2 photos
Spro · Medium Diving Crankbaits
Spro Little John Medium Diving Crankbait, Lavender Shad
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
- Item weight
- 10 Pounds
Quick take
A 50 mm medium diving crankbait that reaches 9 feet on 10 lb line, available in 18 fish-catching colors.
The Little John MD 50 is a medium diving crankbait for bass anglers who fish ledges, points and deeper cover. In Lavender Shad it is built to reach about 9 feet on 10 lb monofilament, so it covers water below the shallow runners. Its weight shifts to the tail on the cast.
Best for
- Bass suspended on ledges and structure in moderate depths
- Trolling for bass at controlled depths
- Working deeper drop-offs than shallow-diving crankbaits
Skip if
- You fish shallow water only; this dives to 9 feet
- You need a shallow-diving crankbait for topwater presentations
Strengths
- Medium dive depth targets bass on ledges and transition zones
- Relatively compact 50 mm size is manageable on lighter line
- 18 colors provide flexibility to match local forage and water clarity
Trade-offs
- Requires 10 lb line for proper dive depth; lighter line reduces depth
- Medium size and dive depth limit casting distance in wind
- Treble hooks snag easily in moderate cover
Fishing fit
- Species
- Bass
- Water
- Freshwater
- Techniques
- Casting
- Trolling
- Skill level
- Intermediate
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
Crankbaits are usually fished on a steady retrieve that keeps the lure near the bottom or the cover.
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
- Maximum diving depth
- 9 ft
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 Black, Chartreuse Blue, Chartreuse Nasty, Citrus Shad, Clear Chartreuse, Rootbeer Chartreuse | Stands out in stained or muddy water and in low light. |
|
| Old Fire Tiger | A loud pattern that shows up in stained and muddy water under cloud. |
|
| Lavender Shad, Nasty Shad, Spooky ShadThis one | Flashes like a baitfish in clear to lightly stained water. |
|
| Green Pumpkin, Sunny Bream, Watermelon Red Craw | Looks like real forage in clear water, where fish get a long look. |
|
| Bluegrass Craw, Fire Craw, Spring Craw | Matches crawfish in cold to cool, stained water early in the season. |
|
| Rusty Gold | Flashes in stained, tea-colored water and on dark days. |
|
Which one should I pick?
Choose the version by the depth you need to reach, then choose the color by water clarity.
| Version | Length | Maximum diving depth | Color | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spro Little John Medium Diving Crankbait, Old Fire Tiger | Length:1.97 in | Maximum diving depth:9 ft | Color:Old Fire Tiger | Suits:Stained and muddy water |
| Spro Little John MD Medium Diving Crankbait, 50mm | Length:— | Maximum diving depth:9 ft | Color:Chartreuse Black | Suits:Stained and muddy water |
| Spro Little John Medium Diving Crankbait, Chartreuse Nasty | Length:— | Maximum diving depth:9 ft | Color:Chartreuse Nasty | Suits:Stained and muddy water |
| Spro Little John Medium Diving Crankbait, Lavender Shad | Length:— | Maximum diving depth:9 ft | Color:Lavender Shad | Suits:Clear and stained water |
| Spro Little John Medium Diving Crankbait, Nasty Shad | Length:— | Maximum diving depth:9 ft | Color:Nasty Shad | Suits:Clear and stained water |
| Spro Little John Medium Diving Crankbait, Watermelon Red Craw | Length:— | Maximum diving depth:9 ft | Color:Watermelon Red Craw | Suits:Clear water |
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
| Maximum diving depth | 9 ft |
|---|---|
| Lip | Round |
| Color | Lavender Shad |
| Color family | Shad and silver |
Common questions
How deep does it run?
It runs to a maximum depth of 9 ft.
What color is this version?
This version is Lavender Shad.
Updated