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Cotton Cordell · Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Cotton Cordell Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Gold/Orange
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Options
- Item weight
- 0.01 Kilograms
- Product dimensions
- 4 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
Shallow-diving crankbait with vibrating hackle tail and rattles that dives 0-3 feet for bass and saltwater gamefish.
This 4-inch, 3/8 oz Red-Fin in Gold/Orange is a floating minnow-style crankbait that works from the surface down to about 3 feet. It suits bass and striped bass in shallow water, whether trolled or worked with a twitch-twitch-pause retrieve. The compact size fits lighter spinning outfits.
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 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
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 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gold/OrangeThis one | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Black Chrome Ayu, Chrome Black Back, Chrome Blue Back, Chrome Herring | 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 | Gold/Orange |
| Color family | Chartreuse and bright |
| 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 Gold/Orange.
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