Let's talk UL crankbaits ...

[uljersey]

It seems like the pool of sub 2" traditional shaped squarebill cranks is slowly shrinking. As far as high end stuff goes, 0.5 Lucky Crafts seem to have pretty much vanished. Not too many manufacturers making downsize squarebills at all it seems.

SK has the Bitsy Minnow, which if you get a good one, can be a very productive little bait. Of course the stock hooks suck, pretty much par for the course for most baits anyhow. Rebel hasn't made a small squarebill in years, but they are still making the Super Teeny Wee R - 1 1/2" long, 1/8 oz but it's not a squarebill. One of my winter projects will be to convert one to a sqarebill. I know Rebels aren't looked upon too fondly by enthusiasts, but from a strictly functional standpoint they're a good bait as far as the design/action goes .... yeah I know the hardware is junk and the paint schemes aren't going to wow anyone, but those issues can be worked around easier than a bait that doesn't run well.

Any thoughts ?

[hoohoorjoo]

I've noticed this, as well. I just got a custom UL Immortal casting rod built back in the spring and have an SS Air on it. Since it is specifically for UL crankbaits, I swapped the 6.3 gears from my SS SV 103H into it. Then as I started looking around, I realized that there's a lot less to choose from now vs. the past, at least in all the places I know to look. It has been a little frustrating, though I did manage to locate purchase a small lot of JDM UL and L cranks a few months back. One is actually an ul jointed mouse wake bait with a screw spring on back for adding a plastic worm as a tail.

[DirtyD64]

It seems like the pool of sub 2" traditional shaped squarebill cranks is slowly shrinking. As far as high end stuff goes, 0.5 Lucky Crafts seem to have pretty much vanished. Not too many manufacturers making downsize squarebills at all it seems.

SK has the Bitsy Minnow, which if you get a good one, can be a very productive little bait. Of course the stock hooks suck, pretty much par for the course for most baits anyhow. Rebel hasn't made a small squarebill in years, but they are still making the Super Teeny Wee R - 1 1/2" long, 1/8 oz but it's not a squarebill. One of my winter projects will be to convert one to a sqarebill. I know Rebels aren't looked upon too fondly by enthusiasts, but from a strictly functional standpoint they're a good bait as far as the design/action goes .... yeah I know the hardware is junk and the paint schemes aren't going to wow anyone, but those issues can be worked around easier than a bait that doesn't run well.

Any thoughts ?

There is a tiny Ric Clunn crankbait that works well for me. Hooks that come on it are WAY too big though. I have like 3 left, used to fish them from the bank and lose them without worry before realizing they were hard to find. I would shrink the hooks down pretty far and catch countless big bream, goggle eye, etc.

[Allsorts]

They aren't cheap but the Megabass Baby Griffon https://kiba.lt/megabass-baby-griffon-en is the right size (<40mm) and a very effective shallow 'squarebill', especially in rivers. Similarly the Jackall Chubby 38F https://www.ottostackleworld.com.au/jac ... 38-shallow is also an excellent option. I caught some big UK river fish with both of these lures - they were noticeably more effective than than the other stuff I was using. I'm trying to think why I haven't used them more for bass? I've seen Chubby knock offs locally so a search on Aliexpress might turn up something similar and much cheaper.

[uljersey]

It seems like the pool of sub 2" traditional shaped squarebill cranks is slowly shrinking. As far as high end stuff goes, 0.5 Lucky Crafts seem to have pretty much vanished. Not too many manufacturers making downsize squarebills at all it seems.

SK has the Bitsy Minnow, which if you get a good one, can be a very productive little bait. Of course the stock hooks suck, pretty much par for the course for most baits anyhow. Rebel hasn't made a small squarebill in years, but they are still making the Super Teeny Wee R - 1 1/2" long, 1/8 oz but it's not a squarebill. One of my winter projects will be to convert one to a sqarebill. I know Rebels aren't looked upon too fondly by enthusiasts, but from a strictly functional standpoint they're a good bait as far as the design/action goes .... yeah I know the hardware is junk and the paint schemes aren't going to wow anyone, but those issues can be worked around easier than a bait that doesn't run well.

Any thoughts ?

There is a tiny Ric Clunn crankbait that works well for me. Hooks that come on it are WAY too big though. I have like 3 left, used to fish them from the bank and lose them without worry before realizing they were hard to find. I would shrink the hooks down pretty far and catch countless big bream, goggle eye, etc.

Is this it ? The Series 1 size is 1.5" 1/8 oz. Still available ...
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Luck-E- ... ESTRC.html

[Hobie-Wan Kenobi]

Although more of a Light lure, I found a small Lucky Craft on clearance at Cabelas a couple years ago. Don't remember the model but, it's pretty nice.

SK Bitsy Minnow is a decent option. Readily available in many US retailers, priced well and catch fish.

Rapala UL series are nice. Various colors and depths/sizes. The UL Crank deflects well off cover. The baits run nice and casts effortlessly. These are my all round favorite UL bait.

I picked up some Jackal PaniCra from Japan Tackle for like 4.50 a piece. Super nice baits and amazing stock hooks. Single barbless hooks that are scary sharp.

I replace my stock hooks with single barbless hooks. Still get great hookups and easy to unhook your catch. Also, gets snagged up way less, opening up where you will throw an UL crank.

Here are links to JDM single hooks in the USA:
https://www.finesse-fishing.com/replace ... hooks.html

[DirtyD64]

It seems like the pool of sub 2" traditional shaped squarebill cranks is slowly shrinking. As far as high end stuff goes, 0.5 Lucky Crafts seem to have pretty much vanished. Not too many manufacturers making downsize squarebills at all it seems.

SK has the Bitsy Minnow, which if you get a good one, can be a very productive little bait. Of course the stock hooks suck, pretty much par for the course for most baits anyhow. Rebel hasn't made a small squarebill in years, but they are still making the Super Teeny Wee R - 1 1/2" long, 1/8 oz but it's not a squarebill. One of my winter projects will be to convert one to a sqarebill. I know Rebels aren't looked upon too fondly by enthusiasts, but from a strictly functional standpoint they're a good bait as far as the design/action goes .... yeah I know the hardware is junk and the paint schemes aren't going to wow anyone, but those issues can be worked around easier than a bait that doesn't run well.

Any thoughts ?

There is a tiny Ric Clunn crankbait that works well for me. Hooks that come on it are WAY too big though. I have like 3 left, used to fish them from the bank and lose them without worry before realizing they were hard to find. I would shrink the hooks down pretty far and catch countless big bream, goggle eye, etc.

Is this it ? The Series 1 size is 1.5" 1/8 oz. Still available ...
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Luck-E- ... ESTRC.html

Think so, I bought mine at Wal-Mart though and they weren't the best colors, but still worked well. The colors I had were Chartreuse/Brown back and a kind of green/bream pattern. I think what you posted is correct and I just didn't think they had that size. I will order some on my next restock and see if those are the right ones.

[John G]

I have never had a problem with the hooks on a Bitsy Minnow. What's wrong with them?

[earthworm77]

I have never had a problem with the hooks on a Bitsy Minnow. What's wrong with them?

They are not exactly high end

[ulbc2]

I just ordered a pair of Tsurugiya Baby Crank. We will see how they work

https://m.pecheur.com/es/es/compra-senu ... 83868.html

[John G]

I have never had a problem with the hooks on a Bitsy Minnow. What's wrong with them?

They are not exactly high end

Maybe so but I don’t remember losing too many fish with them or having any break.

[earthworm77]

My feeling regarding UL fishing especially is that quality begets consistency. I absolutely swap out the hooks on any UL crankbait that isn't a Megabass*, Duo, LC.....JDM. And when I am building my own I prefer to use Gammies or Decoy. It may just be my personal hang up but I don't have issues with hooks from those brands.


*usually

[John G]

I find that treble hook removal from the Baby Pop X is a major pia and I am using the small Texas Tackle split ring tool so I can imagine how difficult the Bitsy Minnow would be. It seems like I bend out of shape all of the split rings. I have seen a JDM split ring tool that IIRC, looks like tweezers but I haven’t got around to getting them yet.

[earthworm77]

I find that treble hook removal from the Baby Pop X is a major pia and I am using the small Texas Tackle split ring tool so I can imagine how difficult the Bitsy Minnow would be. It seems like I bend out of shape all of the split rings. I have seen a JDM split ring tool that IIRC, looks like tweezers but I haven’t got around to getting them yet.

A buddy here gifted me one of those tweezer type split ring tools.......I highly recommend it.

[uljersey]

I find that treble hook removal from the Baby Pop X is a major pia and I am using the small Texas Tackle split ring tool so I can imagine how difficult the Bitsy Minnow would be. It seems like I bend out of shape all of the split rings. I have seen a JDM split ring tool that IIRC, looks like tweezers but I haven’t got around to getting them yet.

Another option that I've found that works well on tiny split rings are these Beadalon split ring pliers. I got mine locally at a craft store but they're available all over the internet for cheap. The tips are tiny enough not to over stretch the rings to the point they won't close up again.