# Bomber Next Gen Flat A: the flat-sided crankbait for cold water > 6.3 cm, 10.6 g, 3-5 ft — weight transfer, an oval lip and an ultra-tight wiggle, the Flat A rebuilt for the hard fish of cold, clear water. - Source : https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/bomber-next-gen-flat-a-crankbait/ - Language : en-US - Updated : 2026-09-29 ## Spec sheet - Brand : Bomber - Model : Next Gen Flat A - Type : Shallow flat-sided crankbait - Target species : Bass, Perch - Size : 6.3 cm / 2-1/2 in - Weight : 10.6 g / 3/8 oz - Running depth : 0.9 to 1.5 m / 3 to 5 ft as stated by the manufacturer - Retrieve speed : slow and steady, no jerking, cold water included - Action : a very tight, high-frequency wiggle from the flat sides, with a sharp deflection the moment it touches cover - Rigging : two treble hooks, loop knot or a slim snap, 8-12 lb fluorocarbon around rock and wood - Colors : baby bass (the one pictured) in clear water, red craw early in the season, chartreuse and black in stained water There's a point in the year when wide-wobbling crankbaits abruptly stop catching: when water temperature drops below about fifty degrees and fish quit chasing. It isn't that they've stopped feeding, it's that they won't run for it. The Bomber Flat A exists for exactly that window, with flat sides producing the tightest wiggle you can get on a bait this size. ## Why flat sides change everything A round-bodied crankbait pushes water all around itself and rolls on its axis with a lot of amplitude. A flat-sided body instead presents two vertical surfaces that brake that roll: the bait vibrates fast, tight, almost in place, and sends out a far more discreet signal. That signature is precisely what a fish slowed by cold or burned by fishing pressure is looking for. The goal isn't to provoke a ten-metre chase, it's to get a prey item passing within reach accepted, at the right pace, without overselling it. In exchange, flat sides flash light in bursts as the bait rolls, which adds a lateral flicker a round body doesn't have. The format stays compact: 2-1/2 in, about 6.3 cm, for 3/8 oz, about 10.6 g. That's a high density for a short body, which partly offsets the historic weakness of flat-sided baits — they cast badly. ## The weight transfer system, and what it fixes A flat body is a sail. Thrown into the wind, a classic flat crank helicopters and lands at fifteen metres where a round body makes twenty-five. The second-generation Flat A carries an internal weight transfer system: a moving ball shifts to the rear on the cast, stabilising the flight and extending the range, then returns forward as soon as the retrieve begins so the bait recovers its swimming attitude. In practice, that means you can fish this bait in a crosswind without spending the day picking out backlashes, and above all that you can reach the bank without pushing the boat in close. In winter, on clear, flat water, those extra metres matter as much as the colour. ## Where to work it: 3 to 5 ft The manufacturer states 3 to 5 ft, about 0.9 to 1.5 m. That's a very narrow band, and it's deliberate: the oval bill is small, sized to climb over cover rather than to dig deep. That geometry makes the Flat A a rock-and-wood bait. Chunk rock, stumps, laydowns and shallow gravel flats are its ground. The oval lip deflects more sharply than a round one: on contact the lure kicks sideways then rights itself, and that stumble is where the strike happens most of the time. ### The pass to prioritise Run parallel to cover rather than across it. Position yourself so the bait follows the rip-rap line for the whole retrieve, ticking it regularly. Every contact is an opportunity. Cross it perpendicular and you get one or two deflections per cast, losing most of the bait's potential. > In cold water, resist the urge to slow down to a crawl. A flat crank needs a minimum of speed for its sides to work. Keep the retrieve slow but continuous, and create your breaks through bottom contact, not through pauses in the handle. ## Rigging and hooks The Flat A ships with two treble hooks. In the photo on this page the lure is shown bare, with no trebles fitted — only the belly and tail hangers are visible. That's a good moment to note that a 10 g flat body tolerates oversized hooks badly: if you swap them, keep the same size and only change the wire gauge. The body is ABS, a rigid plastic built to take repeated impacts against rock without cracking. That's what lets you fish this bait in the stones without counting your casts. For the connection, a loop knot or a small snap keeps the bill free. Fluorocarbon in the 8 to 12 lb range is the right compromise: thin enough not to restrict the swim or cost depth, strong enough for the constant abrasion on stone. ### The classic mistake Pulling out the Flat A in midsummer on active fish. That isn't its slot: when bass are feeding hard, a wide-swimming squarebill like the [Strike King KVD Squarebill](https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/strike-king-kvd-squarebill/) will draw more bites, because a broad action is detected from further away. The Flat A takes the lead again when the water cools, clarity rises and fish refuse to commit. ## Colour by water and season - **Clear water**: the baby bass shown here, a natural barred pattern that imitates a juvenile and doesn't spook a wary fish. - **Early season, cool water**: a red craw, the spring classic when crayfish are the dominant forage over rocky bottom. - **Stained water**: chartreuse and black, which keeps readable contrast once visibility drops below a metre. ## What it completes in the box The Flat A covers the highest band, three to five feet. As soon as you need six to ten, the [Bomber Next Gen Fat Free Fingerling](https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/bomber-next-gen-fat-free-fingerling-crankbait/) from the same catalogue takes over with a longer bill and a rounder profile. Within flat-sided baits, a [Bill Lewis Hammer Flat Crank](https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/bill-lewis-hammer-flat-crank/) plays the same tune on a different body. And for days when fish want movement, a [Strike King KVD Squarebill](https://carnafish.com/en/leurres/strike-king-kvd-squarebill/) stays the right tool. Knowing whether fish are active or shut down decides the lure far more than the brand does. That's exactly what [CarnaFish](https://carnafish.com/en/) makes easier: a photo of the spot, and the app suggests the zone, the depth and the lure type suited to the day. To match your lure choice to the time of year, our [season-by-season predator fishing guide](https://carnafish.com/en/blog/peche-carnassier-par-saison/) covers the behaviour to anticipate. ## Key takeaways - Flat sides: a very tight wiggle, built for fish slowed by cold or by fishing pressure. - Internal weight transfer: the casting weakness of flat cranks is largely solved, wind included. - A short oval bill: 3 to 5 ft, a bank, rock and wood bait, not a diver. - Fish it parallel to cover to multiply contacts, which are the real triggers. ## FAQ ### What's the difference between a flat crank and a squarebill? The flat crank has vertical sides and a very tight, discreet action suited to inactive fish. The squarebill has a square bill and a wide action detected from a distance, more effective on aggressive fish in stained water. ### How deep does the Flat A run? Between 0.9 and 1.5 m according to the manufacturer, that is 3 to 5 ft. It's a shallow bait: to go deeper you need a model with a longer bill. ### Does it cast well in strong wind? Better than most flat-sided baits, thanks to the internal weight transfer system that stabilises the flight. A round body of the same weight will still be slightly easier to place into a hard headwind. ### When should I pick a flat-sided crankbait over another? When the water is cold, clear, or the lake has been heavily fished. As soon as fish refuse to chase prey for several metres, a tight action becomes an advantage. ### Should I replace the factory hooks? Not automatically. If you do, keep the same treble size: heavier hooks unbalance a 10 g flat body and spoil the swim. Change the wire gauge instead. ### Does the Flat A work for perch? Yes, across Europe it's a good size for perch along shallow rocky margins, especially in autumn and winter when the tight action and slow retrieve match their pace. --- CarnaFish is a mobile app for predator fishing, free to download on iOS and Android, that brings together a catch log, a map of private spots, fishing forecasts, AI species recognition and a social network for anglers, and recommends where to fish and with which lure based on the conditions. To cite this content, mention “CarnaFish — carnafish.com” and link the source page.