Shallow Crankbait Suggestions

[LrgmouthShad]

Gentlemen and ol' crickety,

 

I am looking for a shallow diving crankbait ideal for cold, muddy water. 

1. 4' or less

2. Runs okay through wood

3. Good color options for dirty water

4. Preferably includes a rattle but not a requirement

What matches?

[MediumMouthBass]

Ark has a small one that dives shallow.

Strike King has the Hybrid Hunter JR.

13 Fishing Warthog 60.

 

These are good around wood and grass, dont dive farther than 4ft.

Have some really good colors too. Theres a ton of others though from Berkley and Strike King that i also have but cant remember their names since i dont use them.

[AlabamaSpothunter]

I'd assume you're looking for flat sided cranks.

 

Rapala OG Tiny 4 and SPRO Little Jon 50 both meet your needs and are proven winners.    The Little Jons come in silent and rattles.    I can't recall if my Tiny 4s are silent, but they're quiet either way I don't fish loud cranks that often.  

 

6th Sense Crush 75x does as well, and there's just something magical about that bait when it comes to generating big fish bites.    The 75x has a really quiet rattle.   The rattle on this bait and a DT10 is exactly what I want in terms of noise so maybe somebody else can give better advice on really loud baits. 

 

So many great squarebills, but those three cover a huge swath of category.    The Tiny 4 is more finessey, while the Crush 75x is a real power fishing squarebill just in a flat side almost silent package.   The Little Jon 50 is a banger of a bait as it's a tiny little package that weighs 1/2oz and has a weight transfer system to boot.....exceptionally well casting crank!     

[Bass Rutten]

Can't go wrong with the Lucky Craft LC 1.5, comes in multitudinous colors (125). Has standard rattle and drs versions too, drs is deep rattle sound, more like a clackin or knocker sound. Great all around squarebill.

[A-Jay]

Oh Boy - @LrgmouthShad  

What about the SK Hybrid Hunter ?

Comes in a 'shallow' and Jr. versions as well.

I played around with all of them this summer.

Caught a few fish too.

Easily The Shallowest Running, FULL size crankbait I've ever fished.

In some situations it was actually running TOO shallow if you can believe that. 

The Rattle version is a Loud.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Hybrid_Hunter_Crankbait/descpage-SKHH.html

Sort of a funky looking bait and I'm pretty sure SK copied that bill design from 6th Sense fishing's baits that were out a few years back.

Either way it  sounds like what you're looking for.

btw - for LMB, I'd stay with the full size bait linked above.

A-Jay

 

[GReb]

A Lil John tuned just right is hard to beat. They are silent but did just come out with a rattle version. However I fish the silent and rarely have visibility over a foot. 
 

Lot of great options. Bill Lewis ATV, LC 1.5, Frittside, ott’s Rapalas, etc

[Firstoutfisher]

Megabass IXI furious 0.5 

OSP Blitz SSR

[NorthernBasser]

SPRO John Crews Little John Type R 50.

 

[GRiver]

I went on a crank bait kick this year, I was on a budget, so I bought off EBay. They had 5&6 bait lots, of spro, 6th sense, and others. The BPS brand have some decent baits, all I’ve gotten have run true right out the box. Between 10% of online Monday and my veteran discount they were very reasonably priced.

[Pat Brown]

Hybrid Hunter and Hybrid Hunter Jr all the way!  I love fishing that bait.

[OHBuckets]

3 hours ago, Pat Brown said:

Hybrid Hunter and Hybrid Hunter Jr all the way!  I love fishing that bait.

See my post today in the Latest Catch thread

[LrgmouthShad]

41 minutes ago, OHBuckets said:

See my post today in the Latest Catch thread

Nice trio of bass! I have a few hybrid hunters. I haven't tossed them much but they will get some hours clocked in, soon enough. For what I have in mind, I believe the Spro Little John fits the bill, but I appreciate any and all suggestions.

[Columbia Craw]

Bill Lewis ATV, Norman’s Fat Boy, 6th Sense Munch or Crush 50 and Lil John.

[casts_by_fly]

The rapala og 4 and 6 are great for what you’re saying. No rattle, but a nice tight wobble and great feel. The 6 will go to 6’ but only on thin line. Throw it on 16# mono or similar and you’ll just clip 4’. And have heavier line for the heavier cover. 
 

The hybrid hunter does everything you want. I haven’t caught a fish on one yet but it hits all the notes. 

[ww2farmer]

I used to be a big SK, Spro, and Lucky Craft guy, buy in the several years I have been silent here, I have grown quite fond of Ark, and YoZuri shallow crankbaits. Both offer baits that I think fit your requests 

[FishTank]

Evergreen WH-3, if you can find it. Great bait but no rattle. I has been one my go to pond baits. It runs about 2-3 feet deep on 10lb test FC.  I caught 5 on it tonight. 

 

It does ok around wood. The hooks on it are crazy sharp and don't need to be upgraded. 

 

Another one to look at....Deps Evoke 1.2 or 1.8. It has worked the best for me around wood and timber but there is no silver bullet when you have a forest below the water. 

[MichaelN]

Years ago, I loved Bill Norman's Quarterback.  These days I use the Bandit 100 Series or Strike Kings KVD Shallow Runner. I think some have already mentioned Cordell's Big O.

 

Bandit 100

[rgasr63]

The Bomber next gen 4A  is currently one of my faves. I also have a bunch of KVD 1.0 cranks I have been using for years. Bandit 100 has already been talked about. If I only could use 1 brand of shallow cranks Strike King KVD 1.0 would get my vote. 

[PourMyOwn]

I grabbed a pile of 4As when someone online had them for 3 bucks a piece. On 17 lb copoly it runs right around 3 feet deep, and losing them to toothy creatures doesn't hurt so bad. 

 

I also love my Bandit 100s, as many of you do. 

[rangerjockey]

4ft or less I personally would grind a 1.5. I like the lucky craft but as much as I hate to say it the 6th sense 50 is a great bait. I have some old ones that I keep because they are pre Ben Miliken.

I wouldn't buy a bait from them now.

The new Bill Lewis ATV is also worth buying.

[RHuff]

On 11/23/2024 at 7:08 PM, LrgmouthShad said:

Gentlemen and ol' crickety,

 

I am looking for a shallow diving crankbait ideal for cold, muddy water. 

1. 4' or less

2. Runs okay through wood

3. Good color options for dirty water

4. Preferably includes a rattle but not a requirement

What matches?

 

 Frittside 5…. Candy Apple Red Craw in Spring, Ghost Morning Dawn in Summer, Bluegill near Bream Beds, and Kentucky Blue in Fall (right now and the conditions you described)

 

I like to throw it on a spinning rod with 8lb braid and 10lb flouro leader… 

[Rockhopper]

On 11/25/2024 at 2:50 AM, rangerjockey said:

as much as I hate to say it the 6th sense 50 is a great bait.

I am curious as to why?  They make some great baits, they are built nicely, and I have had a lot of success with their products.  I do not consider them high end baits, but they are definitely high middle of the road baits.

[scaleface]

One of my favorite  standing timber cranks is the   Rapala Fat Rap. Its not a square bill but doesnt dive deep either, around 4 foot. No rattles.  I dont know if the gold foil is still available but its been a steady producer over the decades fishing wood.

[KP Duty]

Lucky craft KJ Flat 1.5 or 1.0.  

Frittside 5 or 5 jr.

[WRB]

Shallow Fat Rap SFR 7 SD has a wide wobble and excellent slow retrieve crank bait. Discontinued but keep your eye out for them.

Tom