If you’ve ever watched fish swirl behind your lure like they’re judging your life choices, you already know what’s missing: a small, believable bait that runs shallow and looks “easy”. The TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait is exactly that — a floating minnow-style hardbait with a short diving lip that’s made to work in the skinny water. According to the product details, it will dive to about 30cm or more on a cast-and-retrieve, which is prime for bank edges, shallow flats, and cover that sits just under the surface.
And because this is a little “mini predator snack”, it’s available in proper bite-sized options: 60mm 2.4g or 85mm 6.5g (your selector also shows an 11cm 13g option if you want to step up). It’s got 3D eyes, an ABS body, steel balls inside for balance, casting distance and noise, and two carbon-steel treble hooks for sticking those slap-at-it strikes. In other words: it’s built for the kind of fishing where accuracy and speed changes get you bites.
If you want to browse more shallow hardbaits on your own site, you can nose around the Crankbaits section or the wider Hardbaits category. Just don’t blame me when your tackle box starts needing its own postcode.
Why This Lure Works
The TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait works for the same reason most “tiny but deadly” cranks work: it’s all about deflection, flash, and easy access. In shallow water, predators don’t always want to chase. They want something that blunders into their zone, looks vulnerable, and gives them a reason to lash out.
The short lip is the giveaway here. Instead of digging down like a deeper diver, it stays up in the top band, where it can bounce off shallow rock, brush tips, reed edges, and hard banks without instantly ploughing into the bottom. BassResource explain the core idea beautifully: crankbaits often work best when they deflect off structure, and a little hesitation after contact can trigger strikes. You can read that here: Crankbait Basics.
You’ve also got steel balls inside, which the page calls out for barycentre control, longer casting and noise. That matters on small cranks, because if you can’t reach the fish or you can’t get the lure running straight, you’re basically just decorating the water. The 3D eyes and printed body are there to seal the deal up close — not magic, but it helps.
How To Fish It
Shallow minis are not “one retrieve fits all”. The whole point is to make the lure look like a panicked little baitfish trying to get away, then suddenly getting confused and smacking into cover. Wired2Fish have a full crankbait guide that’s worth a read if you want the bigger picture: How to fish a crankbait.
Dialling in the TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait cadence
- Steady grind (start here): Cast past the target, point your rod tip down a bit, and wind so it ticks along. If you’re not touching anything, you’re probably too far off the cover.
- Crank-and-pause: Wind 6–10 turns, pause for a second, then go again. That pause is deadly after you hit something — it looks like the lure has “stunned” itself. BassResource mention this exact idea: a crank-and-pause often out-fishes a straight retrieve. (Same Crankbait Basics link above.)
- Tap-tap-burst: Give the rod tip two little taps while reeling, then speed up for a second. Great for perch and bass that are following but not committing.
- Cover saturation: Make multiple casts to the same laydown, rock patch, or reed edge. Bassmaster even call shallow cranks “saturation lures” in heavy cover situations — it’s not always a one-cast-and-done deal: Shallow Crankin’.
One important note, mate: because this lure is floating, you can “save it” from snags. If you feel it start to bury into cover, stop reeling and give slack — it’ll float up and often pop free. That’s one of the best reasons to keep a floating mini in the box.
When To Use It
The TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait is at its best when fish are shallow or feeding shallow — and by “shallow” we mean the top band where it can dive 30cm+ and stay in the zone.
- Warm, low-light periods: Early morning and late afternoon when fish push tight to the edge.
- Wind-blown banks: Wind pushes baitfish and stirs up the shallows — perfect for a small crank that looks like an easy meal.
- Clear-ish water: A smaller, realistic profile can be less intimidating than a big loud crank.
- After a cold front: When they won’t chase far, you can still trigger reactions with deflection and short pauses.
If you want to go deeper into the “deflection” concept, Bassmaster have a whole piece on it here: The art of deflection. It applies perfectly to shallow minis like this because your lure is constantly interacting with cover.
Does It Actually Catch Fish?
Yep — but only if you stop treating it like a “tiny toy” and fish it like a purpose-built shallow weapon. A TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait is a bite-getter when fish are spooky, pressured, or keyed in on small bait. It’s also brilliant for “mini species” (your page literally calls that out), so if perch, bream, trout and small bass are on the menu, you’re in business.
The hook setup helps too. With two sharp trebles, you stick those quick slap bites that happen when fish hit a small crank out of pure attitude. And the rattle can help in slightly stained water or choppy conditions where fish locate by vibration and sound.
Gear Pairing
Because this is a small, shallow crank, you want gear that casts light lures nicely and keeps trebles pinned. Here’s a simple setup for the TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait that won’t turn your day into a tangle festival:
- Rod: 6’6” to 7’0” light to medium-light with a bit of give (a more moderate action helps keep trebles in).
- Reel: 2000–2500 spinning reel, or a finesse baitcaster if you’re that guy.
- Line: 6–10lb mono or fluoro. Mono is great for floating cranks because it keeps them riding higher and helps them back out of snags. Fluoro will pull it slightly deeper and gives you a more direct feel.
If you’re still building a “do-it-all” bass setup, this Best Bass Fishing Setup guide is worth a brew. And if you want to keep browsing lures without getting lost, start from Shop and filter like a responsible adult (or don’t, and buy everything — your call).
Specs
- Brand: TREHOOK
- Lure type: Minnow
- Buoyancy: Floating
- Short diving lip: Dives to 30cm or more while casting and retrieving
- Size option A: 60mm, 2.4g
- Size option B: 85mm, 6.5g
- Additional size shown in selector: 11cm, 13g
- Hooks: 2 super sharp treble hooks (carbon steel)
- Materials/features: ABS plastic body, 3D eyes, steel balls (balance, casting distance, noise)
- Colours: Colour options A–G and I shown
- Pack list: 1 × minnow fishing lure
- Target species listed: Catfish, perch, bass, redfish, trout, bream, muskie, roach, walleye and more
FAQ
Is the TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait good for really shallow water?
Yep — that’s its whole thing. It’s a floating shallow runner that dives about 30cm+ and stays up high where fish cruise edges and cover.
How do I stop it snagging all the time?
Use the float to your advantage. When you feel it load up, stop reeling and give slack — it floats up and often pops free. Also: don’t grind it through a tree like you’re mad at it.
Which size should I choose: 60mm 2.4g or 85mm 6.5g?
60mm for tiny forage, finicky fish, canals and ponds. 85mm when you want longer casts, a bit more presence, and you’re targeting better fish.
Mono or fluorocarbon for this lure?
Mono keeps it higher and helps it back out of cover. Fluoro gives you more feel and can pull it a touch deeper. If you snag a lot, start with mono.
Does the rattle actually matter?
In clear water, it’s not always needed, but in wind, chop, or stained water, it helps fish locate the lure. Think “ring the dinner bell”, not “start a disco”.
Final Verdict
If you want a small shallow crank that you can bully through skinny cover without constantly losing it, the TREHOOK mini minnow crankbait is a tidy choice. Floating body, short lip, steel ball noise and decent trebles — it’s built for tight casts, cover ticks, and those sudden “why is that fish so angry?” reactions. Fish it with deflection and pauses, and it’ll earn its keep fast.
Put it on, hit the cover, and enjoy the kind of bite that makes you laugh out loud.
Real customer reviews