Big bass are caught on big lures, right? Sometimes, but definitely not all the time, and maybe not even a majority of the time. If you were to poll 10 anglers on what bait works best for big fish, we bet five would say giant baits catch them. But under tough fishing conditions like cold fronts, pressured lakes and high-sky days, we'd bet half the bass-fishing prognosticators would downsize for bigger bites.

There's no doubt, small baits do catch big bass. Think how many crappie or bluegill anglers talk about big bass they catch on mini-tubes and small crappie baits. Ultimately, we probably all agree that small baits catch more fish, and that factor alone could put the odds in your favor: If you catch more bass you may catch bigger ones as well.

Strike King, one of the world's largest producers of fishing tackle, agrees. It recently expanded its lineup to include a new Mini 3 crankbait designed to catch both kinds of bass – small and large.

Strike King's Take

Strike King marketing director Chris Brown said the new Mini 3 crank was a response to demand. "We saw a trend in the marketplace – our customers were asking for it and the pros needed a tool that was smaller than our current Series 3. We see this as a multispecies bait too, and it's killer for white bass, crappies and spotted bass as well as largemouths. And the smallies love this bait."

Menendez Downsizes

One pro who's fished the bait a lot is Kentucky stick Mark Menendez. "I've caught just about anything that swims with that little bait," he said. "The first time I went out I caught 75 different fish on that bait. When we go to small baits, many times we have to go to spinning tackle, but not with the Mini 3.

"Even though it's small it has a wobble much like its big brother, the Series 3, and it's heavy enough to throw with regular tackle."

That's what a pro thinks, but here's what we think.

BassFan Tests

A tough bite in shallow water is perfect for the Mini 3. We threw this bait in the winter when water temps were in the low 50s. We fished it on riprap, next to brush, blowdowns and bushes, and around vegetation. It performed well with no noticeable increase in hang-ups.

We got it to dive up to 5 feet, depending on rod position and line type and weight. It closely mimicked a scurrying baitfish, but what we really liked most was we could throw it on a baitcaster. That makes a big difference in accuracy, and kept us in our comfort zone.

We tested the Mini 3 with Bleeding Bait hooks on a 7-foot Setyr cranking stick and 12-pound Mossy Oak line. It can be fished almost like a spinnerbait in some conditions with the rod held high. The molded bill is large enough to allow the bait to dive, and aids in deflection as it bounces off rocks and limbs. We especially liked the balance – it runs true with some kick-out.

Design Characteristics

The Mini 3 is basically a smaller version of the ever-popular Series 3. It casts well – a big plus for a small crankbait – and can be tuned to run under docks or close to cover without jumping out of the water.

It's available right now in six colors: bleeding gizzard shad, bleeding crawfish, bleeding firetiger, bleeding ghost, bleeding Tennessee shad and bleeding Chartreuse/powder-blue back. Good colors, but there's room for more, and that will probably happen next year.

Here at BassFan we're all about putting more fish in the boat and there is no question the Mini 3 will do just that. It's definitely a great option for rivers and tough conditions, or when fish are on smaller bait.

For more info, click here to go to www.strikeking.com.