BOMBER · Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Bomber Fat Free Shad Crankbait, 2 1/2 in, 1/2 oz, Citrus Shad
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.01 Kilograms
- Product dimensions
- 2.56 x 1.1 x 1.1 inches
Quick take
A classic 2.5-inch crankbait that dives 8-12 feet and works ledges, points, and brush piles year-round.
This Citrus Shad Fat Free Shad Jr. is a 2 1/2 inch, 1/2 oz crankbait built for bass. A long lip takes it down to about 8 to 12 feet, which suits ledges, points and brush. It is the mid-size bait in the Fat Free line, with rotating treble hooks.
Best for
- Bass on deep ledges and offshore structure
- Trolling for trout in lakes
- Any time of year when fish are 8-12 feet deep
Skip if
- You need to fish shallower than 8 feet
- You want a rattle in your crankbait
Strengths
- Dives 8-12 feet on steady retrieve
- Tight wobble at various speeds
- ABS plastic is durable and can take impact
Trade-offs
- Cannot be fished shallower than 8 feet
- Treble hooks snag easily in structure
- No rattle means less attraction in murky water
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Trolling
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
Its bright, high-visibility pattern suits stained and muddy water under an overcast sky or in low light. Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Stained
- Muddy
- Light
- Overcast
- Low light
- 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 |
What it imitates
Its bright pattern imitates shad and, in stained water, bluegill.
- Shad
- Bluegill
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Blue, Chartreuse Blues, Citrus ShadThis one | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Fire Tiger | A loud pattern that shows up in stained and muddy water under cloud. |
|
| Foxy Shad, Tennesee Shad, Tennessee Shad | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Pearl White | Stays easy to see in lightly stained water and under cloud. |
|
Size
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 2 3/8", 3/8 oz, Fingerling (2 3/8 in, 3/8 oz, 8-10' depth) | An all-round size for bass and walleye on medium spinning or baitcasting gear. | — |
| 2 1/2", 1/2 oz, Junior (2.5 in, 1/2 oz, 8-12' depth), 3", 3/4 oz, Standard (3 in, 3/4 oz, 12-16' depth)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 | Maximum diving depth | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bomber Fat Free Shad Crankbait, 2 3/8 in, 3/8 oz, Pearl White | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:2.38 in | Maximum diving depth:10 ft | Color:Pearl White | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), clear and stained water, bass and walleye |
| Bomber Fat Free Shad Crankbait, 2 1/2 in, 1/2 oz, Citrus Shad | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:2.5 in | Maximum diving depth:12 ft | Color:Citrus Shad | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
| Bomber Fat Free Shad Jr Crankbait, 2.5 in, 1/2 oz | Lure weight:1/2 oz | Length:2.5 in | Maximum diving depth:12 ft | Color:Pearl White | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), clear and stained water, bass and walleye |
| Bomber Fat Free Shad Crankbait, 2 3/8 in, Chartreuse Blue | Lure weight:— | Length:2.38 in | Maximum diving depth:10 ft | Color:Chartreuse Blue | Suits:Stained and muddy water, bass |
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 |
|---|---|
| Length | 2.5 in |
| Minimum diving depth | 8 ft |
| Maximum diving depth | 12 ft |
| Lip | Long |
| Color | Citrus Shad |
| Color family | Chartreuse and bright |
| Target species | Bass |
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.
How long is it?
It is 2.5 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Citrus Shad.
Updated