New Can’t-Miss Crankbaits
By Mark Hicks

When anglers look at the new crankbaits for 2007, it’s the attention to detail that likely will impress them the most. Today’s crankbaits are more finely tuned and have better finishes and hooks than ever. We can thank some of the Japanese crankbait makers for initiating this trend.

Many of the new entries are shallow to medium runners, which are the depth ranges where most crankbait fishing is done. So if you love to fish crankbaits, you’ll want to give several of these new baits a try.

Ambush Maximum Min’R & Wounded Min’R
Ambush’s large-profile Maximum Min’R Jerkbait is designed for shallow-water suspension. It dives to 7 feet but can be fished shallower with a slow twitch-pause retrieve. It features a lifelike finish and eyes.

The suspending Wounded Min’R Crankbait is made for shallow cranking and twitching. This foam lure dives to 5 feet but can be worked slower to suspend in shallower water. It comes with red VMC hooks. Ambush Lures, (660) 562-3838; www.ambushlures.com

Bagley Baitfish
Bagley introduces its first injected-molded lure in 28 years, the Baitfish rattling crankbait. The Baitfish’s tough synthetic body features 3-D eyes, a molded-in scale pattern and three rattle chambers. Bagley claims that the Baitfish also has the famous wobbling action of its balsa crankbaits. This crankbait has red hooks and comes in 1/4- and 1/2-ounce sizes and in 14 proven colors. Bagley Bait Company, 1-888-4BAGLEY; www.bagleybait.com

Bass Pro Shops’ Pro Series
The Flat Crank and Shallow Crank are two of several worthy offerings in Bass Pro Shops’ new line of Pro Series hard baits. The thin, slab-sided shallow-running Flat Crank delivers an extremely tight wiggle. The 7/16-ounce, coffin-lipped Shallow Crank runs 4 feet deep or less. All Pro Series baits feature detailed craftsmanship, the finest components, lifelike action and stunning colors. Bass Pro Shops, 1-800-227-7776; www.basspro.com

Berkley Rattl’r
The new 3/4-ounce Frenzy Rattl’r has 3-D eyes and an internal weight system. According to bass pro Gary Klein, the lure’s unique weight system allows for bullet-like casting, even into the wind, and a steep dive in the water that gets the lure in the strike zone faster. The lure is available in a wide array of colors and comes rigged with corrosion-resistant, saltwater treble hooks. Berkley, 1-800-237-5539; www.berkley-fishing.com

Bomber Balsa Model B
The Balsa Model B is Bomber’s first balsa crankbait. This buoyant, hard-wobbling, fat-bodied bait weighs 1/2 ounce and runs no deeper than 3 feet. It’s ideal for cranking over shallow cover without snagging. Bomber reinforces the Balsa Model B with a one-piece, super-tough, Tru-Track Polycarbonate frame and bill. The hook hangers connect to the frame, which prevents them from pulling out. The Balsa Model B is available in 10 proven bass-catching colors. Bomber, 1-800-531-1201; www.bomberlures.com

Cabela’s Fisherman Series Crankbaits
Bass love crayfish, and Cabela’s Dig-It Craw Crankbait effectively duplicates a freshwater crayfish. The bait’s lip produces a lifelike swimming action and bounces off rocks and structure. In addition, Cabela’s Rad Shad now comes in a jointed model that adds action and reduces drag. It’s available in suspending and floating models. Cabela’s, 1-800-237-4444; www.cabelas.com

D Baits’ Tiny Pearl River Shad
D Baits, the hand-crafted balsa wood crankbait company, now has a new color pattern called the Pearl River Shad. The sides are pearl, and the back color has a chameleon effect that flickers bronze, copper, green and brown as the bait wiggles through the water. It closely matches a live river shad. The color is especially effective on the Tiny Shad, a proven tournament winner when the fishing is tough. D Baits, (513) 738-8177; www.dbaits.com

Lucky Craft Signature Crankbaits
The Fat CB BDS Marty 1.2 is one of four new Lucky Craft Signature crankbaits. Designed by professional angler Marty Stone, this small, slender bait dives deeper than other BDS baits while maintaining the series’ notorious wobble. “I needed a small, compact crankbait I could use behind anglers to catch fish they missed,” Stone explains. “This is it.” Professional angler Skeet Reese designed the Skeet Trap Mini because he wanted a small-profile bait that would run in the 5- to 7-foot range. It has a tighter wobble than other baits in the CB Series. Both crankbaits are available in a variety of finishes. Lucky Craft, (714) 241-8484; www.luckycraft.com

Mann’s Bait Company C-4 Elite Series
Mann’s C-4 is an affordable wide-bodied crankbait designed to dive to 4 feet. Its large, square bill deflects off structure and allows anglers to fish this bait in heavy cover. Its bigger size creates incredible vibration and wobble. The Baby 1-Minus has new colors and finishes, including textured bodies, 3-D eyes and extra-strong red hooks. The Go2 Series 15+ and 20+ have also been upgraded to include new finishes and 3-D eyes. These baits have a red hook on the front and a black nickel hook on the rear. Mann’s Bait Company, (334) 687-5716; www.mannsbait.com

Rapala DT Flat Series
Rapala has added two baits to the DT Flat family. The fish-seeking DT Flat now comes in a shallow-running size 3, which dives to 7 feet. It shows bass a tighter, brighter, shimmering action than the original DT series. It also features an enhanced coffin lip that deflects more effectively off underwater obstacles in a darting, escape-style blast. The DT Flat Sure Set Series also comes in a shallower size 3. Like all DT Flat Sure Sets, it features VMC Sure Set hooks. The back hook is also positioned in an upright position. Rapala, (952) 933-7060; www.rapala.com

Spro Aruku Shad Jr.
Like the bigger, original Aruku Shad, the Aruku Shad Jr. rests nose down on the bottom without falling over on its side. The smaller size is just the thing for matching small baitfish. This rattling crankbait sports two sticky-sharp Gamakatsu No. 6 round-bend treble hooks and is available in several hot new colors. The realistic Bill Siemantel Signature BBZ-1 Swimbait is also available in floating, slow-sinking and fast-sinking models. Spro, (770) 919-1722; www.spro.com

Strike King Red Eye Shad
Strike King’s Red Eye Shad lipless crankbait has 3-D eyes and a unique shad-style body. It comes in new color schemes recommended by Strike King’s pro staff. The same is true of the Series 3 and Series 5 Tour Grade Crankbaits. Strike King’s balsa Custom Shop Crankbaits boast thin circuit-board bills that allow the lures to run deeper and deflect off cover more erratically. The Stealth Shad dives 4 to 6 feet, while the Flat Shad runs 3 to 5 feet deep. Strike King Lure Company, (901) 853-1455; www.strikeking.com

Wally G Baits
Wally G Baits announces three new colors for 2007. Two of these colors, the Blueback and the Bluegill foil, are designed to closely imitate two favorite meals for bass. The Sour Cream color is for fishermen who like a white bait. It is an all-white bait with a light chartreuse flash added. All three new colors have been extensively tested in various levels of water clarity. Wally G Baits, (812) 986-3552; www.wallygbaits.com

Xcalibur Xw6 Wake Bait
The Xw6 Wake Bait is the newest addition to Xcalibur’s Hi-Tek series of hard baits. These lures have superb actions and finishes, and they sell for less than comparable premium crankbaits. As with other baits in the Xcalibur line, the Wake Bait features red 3-D eyes and Tx3 treble hooks that have forged — not chemically sharpened — points to make them sharper and more durable. The hooks also have InLine technology, which helps crankbaits run truer with fewer hang ups. The Wake Bait is a super-shallow runner that bulges the surface while wobbling aggressively. Xcalibur, 1-800-531-1201; www.xcaliburtackle.com

Yo-Zuri Rattlin’ Vibe
The Rattlin’ Vibe is available in six new colors, including Matte Tiger. This 5/8-ounce rattling bait has 10 internal steel balls that improve its casting distance and rattling. The bait’s balance allows it to be jigged vertically — with a sink rate of 1 foot per second — without planing to either side. Yo-Zuri America, 1-888-336-9775; www.yo-zuri.com

Yum Dancin’ Eel
The Dancin’ Eel is a soft crankbait that combines the wobble of a crankbait with the free motion only soft-plastic lures can provide. This 6-inch bait has a fat, wobbling crankbait body and a long, supple eel tail that swims with a violent whiplash motion. It’s unlike any other crankbait action, which is one reason it appeals to bass. The Dancin’ Eel also has an internal scent chamber that you can fill with Yum LPT attractant. It also features a super-sharp Tx3 InLine treble hook. Yum, 1-800-531-1201; www.yum3x.com