Available in HD colors, the Berkley Frittside has options that work anywhere you go! (Right to left: HD Brown Craw, HD Blue Craw, HD Bluegill, and HD Blueback Herring.

Photo Courtesy of Berkley Fishing (2022).

As the warmth of spring begins to grace the earth once again concluding another cold season, anglers eagerly prepare to hit the water for a shot at the action of one of the best times of the year to target both large and smallmouth bass. A highly effective technique that often produces remarkable results from when things are starting off still chilly and challenging in the early season and throughout the remainder of the year is putting a flat-sided crankbait to work. The ins and outs of using these lures are known by many but mastered by few. Serious bass anglers have these tied on and active in their bait rotation for the entirety of the season with justification- they produce fish in a variety of conditions, not just cold and dirty water in the spring months.

When things are tough, a flat-sided crank might be the answer.

A flat-sided crank mimics the appearance and movement of prey, whether it be a baitfish or a crawdad. They have a flat body profile on the sides, which creates a unique, tight, wobbling action when retrieved. When you compare the anatomy of this bait to another crankbait, like a squarebill for example, they are quite different in their build. While a squarebill is rounded and swims with a wide, tail-swingin’ rolling action, a flat sided crankbait is narrow and swims very tightly. This action can be incredibly enticing to bass, especially during the warming cool water in the spring when bass are considering something to eat but come off hesitant. If you are power fishing in the early spring and seeing bass follow your bait out of curiosity to the shore or boat and they are not striking, the action demonstrated by a flat sided crankbait might be what they are looking for.

During the late winter and into spring, bass are coming out of their wintering areas and begin to stage in their pre-spawn fixation. Often found in shallow water near ledges, particularly near areas with cover such as fallen trees, rocks, or submerged vegetation. These areas not only greet the bass with warmer water as they come into a pre-spawn pattern, they also provide prime feeding grounds as they begin to search for prey. When using flat-sided crankbaits, focus on casting near these structures to increase your chances of attracting a bite.

Decending: Size 9 Berkley Frittside Spring Craw, size 7 MF Bluegill, Rapala OG Slim Coosa Shad, Rootbeer Shad, and original Shad.

Selecting the appropriate color and size of your flat-sided crankbait is crucial for enticing bass. In the clear waters of spring, natural colors, like baitfish or crayfish patterns tend to work well, as they closely resemble the forage available to bass during this time. Two of the most popular flat-sided cranks on the market today that can be found in tackle boxes of many are the Berkley Frittside and the Rapala OG Slim 6. Designed by and named after professional bass angler, David Fritts, the Frittside is available in over twenty different colors, five size variations, and in a ‘clickin’ model that delivers a sound profile to pair with the tight, balsa-like swimming action. The OG Slim 6 Series by Rapala was designed by Major League Fishing professional, Ott Defore, and is available in one size with nineteen different colors to choose from.

In clear water, the Frittside in HD Blueback Herring, or OG Slim 6 in Root beer Crawdad, are trusted colors by anglers that bass cannot resist swiping. As delivered, the tight action and wobble of these baits turns interested fish into fully committing to what they believe to be their next meal. Brighter tones, like the Coosa Shad OG Slim, or Lone Ranger Frittside, work very well in stained water conditions that often happen in river and reservoir situations due to springtime rain runoff. With a very tight and flashy action of the bait’s movement through the water, brighter colors are easier to catch the eye of a bass when the water is stained. In many Great Lakes smallmouth situations, fishing anything bright, flashy, and fast, can be a recipe to swing the rod with success. Flat sided crankbaits have a reputation for doing exactly that.

When it comes to the retrieve technique in attracting bass to your flat-sided crankbait, there is no wrong way to do it. When starting with this bait for the day, vary your retrieve until the fish tells you how they want it delivered. Start with a slow to medium retrieve speed, allowing the lure to imitate injured or struggling baitfish and go from there. Experiment with pauses and twitches to add variation to your retrieve, as this can trigger the predatory instincts of bass. Sweeping the rod and reeling up the slack can be a great option to have the bait surge violently through the water, followed by a moment where it pauses and begins to slowly float upwards until it is swept again. When the fish are really fired up, a turn and burn technique can be one of the most intense and effective bites of the year. It is simple- all that is needed is a long cast and a consistently prompt cranking of the reel handles that speeds the bait back into the strike zone. Talk about a “Hulk smash” moment when that bait is cruising through the water, and it gets demolished in an explosive strike.

Lifetime crankbait angler, Pat Renwick, cannot get over how special the Berkley Frittside really is in its action and fish-catching abilities.

Photo Courtesy of Stay Casts Media (2024)

While springtime bass fishing is heavily influenced by water temperature, the action of a flatsided crank works when others do not. Even when the temperatures are in the 40s, the subtle motion is enough to seduce attention and a strike. As Bass tend to become more active as the water warms up, this bite and pattern continues to produce throughout the remainder of the season. What makes it distinct from other means of catching bass is how it produces fish around the calendar, straight out of the package, simply by casting and reeling.

Bass media personality and Stray Cast Podcast host, Pat Renwick, has been using crankbaits since his earliest days of fishing. He shares how unique this bait is because fish follow behind and track it swimming through the water before the strike- a rare occurrence with crankbaits. His recommendation for flat-sided crankbait virgins is, like in other power fishing scenarios, to make as many casts as you can to put it within sight of a bass with an appetite. These baits are great at enticing bites, and the hook-up to landing ratio is quite significant.

““The frittside stands up. Anywhere I go, it works. I have been amazed how well this bait catches fish all over the country. From the cold, dirty water of Grand Lake, Oklahoma, to the conditions of Kentucky Lake, to the clear waters around Michigan, and south all the way down into Florida- bass can’t resist. Of three of the baits I have tied on year-round, the #5 Biggin’ has always done me well.” ”

— Pat Renwick

Tools used to get the job done in the rod, reel, and line department, can be a matter of personal preference under similar, recommended themes.

· Rods- Having a sense of give and bend in your rod of choice is important to crankbait fishing. Having a moderate action enables a delay in feeling the strike that will allow the fish to get the bait in its mouth better, while a medium-heavy power grants the strength to apply the pressure and control the fish as it comes in. A rod over 7 foot is recommended for making long casts to ensure effective cranking at intended depth. Renwick shares that he uses a heavy powered, moderate action S-glass rod by Alpha Angling. The Abu Garcia Winch series in 7’ or 7’6”, and the Swate Fishing 7’4” Mad Crankentist are also both great options for medium-heavy powered rods with moderate action that were designed for crankbait applications with their composite builds.

· Reels- A reel that is fitted in a 6:1 gear ratio is optimal. While anything lower would be a little too slow, or faster would be a little too fast, a 6:1 is just right like Goldie locks. The Abu Garcia Revo and Zenon series perform great and operate with high control with multiple options available. While the author uses the Revo SX in a 6.7:1, and Renwick uses the Zenon MG-X in 6.8:1, both are fantastic choices for an angler looking for a cranking reel with smooth performance and solid construction.

· Line- Fluorocarbon is a preferred choice of many due to its abrasion-resistant properties, sensitivity, strength, handling, and invisibility. Line sizes ranging from 10-15Lb are ideal. Renwick shares that he uses 12Lb when he is using the size #5 Frittside during colder water situations and using 15Lb when fishing the larger size #7 and when ripping through weed growth that comes as the season progresses. Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon, Sunline FC Sniper, and Seaguar Tatsu are looked upon in high favor in the industry as being some of the best options on the market to connect an angler with what could be the fish of a lifetime.

Whatever model an angler has available to put to use, one thing is for sure; a flat-sided crankbait gets the job done when things can be tough. Whether the water is cold in the early season and fish are sluggish, or the water is at the hottest temperature of the summer and the oxygen level has been depleted, this tight, enchanting wiggle can be put in a variety of situations that lead to a stellar day to remember on the water.

It is with great appreciation to Pat Renwick of Stray Casts Outdoor Media and the beautiful people at Berkley Fishing for their contribution both in fishing insight and photography to be shared in this article. All photos have been used with expressed consent. Please consider supporting these organizations through purchasing their products or listening to their content. Without their hard work, anglers would not have the tools and skills to be as optimally successful.

Berkley Frittside: https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/frittside

Berkley Clickin Frittside: https://www.berkley-fishing.com/products/clickin-frittside

Success Across Scenarios: The Productive Wiggle of Flat-Sided Crankbaits Spring through Summer

Available in HD colors, the Berkley Frittside has options that work anywhere you go! (Right to left: HD Brown Craw, HD Blue Craw, HD Bluegill, and HD Blueback Herring.

Photo Courtesy of Berkley Fishing (2022).

Decending: Size 9 Berkley Frittside Spring Craw, size 7 MF Bluegill, Rapala OG Slim Coosa Shad, Rootbeer Shad, and original Shad.

Lifetime crankbait angler, Pat Renwick, cannot get over how special the Berkley Frittside really is in its action and fish-catching abilities.

Photo Courtesy of Stay Casts Media (2024)

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