4 photos
Cotton Cordell · Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Cotton Cordell Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Chrome Blue Back
Check price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate First Cast Fishing earns a commission when you buy through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
Options
- Item weight
- 0.01 Kilograms
Quick take
Shallow-diving crankbait with vibrating hackle tail and rattles that dives 0-3 feet for bass and saltwater gamefish.
The Chrome Blue Back Red-Fin in the 4-inch, 3/8 oz size is a floating shallow runner that reaches about 3 feet. Its flashy finish and hollow head give it lively action on a slow twitch-and-pause retrieve. Anglers target bass and striped bass with it around shallow structure.
Best for
- Bass in shallow cover near structure
- Redfish and specks in coastal shallows
- Trolling in slow-motion for violent strikes
Skip if
- You need a deep-diving lure; this stays shallow
- You fish dense vegetation; it snags easily
Strengths
- Hackle tail creates pulsating action that attracts aggressive strikes
- Shallow running depth reaches fish in shallow water and tight cover
- Effective trolled slowly or worked with twitching retrieve
Trade-offs
- Hackle tail can foul with debris in heavy grass
- At lighter weights it is hard to cast far in wind
- Rattle may reduce strikes in heavily pressured water
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Trolling
What can I catch with this?
At 3/8 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass and walleye.
- Bass
- Walleye
- Striped bass
When and where to fish it
Its silver baitfish pattern suits clear to lightly stained water. 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
- Bright
- Overcast
- Water temperature
- Cool (50 to 60°F)
- Warm (60 to 75°F)
- Fished from
- Bank
- Boat
- Kayak
How to fish it
This floating crankbait rises when you stop reeling, which makes a stop-and-go retrieve work.
Stop and go
- Crank the lure down with several fast turns.
- Stop for a second and let the lure rise slowly.
- Repeat all the way back to the bank or boat.
How deep and around what
At 3/8 oz it runs to 3 ft, shallow enough to tick the tops of submerged grass and bump shallow wood.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft) (this product)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Maximum diving depth
- 3 ft
- Depth zone
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Cover
- Grass
- Wood
What you need with it
A 3/8 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 3/8 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 silver baitfish pattern imitates shad.
- Shad
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Gold/Orange | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Black Chrome Ayu, Chrome Black Back, Chrome Blue Back, Chrome HerringThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Bone, Bone Appetit | Stays easy to see in lightly stained water and under cloud. |
|
| Pearl/Red Head | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
Size
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 3/8 oz, 4", 3/8 ozThis one | An all-round size for bass and walleye on medium spinning or baitcasting gear. | — |
| 5", 5/8 oz, 5/8 oz, 5/8 oz (Jointed) | Casts farther and handles wind and bigger fish. | — |
| 1 oz, 7", 1 oz | A big profile for pike, musky and striped bass in big water. |
|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Cordell Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Chrome Blue Back | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:4 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Chrome Blue Back | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), clear and stained water, bass, walleye and striped bass |
| Cotton Cordell Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Gold/Orange | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:4 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Gold/Orange | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), stained and muddy water, bass, walleye and striped bass |
| Cotton Cordell Red-Fin Shallow-Diving Crankbait, 5-7 in, 5/8-1 oz | Lure weight:1 oz | Length:7 in | Maximum diving depth:— | Color:Chrome Black Back | Suits:Clear and stained water, bass, walleye, pike & musky and striped 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 | 3/8 oz |
|---|---|
| Length | 4 in |
| Minimum diving depth | 0 ft |
| Maximum diving depth | 3 ft |
| Buoyancy | Floating |
| Color | Chrome Blue Back |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
| Target species | Bass and Striped bass |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 3 ft.
Does it float or sink?
It is a floating lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 3/8 oz.
How long is it?
It is 4 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Chrome Blue Back.
Updated