Hard baits earn a slot by covering water. Four of them do the job on ponds and banks; the rest can wait. Retrieves and when-not-to are in Crankbait Basics and Fall Bank.
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Fished real days on it We use one our pick in a category we carry Research pick not used yet, doubt stated
Who it's for: cold, windy days from the bank; flats and windblown banks in fall. Red for stained water, gold for clear. Downside: trebles find every bit of grass — carry pliers.
Who it's for: shallow wood, docks and riprap — the collision retrieve. We throw a squarebill; the 1.5 is the one we'd hand anyone. Downside: high snag risk near wood (worth it), and you'll lose one now and then.
Who it's for: points and dam faces, 4–8 ft — the medium crank from Mike's bag. Downside: house brand, Bass Pro only — no shopping around when it's out of stock.
Who it's for: wind and stained water; the "flash and thump" job when a lipless isn't enough. Downside: if you don't already own one, the lipless covers the same water on most ponds.
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