Rapala · Shallow Diving Crankbaits
Rapala Countdown CD03 Crankbait, 1.5 in
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Options
- Product dimensions
- 1 x 1 x 1 inches
Quick take
A 1.5 inch balsa crankbait with custom swimming action and VMC black nickel hooks for trout and panfish.
A 1.5-inch balsa minnow in a rainbow trout pattern, weighing about 1/8 ounce. It sinks slowly at roughly one foot per second and runs about 2 to 3 feet deep, which suits shallow streams and lake edges. Two black nickel hooks come on the lure.
Best for
- Small trout streams where tiny profiles match the hatch
- Panfish summer patterns in shallow water
- Ultralight spinning setups
Skip if
- You fish large open lakes
- You need long casts in windy conditions
Strengths
- Balsa construction delivers realistic buoyancy and action
- Countdown technique allows anglers to control dive depth
- VMC black nickel hooks resist corrosion and hold edge
Trade-offs
- 1.5 inch size limits to small fish and light presentations
- Balsa is fragile and dents easily from impacts
- Tiny profile requires accurate casting to reach feeding fish
Fishing fit
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
Specifications
| Type | crankbait |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.5 in |
| Material | Balsa construction |
| Hook | VMC black nickel |
| Design | Custom swimming action |
What can I catch with this?
At 1/8 oz, this crankbait is sized for bass, crappie and trout.
- Bass
- Trout
- Crappie
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 deep and around what
At 1/8 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 1/8 oz crankbait is usually fished with a spinning rod, a spinning reel and 6 to 10 lb line.
- Spinning rodsA medium-light rod with a moderate action casts a light lure and keeps small hooks pinned.
- Spinning reelsA spinning reel handles light line without backlash.
- Monofilament lineStretches, which keeps the hooks pinned; 6 to 10 lb for this weight.
Pairs with
A 1/8 oz lure pairs with a medium-light or medium rod with a moderate action and with 6 to 10 lb line.
| Item | Range |
|---|---|
| Rod power | Medium light or medium |
| Rod action | Moderate |
| Rod lure weight | 1/8 to 1/2 oz |
| Line test | 6 to 10 lb |
How to choose a color and size
Color
| Options | When to pick it | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Firetiger | A loud pattern that shows up in stained and muddy water under cloud. |
|
| Silver | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Perch, Yellow Perch | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Blue | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapala Countdown Minnow, 1/8 oz, Firetiger | Lure weight:1/8 oz | Length:1.5 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Firetiger | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), stained and muddy water, bass, trout, walleye and crappie |
| Rapala Countdown CD03 Crankbait, 1.5 in | Lure weight:1/8 oz | Length:1.5 in | Maximum diving depth:3 ft | Color:Rainbow Trout | Suits:Shallow (to 5 ft), bass, trout and crappie |
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 | 1/8 oz |
|---|---|
| Length | 1.5 in |
| Minimum diving depth | 2 ft |
| Maximum diving depth | 3 ft |
| Buoyancy | Slow sinking |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 3 ft.
Does it float or sink?
It is a slow sinking lure.
How much does it weigh?
It weighs 1/8 oz.
How long is it?
It is 1.5 in long.
Updated