I'm currently bank fishing for bass on a shallow bay where at the deepest it's probably about 4 feet.  I need a hard bait that on retrieve will run probably no more than a foot to foot and a half deep.

 

Suggestions?

Look at Mann's 1 minus baits.  I've also been fishing with the BPS Egg, but I would change out the hooks first.

1-Minus as mentioned above is a great suggestion. 
 

What kind of bottom? Rocks or wood where you can run a regular square bill? Grass where you can rip a lipless? Why only hard baits? How about tossing out a weightless paddletail or a fluke?

7 hours ago, Oklahoma Mike said:

Why only hard baits? How about tossing out ....... a fluke?

 

   That was the second thing that came to mind. The first was a War Eagle Wake spinnerbait. Go big or go home, right?  ?  

   I think you're seriously handicapping yourself by considering only crankbait-style lures.         jj

7 hours ago, Oklahoma Mike said:

1-Minus as mentioned above is a great suggestion. 
 

What kind of bottom? Rocks or wood where you can run a regular square bill? Grass where you can rip a lipless? Why only hard baits? How about tossing out a weightless paddletail or a fluke?

The bottom is a mix of rock and vegetation.  If the lure hits the bottom it's definitely going to pick up some sort of vegetation and I've always believed fish won't bite on a lure with vegetation on it.

 

It doesn't have to be a hard bait.  I only said that because I looked on Rapala's website and couldn't find a hard bait that runs at around a foot, so instead of searching everywhere, I decided to ask here.

 

I know I could use a worm with a jig head or bullet sinker or other types of lures.  I just don't want to hit the bottom if possible with whatever I'm using.  Also, would still like to use a lure with some weight to it, so I can get some casting distance.

 

 

You could use the rapala floating minnow as a diving surface lure I believe. That's about all I can think of. 

 

Buzzbaits seem to work really well for me when it gets super shallow.

Rapala Jointed Shallow Shad Rap is what I use for 4' and less water

Rapala DT-Fat is also a shallow runner

 

There are many soft plastic baits/presentations that won't catch vegetation (depending on the type of vegetation) and, in clearer water would likely be a better option than a hard bait. For hard baits, you can't beat the original Floating Rapala, IMO. A #9 or a #11, or a jointed version will give you the option of presenting them as a jerkbait as well as a crank.

Spinnerbait , chatterbait , lipless crank , 

Mike Bucca Baby Bull Shad. 

 

Good big fish bait too. 

3 hours ago, Ventenberry said:

It doesn't have to be a hard bait.  I only said that because I looked on Rapala's website and couldn't find a hard bait that runs at around a foot, so instead of searching everywhere, I decided to ask here.

Remember, that's max diving depth that's listed.  If you take a crankbait and reel it in with your rod tip high up in the air, it's won't dive nearly as deep.

 

Probably anything that says it dives to around 3' could be kept at around 1' or so with your rod tip held up high on retrieve.  If need be, you could pause it every once in a while to let it float back up and keep it shallow.  Or try a floating jerk bait or wake bait.  Also look at soft swimbaits and flukes with a weighted swimbait hook.  They'll protect the hook from vegetation and can be retrieved at any depth.  

Go to Tackle Warehouse site, Hard Baits, Shallow running 0-4’, 7 categories to choose from.

Hitting bottom isn’t bad it often triggers strikes. Just stop and let the crank bait float up a few seconds then rip the lure to clean off any derbies you feel on the lure.

Tom

As long as you keep the rod tip up and the line isnt really thin you can run the Ima Bill Lowen CB fast enough to deflect really well and it wont go much deeper then 18 inches.  When you want to clip the bottom you just hold the tip down and crank hard when you want make contact.    

6th Sense Curve Finesse and or Strike King 1.5 Shallow will run at your desired depth range.

You can’t go wrong with Rapala Flat Rap., Silver or Silver Blue.  Probably my best shallow twitch bait. 

^^^^Shallow Shad Rap with the L shape bill^^^^Rapala made shallow L Bill Fat Rap 25 years ago that worked good.

Tom

On 11/17/2021 at 10:19 AM, Ventenberry said:

The bottom is a mix of rock and vegetation.  If the lure hits the bottom it's definitely going to pick up some sort of vegetation and I've always believed fish won't bite on a lure with vegetation on it.

 

It doesn't have to be a hard bait.  I only said that because I looked on Rapala's website and couldn't find a hard bait that runs at around a foot, so instead of searching everywhere, I decided to ask here.

 

I know I could use a worm with a jig head or bullet sinker or other types of lures.  I just don't want to hit the bottom if possible with whatever I'm using.  Also, would still like to use a lure with some weight to it, so I can get some casting distance.

 

 

Take another look at Rapala’s Countdown series, Flat Raps and Xrap Subwalk.  

54 minutes ago, OldManLure said:

Take another look at Rapala’s ........ Xrap Subwalk.  

    Another good idea!          jj

I would use a soft jerkbait.  Yamamoto D Shad or Strike King Caffeine Shad.   Weedless, great action, fish fast or slow.  

Everything that’s been mentioned are winners. I’ll throw in one of my favorites. Spro Baby Fat John 50. 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Spro_John_Crews_Baby_Fat_John_50_Crankbait/descpage-SJCFJ5.html