Berkley has introduced a new line of hardbaits that includes versions of the most popular types of lures. The one that first caught our attention was the Pitbull Crank Bait 5.5.
We use a lot of square bills for several reasons. They deflect well off of cover whether the obstructions are bottom oriented or higher in the water column like submerged trees. These are the kinds of places big ‘ole bass like to hang out to ambush prey.
That’s why squarebills tend to be so effective. They represent both some form of food for the bass as well as have the ability to draw reaction strikes. With the latter in mind, one of the key considerations is the ability of a lure to both get through clutter without hanging up and get back on track after banging into something.
3 Different Versions
Berkley has three versions of the Pitbull. The 3.5 which is 2”, 3/8 oz., the 5.5 which is 2-3/8”, 3/8 oz., and the 7.5 which is 2-3/4”, 3/8 oz.
The Pitbull has some well nice color schemes that contain both some realistic baitfish patterns as well as some patterns that are pretty standard in crankbaits. The one that we’ve been testing is the Gilly which is kind of a cross between a bluegill and a redear sunfish.
The Pitbull 5.5 is designed to run in that 3-6ft range. This bait isn’t going to surprise you by going off the reservation not getting to depth or flying right by it and going deeper. It will stay in its range.
Berkley armed the Pitbull with their new Fusion19 trebles that are both sharp and well sized for the bait. Because of the placement of the hooks, they will not foul on each other during use.
The Nuts and Bolts
The shape of the body is a baitfish profile but the rear end of the bait is elongated and skinny.
The Pitbull is not the most aggressive crank out there. When you cast it, you’ll get excellent distance but, on the retrieve, it will not shake your rod tip the way some other cranks do.
This is because this bait has a slower wobble. While it provides good flash with its motion, the frequency of that movement is more finesse than aggressive. In the water it appears as though this bait was designed to mimic a baitfish that isn’t in a hurry as opposed to one that is panicked and running for its life.
This doesn’t decrease how well the Pitbull deflects off of cover or how quickly it gets back on line. It is simply a less frantic wiggle than some others. The fish that we’ve caught certainly didn’t seem to mind.
The 5.5 has held up well to our abuse. Believe me, we do try, within reason, to push lures to the point of failing. We have been pleasantly surprised by the durability of the Berkley. It’s taken our punishment without breaking, needing to be tuned or losing some part of itself.
As a side note, these Fusion19 hooks have stayed pretty sharp in spite of the things we’ve run this bait through. That’s impressive.
When and Where
You’ll want to use the Pitbull the same way you use any other squarebill. First, look for cover to bang off of. If there isn’t any around, run it through some rocks while making contact with them. Dig up some mud on a dirt bottom or tick the tops of submerged grass. Find something to hit with it, this is when it’s at its best.
The other key component is to vary your retrieve. We always start fast before slowing down. For that matter, try what we call burnin’ and bangin’. We have caught so many good fish using this retrieve.
The Berkley Pitbull has been a good, consistent performer for us when we’re using squarebills. We’re pretty sure that due to its less aggressive wobble, we’ve picked up some fish that we would have missed with other squarebills.
The Pitbull is a value priced bait at about $7 retail. For this price, you can try out a few colors as well as get a couple different sizes based on the depth that you’re going to be fishing and the size of prey you’re try to imitate.
The Berkley Pitbull is a competent overall performer that will make a nice addition to an anglers arsenal looking for that bait that has a more subtle action.
| Berkley Pitbull 5.5 | |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating |    |
| A more subtle squarenbill | |
See ya’ on the water …
