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Cotton Cordell · Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Cotton Cordell Ripplin' Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Chrome Blue Back
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Quick take
A 4 1/2 in shallow-diving crankbait available in 14 proven color patterns for freshwater bass.
A shallow-diving floating crankbait from Cotton Cordell, 4 1/2 inches long and 3/8 ounce, shown here in Chrome Blue Back. It works down to about 3 feet and floats at rest, so it suits casting over shallow flats, weed edges and cover. A good fit for anglers who want a simple, classic minnow-style plug.
Best for
- Shallow structure and flats
- Standard crankbait presentations
- Community lakes and public waters
Skip if
- You need to fish deep
- You require heavy-duty construction
Strengths
- Multiple proven color patterns cover various conditions
- 3/8 oz weight suits light spinning or baitcasting
Trade-offs
- Shallow diving depth limits effectiveness in deeper water
- Standard construction compared to modern designs
- Color variants may perform differently in different light
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
What can I catch with this?
At 3/8 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass and walleye.
- Bass
- Walleye
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Chartreuse Minnow, Chartreuse Perch, Gold/Orange | 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. |
|
| Chrome Black Back, Chrome Blue Back, Cold Water ShadThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Yellow Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Black Ayu | Shows a solid outline in muddy water, at dusk and at night. |
|
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 Ripplin' Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Chrome Blue Back | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:4.5 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Chrome Blue Back | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), clear and stained water, bass and walleye |
| Cotton Cordell Ripplin' Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Gold/Orange | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:4.5 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Gold/Orange | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), stained and muddy water, bass and walleye |
| Cotton Cordell Ripplin' Red-Fin Crankbait, 4 1/2 in, 3/8 oz | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:4.5 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Mad Clown | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), bass and walleye |
| Cotton Cordell Ripplin' Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Whitefish | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:4.5 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Whitefish | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), bass and walleye |
| Cotton Cordell Ripplin' Red-Fin Crankbait, 3/8 oz, Yellow Perch | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:4.5 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Yellow Perch | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), clear water, bass and walleye |
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 | 4.5 in |
| Maximum diving depth | 3 ft |
| Buoyancy | Floating |
| Color | Chrome Blue Back |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
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 4.5 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Chrome Blue Back.
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