For Fat Spring Bass

Round-bodied crankbaits dominate the market in most areas, but a small fraternity of anglers in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia still favor the flat designs that preceded modern cranks. Unlike their fat-bodied cousins, the original wooden flat baits were carved from thin pieces of balsa wood, giving them a distinctly different shape. Flat baits are thinner, resembling a shad or bluegill, and produce a tight shivering wiggle-a subtle vibration-that bass in cold water often find irresistible.

When

Water temperature between 45F and 55F.

Tackle

 

Rod: 6- to 7-foot medium-light or medium-power spinning rod or casting rod with a medium-fast action.

Reel: medium-capacity spinning reel.

Line: 8- to 10-pound-test mono.

 

Rigging

Connect your line to the lure with a small split ring or round-bend snap. The short diving lip and thin body of these baits can produce an erratic circling action. Tune each bait by bending the eyelet left or right until the lure runs straight.

Presentation

Flat baits excel for fishing along sun-exposed banks in early spring, when bass often are visible in the shallows, but disappear at the first sign of trouble. Cast a shallow-running flat bait toward shallow water and retrieve it slowly and steadily. Crank too fast and the lure will spin out of control-retrieve as slowly as you can turn your reel handle, then slow down a little more.

Flat baits can also be worked effectively in heavy cover. When working through stumps and light brush, use a flat crank the same way you would use a spinnerbait, with one exception: don't pause during the retrieve. The tight wiggle and square diving lip allows these baits to deflect off snags, but because they're neutrally buoyant they tend to suspend in the cover and hang up when paused. A slow, steady crawl works best.