower than the Baby using heavier mono to keep them at 1ft, and will dive up to 3ft with lighter line and a faster retrieve. Worth the sale price if you like these types of baits. I've done well with them.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Ima_Bill_Lowen_Squarebill_Crankbait/descpage-IBLSB.html

I grabbed a couple of these earlier this year and Im surprised that they arent more popular.  They can do just about anything.