Rapala · Crankbaits
Rapala Balsa Xtreme Big Brat, Size 3, Chartreuse Shad
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- Item weight
- 0.01 Kilograms
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
Balsa crankbait with Xtreme action designed to produce aggressive movements and flash to trigger strikes.
The Rapala Balsa Xtreme Brat 03 is a 2-inch squarebill crankbait that weighs 3/8 ounce and dives to about 3 feet. Its balsa core sits inside a copolymer shell, and the square bill with a V-cut belly suits anglers working cover, weed edges and shoreline. The chartreuse shad finish gives bass anglers a bright option for the upper water column.
Best for
- Aggressive bass fishing with fast retrieves
- Bright light conditions requiring flashy presentations
- Shallow to medium-depth fishing
Skip if
- You prefer subtle crankbait presentations
- You fish deep clear water
Strengths
- Balsa body provides natural buoyancy and erratic action
- Chartreuse color creates high visibility
- Xtreme action pattern generates aggressive strikes
- Proven Rapala quality
Trade-offs
- Balsa more fragile than plastic alternatives
- Bright color less natural in clear water
- Xtreme action requires strong retrieves
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
Specifications
| Type | crankbait |
|---|---|
| Model | BXBB06HAY Big Brat 06 |
| Size | 3 |
| Color | Chartreuse Shad |
| Action | Xtreme |
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 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
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
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
- 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 |
What it imitates
Its bright pattern imitates shad and, in stained water, bluegill.
- Shad
- Bluegill
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 |
| Maximum diving depth | 3 ft |
| Lip | Square |
| Pack count | 1 |
| Color | Chartreuse Shad |
| Color family | Chartreuse and bright |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 3 ft.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 3/8 oz.
How long is it?
It is 2 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Chartreuse Shad.
Updated