GEAR
Wooden Flat-Sided Crankbaits
OLD SCHOOL BALSA BAITS
WESLEY STRADER W3
Designed by one of the best in the
business, Wesley Strader, the W3 is
carved from hand-selected balsa and
features the natural, enticing wobble
that can only come from a wooden plug.
A multi-step finishing process minimizes
cracking and swelling, and the bait
comes with top-notch hooks and split
rings. $11.99
phcustomlures.com
RAPALA SHAD RAP
One of the originals in the flat-sided
game, the Shad Rap has probably duped
more bass than all other flat-sided
cranks combined. Rapala has perfected
the tight wiggle with the Shad Rap, and
it’s available in an abundance of sizes
and colors. $7.59 to $7.69
rapala.com
W.E.C. HICKY
Zoom owner Ed Chambers’ hand-
carved crankbaits have built a reputation
with die-hards for quality and fish-catch-
ing ability. The Hicky is a 2 1/4-inch-long
flat-sided plug designed to catch bass in
the shallows all season long. It features a
circuit board bill and high-quality finish-
es. $22
peepersbaits.com
P.H. CUSTOM LURES SKINNY P
Another bait by a master hand-carver
– Phil Hughes of P.H. Custom Lures – the
Skinny P is a winner for anglers looking
for the perfect combination of tight wig-
gle, natural profile and realistic colors.
$22.99
phcustomlures.com
40
FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2016