I think there’s a lot of polarity in the bass fishing community when it comes to balsa crankbaits. A lot of folks love ’em because they have a definite knack for fooling fish in tough conditions when many other hard baits fail. On the flip-side, however, I’ve heard a lot of folks complain about the lack of casting distance they’re able to achieve because historically, most of these lightweight balsa baits can be pretty tough to cast. I totally understand both sides.
I throw a crankbait all year long and I love to fish quickly and target windblown cover. I’ll be honest; I’ve gotten ticked off at some balsa baits in the past because they were casting like a potato chip in the blustery conditions.
Thankfully, I’ve been testing the Bagley Pro Sunny B this summer and although it’s made of balsa wood, this crankbait casts just as well as any crankbait in my collection. I’ve been able to make easy and accurate casts to cover while also targeting windblown points and laydowns without any issues or frustrations to speak of.
I’ll quickly run through what makes this balsa crankbait such a special option for any cranking guru.