Bomber® Pro Suspending Long "A" Crankbait

Target Species: Smallmouth Bass
Also Good For: Largemouth Bass, Rock Bass, Northern Pike

Bomber lures enjoy a rich tradition and the Pro Suspending Long ''A'' crankbait is a medium-sized stick with plenty of reputation. For our testing, we chose the 3½" (3/8 oz.) in Silver Flash White / Red Head. My personal history with Bomber lures is mixed. In the past, I didn't agree with the "plastic feel" of the bait or the limited color choices. The action was canned and the lure was overall just plain average. The Bomber Pro Suspending Long "A" changes most of that.

First Impressions

Right out of the package, you can feel the difference in quality. The stick is still constructed of plastic, however the feel is different being nicely proportioned, well-balanced and armed with internal counterweights and premium hardware. The 3½" size was the perfect size for fishing rocky shoreline drop offs and I had my sights set on some ornery Smallies that think they know better.

Fishing the Lure

On the very first cast, the lure flew true and long. One of my biggest issues in the past with this brand was the dead weight on the cast. Even a 1 oz. Bomber could end up back in your face when casting into a brisk wind. The 3/8 oz. Pro Suspending Long "A" literally popped off the rod like a bullet. Within just a couple casts, I could place this lure exactly where I wanted it with precision accuracy. Being a suspending jerkbait, I was ready to bang it across some structure.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that this lure has some of the best jerk–twitch–suspend action I've ever seen in a stickbait.

If you're not familiar how to fish a jerkbait, keep the rod tip pointed down towards the water and crank it a couple feet off the cast to get some depth. Then stop. Pause for anywhere from 5 seconds to a minute, then give the slack in the line a short, quick tug or two. Pause again, then slowly reel a few feet and repeat the process. Practice this technique in clear water where you can watch the action to see how the bait mimics a dying bait fish with erratic, but controlled movements. The Pro Suspending Long "A" does this better than any other stick I've thrown and with a little practice you can even learn how to make the lure tick the surface like a bluegill coming up to investigate a fallen leaf or bug.

Review Summary

Outstanding! There is no doubt the Pro Suspending Long "A" is a superior crankbait to it's predecessors. The lure is well balanced and obviously engineered with pro style fishing in mind, but still allows the amateur to fish with ease. We haven't mentioned price yet, and for good reason. Believe it or not, the Bomber Pro Suspending Long "A" retails for $4.99, at least $2 cheaper than the competitors. For this it receives a very high value rating and our glowing recommendation as your first jerkbait purchase if you don't already fish this style. Our only negative is that we would love to see another half-dozen or so colors made available. Bomber Lures...are you listening?