Berkley · Medium Diving Crankbaits
Berkley Money Badger Crankbait, 2 3/4 in, 5/8 oz, Fire Craw
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Quick take
Hybrid crankbait that mimics crawfish and baitfish, with tungsten weight transfer for maximum casting distance.
The Fire Craw Money Badger is a 2 3/4 inch, 5/8 oz hybrid crankbait with a balsa-like action that can be cast or trolled at varied speeds. Its size 5 hooks are fitted to the bait, and tungsten weight transfer helps the larger size cast far. It suits anglers who want a bigger profile in the same hybrid design.
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
Specifications
| Type | crankbait |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 3/4 in |
| Weight | 5/8 oz |
| Design | Baitfish-crayfish hybrid |
| Hook | Berkley Fusion 19 treble |
| Feature | Tungsten weight transfer |
What can I catch with this?
At 5/8 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass, walleye and pike.
- Bass
- Walleye
- Pike & musky
When and where to fish it
Its craw or red pattern suits cold to cool, stained water in spring. Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Stained
- Water temperature
- Cold (under 50°F)
- Cool (50 to 60°F)
- Warm (60 to 75°F)
- Fished from
- Bank
- Boat
- Kayak
What you need with it
A 5/8 oz crankbait is usually fished with a long casting rod, a baitcasting reel and 10 to 15 lb fluorocarbon line.
- Casting rodsA long medium-heavy rod with a moderate action throws a heavy lure far and absorbs its pull.
- Baitcasting reelsA slower gear ratio makes a deep-diving lure easier to reel all day.
- Fluorocarbon lineSinks, so the lure reaches its depth; 10 to 15 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 5/8 oz lure pairs with a medium-heavy, moderate-action rod made for 1/2 to 1 oz lures and with 10 to 15 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium heavy |
| Rod action | Moderate |
| Rod lure weight | 1/2 to 1 oz |
| Line test | 10 to 15 lb |
What it imitates
Its craw or red pattern imitates crawfish.
- Crawfish
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 CrawThis one | 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 | 5/8 oz |
|---|---|
| Length | 2.75 in |
| Hook size | 5 |
| Color | Fire Craw |
| Color family | Craw and red |
Common questions
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 5/8 oz.
How long is it?
It is 2.75 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Fire Craw.
Updated