Shallow A Wakebait Review.

The water is gently streaming over the rocks as the smallmouths continue to feed on the surface just outside the current break.  Plastics and jigs have only been snagging on the rocks, but they are the only tackle you can manage to cast far enough to access the strike zone.  If only the fish were just 10 yards closer you could open that box of crankbaits and really get in on the action.  Sound familiar?

Meet the Bomber Shallow A – a must have for any crankbait fisherman—and at nearly half the cost of Rapala’s similar models.

During the summer of 2010 I put this lure through extensive field testing—in rivers, ponds, lakes and weather conditions ranging from 50° after a severe cold front, to some of the most unbearable heat waves of the Northeast.  It was, in fact, the most productive lure I used all season and even added to team BASStard Fishing’s limit in our first annual company tournament.

With its compact body-type it generates superior casting distance that is simply unattainable with most topwater cranks, making the strike zone much more accessible and allowing you to keep the bait in the water longer.  With the slightest sweep of the rod the wakebait gets to work, tightly wobbling as a frantic baitfish.  Keeping the rod tip higher will generate a true “wake”, forcing the water over the stout lip of the lure.  A lower and quicker retrieve pulls the bait 6-12” below the surface for an entirely different action.  For actively feeding fish I prefer the wake-method, but when the bass are slightly more wary of biting, a deeper run of the lure proves more successful, as the wobble displaces a large amount of water below the surface.

Complimented with an inner rattle, the Bomber Shallow A grabs the attention of bass from a great distance.  I witnessed several bass make runs of nearly 30’ to snatch up the wakebait.  The rattle is also a contributing factor to the weight of the lure, again for better casting distance.

My first recommendation with this bait is “Let it pause.”  While the action of the lure is addictive, patience on the cast can go a long way.  Many fish will strike within a few seconds after the cast, so let it sit a moment before beginning your retrieve.

While this lure may appear aggressive (as most topwaters do) I had great success with it in many adverse conditions.  Again, a quicker retrieve with a lower rod positioning will generate a sub-surface presentation, while a slower retrieve with higher position will make the most turbulence.

Do not be hesitant to use the bait around lilly pads, either.  Try to locate a path in-between the vegetation that you can manage to stay free of weeds.  Larger bass that are on the prowl for frogs and bluegills will quickly take to the action of the wakebait. 

Varying your presentation will also yield better results.  Sometimes a reel-pause-reel method is more productive than a constant retrieve.  You may be surprised to find that even bluegills and perch will get hooked.

Presentation is everything.  One of the most exciting attributes to the Bomber Shallow A is calling the fish to the surface.  Keep an eye around your bait, and watch for any wake generated by a following bass, and not your bait.  When a fish is following up, you may want to slow it down just a bit.  If you get a lot of “slurpers” hitting at your bait but not taking it, this is when you should try to adjust your technique to their behavior.

While the lure is perhaps most productive at dusk and times of low-light conditions when the bass are more readily feeding, the bait is quite successful in its daytime performance as well. 

This is an extremely versatile bait, but through my field testing I found a few downfalls to the lure.  Firstly, the wakebait tends to foul your line fairly regularly.  Due to the small profile of the lure, the treble hooks tend to interlock or wrap around your line, even during a cast.  A possible remedy for this is to tie on a short (6”-12”) steel leader to make a stiffer connection to the lure. 

Secondly, I had to change out the hooks several times in the course of the season as larger fish would bend and weaken them to the point of failure.  Keep in mind that altering the hook size will affect the balance and action of the lure. 

Featured in the “sexy shad” color above, the Bomber Shallow A is a unique crankbait that holds its own on the water.  Durability and low cost make for a great investment to get in on the action. 

-Come chat with me, the Lucky BASStard, on the BASStard Forum.

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