Sharing the same fishing waters with local manufacturers can lead to some unexpected surprises. The California Delta is a huge waterway, yet we often run into people we know while out on a field test.

Recently, one such chance meeting turned into an impromptu product preview when we ran into Grant Olguin of Black Dog Baits out fishing the Delta to field test some new baits. We recognized him from afar as he’s sporting a new logo’d wrap around his faithfull BassCat boat.

Grant Olguin from Black Dog Bait Company out fishing the Injection Punker on a late afternoon out on the California Delta

Grant was happy to see us and immediately looked side to side to see if anyone was looking. When he was satisfied the coast was clear, he suggested we tie our boats up together because he had some new stuff to show us!

We’re already aware of the new, injection Punkers, but this was our first chance to really get a good look at the bait side by side against the original Punker and with the Jr version at least, there is a size difference.

The new injection Punker Jr. (bottom) up against an original wood Punker Jr. (top). Note the injection version is much more streamlined. We've found it much easier to walk than the original.

Grant had on hand, an entire collection of new colors for the injection molded Punker Jr. but we failed to get a photo of the new color selection because of the next bait Grant pulled out. It was a prototype 4″ billed Shellcracker.

But what really excited us was this new 4" billed Shellcracker

Grant introduced it by acknowledging our “Year of the Crank” theme and asked us what we thought about it. Well, it didn’t take me long to grab it from Grant, tie it on and toss it out.

The bait is a floater and will be available in both a silent and rattled, injection molded body. They’re toying with the idea of some limited run wood versions as well, but the idea around the bait is to provide something smaller for those anglers who like the idea of big baits, but still cannot get their heads around the massive size of the majority of products.

The new 4" billed Shellcracker (front) up against an original sized version.

The new 4″ Shellcracker is essentially a jointed crankbait and on about my 4th cast with the bait (mounted on a Dobyns Rods 684CB) I got a hookup while slowly cranking the bait back to the boat along a weedline, but as I knelt down to lip the fish, it took one final lunge and got off the hook!

I know, I know, I should have swung him, but I was afraid of snapping the rod as it was a good three or four pound fish, and the 684CB is a pretty light rod. It was bad enough I was fishing a bait that probably weighed about one ounce on the poor thing.

So anyway, the picture opportunity was lost and I had to give the bait back to Grant as it was an early prototype. He tells us they’re still working out some final things with regards to colors, price point, and production runs but they hope to have the baits ready in time for ICAST 2009.

The 4" Cracker fishes just like a crankbait only if you retrieve it REALLY slow, it will wake across the surface in tantalizing fashion. This is one 4" option we may actually fish - especially during our Year of the Crank!

Lastly, there’s another bait he showed us but that we cannot talk about yet, but it’s safe to say this bait is a departure from what Black Dog Baits currently offers and it is quite the little number. Stay tuned for some official release news on this new bait as soon as we’re given the green light!