Rapala · Squarebill Crankbaits
Rapala Balsa Xtreme Brat Crankbait, Size 3, 2 in, 3/8 oz
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Options
Color: Homer's buddy
- Homer's buddy
- Blaze not in Size 6, 2 Inch-3/8 Oz
- Delta
- Tamale
Size: Size 6, 2 Inch-3/8 Oz
- Size 6, 2 Inch-3/8 Oz
- Size 3, 2 Inch-3/8 Oz
- Item weight
- 13.61 g
- Product dimensions
- 4.75 x 2 x 1.63 inches
Quick take
A 2-inch balsa crankbait with a square bill and modified flat side that produces hard flash and wild tracking movements.
The Rapala BX Brat 06 is a 2-inch square bill crankbait that weighs 3/8 ounce and floats, diving to about 6 feet on a steady retrieve. Its balsa core under a copolymer shell pairs with a flat side and a V-cut belly, so it wobbles and kicks out to the side as it comes through the water. Bass anglers who work shallow cover, riprap and weed edges use it to target bass and multi-species gamefish. It comes with two VMC black nickel round bend trebles.
Best for
- Smallmouth bass on rocky structure and points
- Clear to moderately stained shallow water
- Fishing around hard cover and shallow flats
Skip if
- You fish deep water or dense vegetation
- You want a floating or suspending presentation
Strengths
- Balsa core with copolymer shell balances durability and action
- Square bill deflects around hard cover without snagging
- V-cut belly produces distinctive hard-flashing movements
Trade-offs
- At 3/8 oz it has limited casting distance in wind
- Balsa core can waterlog over time with repeated punctures
- Shallow 3-foot depth limits use beyond shallow structure
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Skill level
- Intermediate
Specifications
| Type | square-bill crankbait |
|---|---|
| Length | 2 in |
| Weight | 3/8 oz |
| Running depth | 3 ft |
| Body core | Balsa |
| Hooks | 2 VMC #6 treble |
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. This floating crankbait rises when you stop reeling, which makes a stop-and-go retrieve work.
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.
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.
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 down to 6 ft, in the mid depth zone, around the outside edge of grass, wood and rock.
- Surface
- Shallow (to 5 ft)
- Mid (5 to 12 ft) (this product)
- Deep (12 to 25 ft)
- Very deep (over 25 ft)
- Maximum diving depth
- 6 ft
- Depth zone
- Mid (5 to 12 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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapala Balsa Xtreme Brat Crankbait, Size 3, 2 in, 3/8 oz | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:2 in | Maximum diving depth:6 ft | Color:Homer's buddy | Suits:Mid (5 to 12 ft), bass and walleye |
| Rapala Balsa Xtreme Brat Squarebill, 2 in, 3/8 oz, Homer's buddy | Lure weight:3/8 oz | Length:2 in | Maximum diving depth:— | Color:Homer's buddy | Suits: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 | 2 in |
| Maximum diving depth | 6 ft |
| Buoyancy | Floating |
| Lip | Square |
| Color | Homer's buddy |
| Target species | Bass |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 6 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 2 in long.
What color is this version?
This version is Homer's buddy.
Updated