Crankbaits

One feature almost all crankbaits share is a “lip” at the front of the bait that cause the bait to dive and wobble when retrieved. There are crankbaits that run from just under the surface (called “wakebaits”) down to almost 20 feet. They fish fast, meaning that an angler can cover vast areas quickly to locate hotspots and active fish. The crankbait is one of the most popular and effective lures in the world for largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleyes, panfish, pike and just about any other species of gamefish. The lip, or paddle, is a major determinant of diving depth. In general, the larger the lip, the deeper a crankbait will dive. A crankbait should track straight on the retrieve, not laying over on its side or trimming left or right. A crankbait that is “out of tune” normally can be corrected by using needle nose pliers to bend the line tie in the direction the bait is tracking. In the past crankbaits were termed “idiot baits” because the perception was that all an angler needed to do to catch fish was cast and reel, and they do catch fish with a steady retrieve, but retrieve variations (in speed, stops and starts, etc.) and location are important to maximizing your efforts. In general, crankbaits are at their best ricocheting off cover such as brushpiles or dock ladders or structure like rockpiles and humps rising out of deep water. Most anglers suggest pausing the retrieve when a crankbait connects with an obstruction, mimicking a stunned baitfish or crawfish. Baitfish and crawfish color patterns are the most popular, and darker colors product in low-light situations and at night.

Bomber Real Craw COMING IN DECEMBER! The Bomber Lures Real Craw 4A isn't your father's Model A, although it retains all of the fish-catching attributes of this classic lure. The Real Craw Model A features muted color patterns that actually feel like a shelled creature. Real Craw isn't a paint job, it's an exoskeleton! This detailed, multi-step painting process creates an... View Products >>

Cotton Cordell Wally Stinger When huge walleyes are on a bigger bite, the Cotton Cordell Wally Stinger gives them a big mouthful. Every walleye angler knows the fish-catching characteristics of the classic Wally Diver - no walleye troller worth his salt would be caught without one -- and Cordell kept all those features while... View Products >>

Cotton Cordell Jointed Grappler Shad (CDJ14) The Cotton Cordell Jointed Grappler Shad fishing lure features the toughness of the original Grappler Shad crankbait with even more big fish strike-producing... View Products >>

Cotton Cordell Grappler Shad The newest fishing lures from Cotton Cordell feature a tight wiggle, innovative color schemes and a 3-D eye... you can swim, but you can't hide from these... View Products >>

Rebel Wee-R Family The classic shapes and sizes of the Rebel Lures Wee-R series have withstood the test of time. These fishing lures are the right size for multi-species... View Products >>

Cotton Cordell Wally Diver The Cotton Cordell Wally Diver fishing lure is the total walleye fishing system, from the shallow runner to the Magnum deep diver, this series was created... View Products >>

Cotton Cordell Big O In 1967, when Fred Young carved the first Big O fishing lure from a block of balsa wood, he created a legacy that has endured for decades. After 30 years,... View Products >>

C.C. Shad A great shad shape and internal rattles set the C.C. Shad fishing lures apart from other shad style lures. The lightly scaled sides enhance the traditional... View Products >>

Rebel Humpback Rebel Humpback: This classic shaped fishing lure is great for shallow water situations and schooling fish. Excellent for bass fishing.... View Products >>

Cotton Cordell Wally Demon The Cotton Cordell Lures Suspending Wally Demon has the looks, the action and sound to make walleye strike. The Wally Demon fishing lure features a tight,... View Products >>

XCalibur Real Craw COMING IN SEPTEMBER! A new, painstaking multi-step painting process resulted in a whole new line of XCalibur Xr50 Rattle Baits that may be the most realistic on the market. The Real Craw Xr50 not only looks like a crawfish, but the complicated painting process creates a... View Products >>

XCalibur Real Gill COMING IN NOVEMBER! XCalibur's Real Gill line of Xr50 Rattle Baits feature super-realistic action and strong, deep paint jobs that combine reliable colors and realistic specks to create the fish-fooling look of a small panfish. The multi-step painting process is... View Products >>

XCalibur Square Lips COMING IN NOVEMBER! The XCalibur Square Lip Xcs Series cast like a bullet and bounce off cover like a champ, looking just like a dazed and confused baitfish. The paddle (lip) design allows the lure to be... View Products >>

Bomber Balsa Model B The 2 1/2 inch, 1/2 oz Bomber Balsa Model B crankbaits feature traditional balsa wood construction with the new highly advanced Tru-Track™ frame system.... View Products >>

Bomber Model A If you were limited to only one crankbait, you'd do well making it a Model A Bomber. A staple with avid fishermen for decades, the Model A's timeless design, workhorse durability and true running dependability, define the meaning of a Go to lure. View Products >>

Bomber Fat A The Bomber Fat "A" Series of fishing lures is designed to deliver a buoyancy characteristic equal to or greater than wooden crankbaits. The "fatter,"... View Products >>

Bomber Flat A (B02FA) For those times the fish want a tighter wiggle or more subtle presentation that's great in cool and clear water situations, the Bomber Flat A is the tool for the job. The Flat A has a near-neutral buoyancy... B02FA View Products >>

Bomber Deep Flat "A" (B02DFA) For those times the fish want a tighter wiggle or more subtle presentation, the Flat A is the tool for the job. Suspending fish can be particularly hard headed and... View Products >>

Bomber Fat Free Shad Family To become legendary, a crankbait must possess certain characteristics. It’s got to come through cover with minimal snags. It’s got to track straight right out of the package. It needs quality components for durability. Shape, color pattern, diving depth and action all play important roles. Above all, it’s got to catch fish... View Products >>

D74 "Big Craw" Crawfish Bluegill, trout and bass fishing lures - Rebel "Big Craw" Crawfish The Big Craw meets the demand for larger, deeper-runners and runs at depths... View Products >>

D76 Deep Wee-Crawfish Bass, trout and blueill lures - Rebel Deep Wee Crawfish Cast or troll this deep running crawfish bait and enjoy the true-running stablility that... View Products >>

Heddon Coors Lure The Coors® Lure by Heddon Lures is equally at home in a tackle box headed for an angler’s favorite fishing hole or just hanging around an angler’s favorite... View Products >>

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Tips & Techniques

• The Key to Using a Heddon Torpedo
• Samurai Striper
• Stay In The Zone For Suspended Bass