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Berkley · Medium Diving Crankbaits
Berkley Money Badger Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Blaze
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.02 Kilograms
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
Hybrid crankbait that mimics crawfish and baitfish, with tungsten weight transfer for maximum casting distance.
The Blaze Money Badger is a 1/2 oz hybrid crankbait that dives 10 to 12 feet, which puts it over structure and rocky bottoms in that range. Tungsten weight transfer helps it cast a long way, and its size 5 hooks suit bass and walleye. It is a good pick for anglers who want one crankbait that works both cast and trolled.
Best for
- Rocky bottom structures
- Slow rising presentations on pauses
- Low-light and murky water fishing
Skip if
- You fish exclusively clear shallow water
- You prefer lures without weight transfer
Strengths
- Hybrid design attracts bass feeding on crawfish or baitfish
- Tungsten weight transfer increases casting distance significantly
- Slow, enticing rise off the pause triggers reaction strikes
Trade-offs
- Treble hooks snag heavily on rocks and wood
- Balsa-like action requires controlled retrieves
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
What can I catch with this?
At 1/2 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass and walleye.
- Bass
- Walleye
When and where to fish it
Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Water temperature
- Cool (50 to 60°F)
- Warm (60 to 75°F)
- Fished from
- Bank
- Boat
- Kayak
How to fish it
A crankbait with a long lip needs a long cast to get down, so it is fished by deep cranking.
Deep cranking
- Make the longest cast you can; a deep diver needs distance to get down.
- Hold the rod tip low and reel steadily until you feel the bottom.
- Keep the lure grinding along the bottom and pause when it deflects off rock.
Steady cranking
- Cast past the target and point the rod tip down toward the water.
- Reel at a steady medium pace until the lure reaches its depth.
- Keep it ticking the bottom or the cover, and pause when it deflects.
How deep and around what
At 1/2 oz it runs down to 12 ft, in the mid depth zone, around the outside edge of grass, wood and rock.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft) (this product)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Maximum diving depth
- 12 ft
- Depth zone
- Mid (5 to 12 ft)
- Cover
- Grass
- Wood
- Rock
What you need with it
A 1/2 oz crankbait is usually fished with a casting rod, a baitcasting reel and 10 to 14 lb fluorocarbon line.
- Casting rodsA medium-power rod with a moderate action keeps the hooks pinned on a steady retrieve.
- Baitcasting reelsA slower gear ratio makes a steady cranking pace easier to hold.
- Fluorocarbon lineSinks, so the lure reaches its depth; 10 to 14 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 1/2 oz lure pairs with a medium-power, moderate-action rod made for 1/4 to 5/8 oz lures and with 10 to 14 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium |
| Rod action | Moderate |
| Rod lure weight | 1/4 to 5/8 oz |
| Line test | 10 to 14 lb |
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Pink Pearl, Vanilla Chartreuse | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Firetiger | A loud pattern that shows up in stained and muddy water under cloud. |
|
| Ghost Morning Dawn | Gives a see-through baitfish look in clear water and bright sun. |
|
| Black Silver, FX Shad | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Perch, Viking Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Fire Craw, Firetail Green Craw, Ghost Green Craw, Ghost Red Craw, Killer Craw, Root Beer Craw, Special Red Craw, Spring Craw | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
| Black Gold | Flashes in stained, tea-colored water and on dark days. |
|
| Purple Glimmer | Shows a solid outline in muddy water, at dusk and at night. |
|
Size
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 1 1/2 in - 4 (3/16 oz), 1 1/2in - 3/16 oz | A small profile for panfish, trout and wary fish on light spinning gear. | — |
| 2 1/8in - 5 (1/4 oz), 2.1 in - 5 (1/4 oz), 2 1/2 in - 6.25 (1/3 oz), 2 1/2in - 6.25 (1/3 oz) | An all-round size for bass and walleye on medium spinning or baitcasting gear. | — |
| 2 5/8in - 6.75 (1/2 oz), 2.6 in - 6.75 (1/2 oz), 2 3/4 in - 7.25 (5/8 oz), 2 3/4in - 7.25 ( 5/8 oz)This one | Casts farther and handles wind and bigger fish. | — |
Which one should I pick?
Choose the version by the depth you need to reach, then choose the color by water clarity.
| Version | Lure weight | Length | Hook size | Maximum diving depth | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berkley Money Badger Crankbait, 1/4 oz, FX Shad | Lure weight:1/4 oz | Length:— | Hook size:7 | Maximum diving depth:10 ft | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), clear and stained water, bass, trout, walleye and crappie |
| Berkley Money Badger Crankbait, 1/2 oz, Blaze | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:— | Hook size:5 | Maximum diving depth:12 ft | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), bass and walleye |
| Berkley Money Badger Crankbait, 1/2 oz, FX Shad | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:— | Hook size:5 | Maximum diving depth:12 ft | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), clear and stained water, bass and walleye |
| Berkley Money Badger Crankbait, 2 3/4 in, 5/8 oz, Fire Craw | Lure weight:5/8 oz | Length:2.75 in | Hook size:5 | Maximum diving depth:— | Suits:Stained water, bass, walleye and pike & musky |
About this type
A crankbait is a hard-bodied lure that wobbles on a steady retrieve; most have a lip that sets how deep they run.
On a lipped bait, a bigger or steeper lip usually sends it deeper.
Most lipped crankbaits float at rest and dive when reeled, so a pause lets the lure back up and away from a snag.
Compared with Jerkbaits: A jerkbait is worked with twitches and pauses and often suspends or floats; a crankbait is reeled.
Facts
| Lure weight | 1/2 oz |
|---|---|
| Minimum diving depth | 10 ft |
| Maximum diving depth | 12 ft |
| Lip | Long |
| Hook size | 5 |
| Color | Blaze |
| Target species | Bass and Walleye |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 12 ft.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 1/2 oz.
What color is this version?
This version is Blaze.
Updated