100- This is the Chikara you'll want for fishing the shallows as it's made to dive to about four feet. The 100-sized baits I tested sported a wide wobble for fishing amongst wood and ran true out of the package. Because of the action, the sensation transmitted to the rod tip is more of a thump than a distinct vibration. The action also allows these to contact wood more often and get an erratic deflection.

200- Select a 200 size when probing depths down to six feet. This bait runs quite differently than the 100, with a tighter wobble that vibrates the rod tip. Unfortunately, one of my 200-sized cranks was not tuned properly from the factory, running hard left no matter what the speed.

Features: There is not a whole lot to talk about in regards to features. These baits come with about what you'd expect to find on the vast majority of crankbaits: a diving bill, two Mustad Triple Grip treble hooks, three split rings, and internal rattles. Their ability to resist snags was about average for me. While I didn't get to throw either of them too much around big laydowns or other thick wood cover, I did cast them a lot on rocks and isolated timber. The Chikaras came through well enough, but I still experienced the occasional snag.

Design/Ergonomics: The baits I received for testing showed the same level of consistency as far as cosmetics and design are concerned. The weight is excellent for easy casting on most medium to medium-heavy cranking rods, and the body sizing is very good. For the most part the overall realism ranks high, but a few of the color schemes seem a bit overdone, especially when you factor in the holographic shine as well. At the time of this writing there are no deep-diving Chikaras available.

Application: Depending on the model, Chikara crankbaits will wiggle down between four and ten feet in depth. Crankbaits are a year-round lure that can and should be thrown 12 months of the year on many bodies of water. I have experienced days where the fish weren't showing much interest in slow-moving jigs or plastics, but climbed all over cranks or other reaction baits. Never be afraid to experiment!

A Chickamauga chunk chased down the Chikara on a chilly day.

Conclusion: Shallow and medium crankbait fishing has quickly become a couple of my favorite techniques the last several years. I previously had done most of my cranking with lip-less or deep-diving baits, but square-bills and other shallow-to-medium divers have rapidly earned spots as some of my top confidence baits at certain times. They are great picks in a variety of situations and are just plain fun to fish whether in open water or around cover-laden banks. The Yamamoto Chikaras have proven to be yet another solid option to add to your list in an ever-growing crankbait market!

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