BOMBER · Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Bomber Fat Free Shad Jr Crankbait, 2.5 in, 1/2 oz
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.01 Ounces
- 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.
A compact 2 1/2 inch crankbait in Pearl White, weighing 1/2 oz and aimed at bass. Its long lip lets it dig down to roughly 8 to 12 feet, and the lip shape helps it work through thick cover. It sits in the middle of the Fat Free line, a handy size for covering points and ledges.
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
Specifications
| Type | crankbait |
|---|---|
| Length | 2.5 in |
| Weight | 1/2 oz |
| Depth | 8-12 ft |
| Material | ABS plastic |
| Colors | 19 patterns available |
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 white or pearl pattern stays visible in lightly stained water and under cloud. Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- Clarity
- Clear
- Stained
- Light
- Overcast
- 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 white or pearl pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Blue, Chartreuse Blues, Citrus Shad | 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 WhiteThis one | 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 | Pearl White |
| Color family | White |
| 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 Pearl White.
Updated