Lucky Craft seems to come up with new products every year that are well thought out and fit a niche that anglers are looking for. This year they are introducing two new shallow running crankbaits that will fit specific conditions. The first being the 0.5, which is a very small crank for when the fish are chasing new hatched shad or for heavily pressured water when they are skittish.
The second is the 3.5 which is a big, bad bait for active fish that are feeding on large shad. As usual, the finish on these baits will be what we’ve come to expect from Lucky Craft as well as the use of quality components throughout.
The Fat Smasher is a compact, 3 segmented swimbait that will come in four sizes, 55, 60, 75 and 90. These baits are designed to be retrieved on the quick side over submerged stumps, grass and other underwater structure for the reaction bite. With all the sizes and colors that are being produced, these is probably something that will fit in your favorite body of water.
Lucky Craft is introducing a new, smaller size of the Kelly J, the Kelly J Jr. It shares all the proven design elements of its bigger brother including two props, feathered rear hook and will come in a few new colors.
Lucky Craft is joining the one-knocker fray with the new 1.5 and 2.5 DRS shallow running crankbaits. You can expect these baits to be released with all the same great attributes of their louder cousins but with that one-knocker sound that at times, will produce more bites than the conventional rattles will.
Takahiro Omori has worked with Lucky Craft to produce the new LV RTO lipless crank. The head of this bait is sculpted in such a way as to provide the bait with more vibration as well as give the angler more feedback during the retrieve. It will be manufactured in a 1/2 and a 3/4 oz version.
In the deeper diving styles, Lucky Craft is introducing the 2.5 DD RT which is basically the same bait style as the shallow baits with a deeper diving lip. It has the rattles and should reach about 12 feet. The 3.5 DD is a larger version that has no rattles. Yes, a silent deep diving crank that should reach about 14 feet. And finally, the new 3.5 XD (extra-deep) crank. This bait uses the same size body as the 3.5 DD but has a tungsten weight in the bill of the crank that allows it to get even further down. All of these baits will come in the tournament proven colors that have been available and should be in stores soon.
In the MR & DR series, Lucky Craft will be producing rattling versions of both of these baits this year. For all those fans of these baits, this will give you another tool when the fish start turning their noses up to the standard MR’s and DR’S.
The Smasher series for the uninitiated, are four segmented swimbaits that are designed for that slow roll approach when the fish are in a negative mood. For this year, cosmetics haven’t been altered but the swimming motion of the bait has been perfected to the nth degree.
You will also see some new colors across the catalog that were designed for varying water clarity. You will find patterns that will get noticed in downright dingy water.