Crane Baits 306 (6")

Crane Baits: 306 (6")

The Gold Standard in Balsa Wood Shad Baits

The Crane 306 brings the legendary fish-catching quality of Bill Crane’s handcrafted West Virginia lures to a specialized shad profile. Known for over 30 years as some of the finest wooden musky baits ever made, these lures feature deep, flat sides that produce a unique, wide wobble that trophy predators find irresistible.

Handcrafted Balsa Precision

The 300 series is engineered to mimic shad forage with the unmatched buoyancy and vibration of high-grade balsa wood:

• Shad Profile Design: The deep-bodied shape is specifically designed to replicate the profile of larger shad, a primary forage for muskies and big pike.

• Wide Wobbling Action: The flat-sided construction creates a distinctive wide-displacement wobble and lifelike swimming action that provides maximum water vibration.

• Exceptional Versatility: This bait is a top performer whether worked as a twitch bait, used on a straight retrieve, or a combination of both.

• Proven Durability: Despite its wood construction, the 306 is built to handle the intense pressure of musky fishing, continuing a decades-long legacy of big fish production.

Depth and Retrieve Performance

The 306 excels in shallow to mid-range depths where big fish often move to feed:

• Casting Depth: Typically runs between 1 to 5 feet depending on the speed of the retrieve.

• Pull-and-Pause: It is arguably most effective when used with a pull-and-pause retrieve, allowing the high buoyancy of the balsa wood to work in your favor.

• Straight Retrieve: On a steady crank, the 306 maintains its rhythmic, wide-tracking action, making it a reliable search bait.

Technical Specifications

Pro Tactic: The "Balsa Rise"

Because balsa wood is naturally more buoyant than plastic, the Crane 306 has a very distinct "rise" on the pause. When fishing over shallow weed tops or rocks, use a series of aggressive pulls followed by a 2-second pause. The bait will wobble deeply on the pull and then slowly float upward—this mimicking of a dying baitfish is a classic trigger that forces trailing muskies to strike before the "prey" escapes to the surface.

Add the iconic action of a Crane 306 to your arsenal and experience why balsa wood remains the choice of professional musky hunters.