We’ve talked about how effective square-billed, shallow running crankbaits can be this time of year. We have been testing one that debuted at this year’s ICAST— the Jackall Aska SR Crankbait.
The 60 has been available for a while now, but is joined by both a smaller 50 as well as a larger 70 series.
For our review today, we are going to look specifically at the Aska 50 SR. This little guy has proven to be an ideal bait for pressured fish. It isn’t too large to make them wary, and employs a different action than the majority of baits in this category.
Bait Construction
The Aska 50 is 2 inches in length and weighs just 1/4 ounce. So how much technology can you pack into so little space? In the case of the Aska, a boat load!
The slender body gives this little bait a fast wobbling, rolling kind of action that is unique in this lure segment. With that as a basis, every aspect of the bait complements this action.
The fiberglass (circuit board) lip provides a unique vibration. The length of the lip gives this bait almost unparalleled deflection qualities. Since we have been fishing the Aska, we have done our level best to not only destroy this lip while fishing it, but to also deliberately try to hang the bait on anything and everything we could find.
To date, we haven’t been able to break the lip at all, furthermore we have only been successful snagging it in things that we would never throw it into to begin with. In the interest of testing, we had to try of course!
Fishing The Aska
It’s claimed that the internal balancing weight allows the Aska to track correctly almost immediately after a deflection. There has been no evidence to the contrary that we can cite. Try as we might, we could not get this lure to run anything but true after banging it against wood, rock, poles, posts etc.
We did our usual square-bill thing in that as soon as we felt the contact, we killed our retrieve for an instant before starting it up again. Each time, the Aska continued on its original course without as much as a whimper.
We obtained five patterns and have fished them all with exactly the same results. No matter the pattern they all have run true out of the box. Not one has required tuning of any kind.
No Tangle Hooks
Another area that we always look at when fishing a crankbait is the relationship of the hooks with one another. There are some good cranks out there that will allow the hooks to catch each other, either on the cast or during your retrieve.
To check this, all the angler needs to do is take it out of the box and manipulate the hooks by hand to see if this possibility exists. With the Aska, it doesn’t.
Unfortunately, in my determination to prove that this could happen, the only thing I accomplished was finding out just how sharp the stock hooks are. The end result was that I was bleeding before I ever made a cast.
There are a couple of design characteristics that make it impossible for this to happen. One, the rear eyelet on the bait is set higher than some of the competition which limits the swing of the rear hook just a smidgen.
The other is the one-of-a-kind belly hook keeper that has reinforced edges. Not only does this negate any possibility of the two hooks becoming intertwined but it also keeps the belly hook pinned closer to the center of the body which results in fewer snags.
This also allows the angler to modify the Aska by adding a larger hook without worrying about the typical negative effects that can cause. We have not done this because changing hooks usually means that you’re missing fish and trying to increase your hook-up ratio.
In our time with the Aska, that ratio has been beyond good. We are somewhat hesitant to use stronger terms so let’s just suffice it to say, try it yourself and use your own adjective!
Colors And Pricing
The color patterns are all well thought out and executed. Most are more on the subtle side of the spectrum but for those dirty water times, there is a Black Chartreuse and Chartreuse Shad.
The Aska 50 SR retails for about $16 and in our opinion is worth every cent. This little bait is a fish catching machine. It has proven to be very effective and surprisingly durable for the abuse we’ve subjected it to.
We have, in past articles, discussed the difference between standard and premium tackle. Jackall is bringing premium quality for a reasonable price. We sincerely hope to see this kind of innovation offered at these price points for a long time.
Check out our Facebook page for a full gallery of photos.
| Aska 50 Crankbait | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |  |
| Amazing crankbait that might actually be a fish magnet | |
See ya’ on the water …