Rapala · Squarebill Crankbaits
Rapala Balsa Xtreme Big Brat 3, 3/8 oz, 2 in
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
Color: Peral Grey Shine
- Peral Grey Shine
- Blue Ghost
- Mossy
Size: 3/8 oz
- 3/8 oz
- Item weight
- 13.61 g
- Product dimensions
- 4 x 4 x 2 inches
Quick take
A 2-inch squarebill crankbait with balsa core and armored copolymer shell for bass fishing.
The Big Brat 3 is a 2-inch square bill crankbait that weighs 3/8 ounce. Its balsa core is wrapped in a copolymer shell, and flat sides with a V-cut belly give it a lively swimming action aimed at bass and other multi-species gamefish. Anglers who want different hooks can swap in their own trebles.
Best for
- Bass in shallow water
- Casting around cover and structure
- Freshwater lakes and ponds
Skip if
- You need a lure for deep diving
- You fish in heavy vegetation where snagging is likely
Strengths
- Balsa core and copolymer shell is more durable than plastic alone
- Flat side with V-cut belly produces erratic action that triggers strikes
- Quick-sinking design lets you start working it immediately after the cast
Trade-offs
- Most durable for shallow cover, can snag easily
- 3 ft depth limits use in deeper water
- Two treble hooks may hook vegetation
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
Specifications
| Type | squarebill crankbait |
|---|---|
| Weight | 3/8 oz |
| Running depth | 3 ft |
| Hooks | Two size 6 treble hooks |
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
Crankbaits are often fished in spring and fall, when fish are feeding on baitfish.
- Season
- Spring
- Fall
- Water
- Pond
- Lake
- Reservoir
- River
- 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 square lip kicks away from wood and rock, so it is fished right through cover.
Deflecting off cover
- Cast past a stump, a laydown or a rock and reel the lure into it.
- Keep reeling as the lip hits; the lure kicks to the side and rights itself.
- Pause for a moment after each deflection, then carry on.
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
- Cover
- Wood
- Rock
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 |
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 | 2 in |
| Lip | Square |
| Target species | Bass |
Common questions
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 3/8 oz.
How long is it?
It is 2 in long.
Updated