Review: Rapala OG Deep Tiny 7 crankbait

Just when you thought the Ott’s Garage lineup of crankbaits by Rapala couldn’t get any fuller, along comes the Deep Tiny 7 to fill a mid-range void. Designed by four-time Bass Pro Tour winner and 2019 Bassmaster Classic champion Ott DeFoe, the OG Deep Tiny 7 is DeFoe’s answer for tempting lethargic bass holding around the 7-foot depth range. While it can work anytime bass are eating smaller forage, the thin-sided bait shines especially bright when water temperatures are on the chilly side.

First impression

At first glance, the Deep Tiny 7 bears a striking resemblance to the shallower-diving Tiny 4. It’s built around the same 2 1/4-inch balsa wood body and weighs 5/16 ounce but packs a longer, wider circuit board bill and a slightly extended line tie that help it dig a little deeper in the water column.

The bait comes in 19 attractive colors, including a pair of region-specific patterns called Coosa Special and Bream. We checked out baits in several other colors — Classic Craw, Citrus Shad and Chartreuse Rootbeer Craw — and the paint schemes are top notch. Rapala didn’t scrimp on other components, either. The sticky sharp No. 5 VMC black nickel short-shank hooks attach using stainless split rings that are built to last.

In action

DeFoe says it took some tinkering to achieve the proper balance, action and diving depth he wanted out of the Deep Tiny 7, and he definitely got it right. Fished on 12-pound fluorocarbon, the bait dives at a steep angle and gets to the strike zone quickly. Better yet, it traverses cover like a 4X4 and features a tight but subtle wiggle that is 100% silent.

I didn’t get my hands on the bait until June, but after seeing and feeling it in action, I can’t wait until Texas water temperatures take a dip this winter. That’s when flatsides are prone to ring the bell the loudest.

It’s a slow riser: Rapala lists the Deep Tiny 7 as a “floater,” but don’t expect it to work itself out of trouble near as easily as a more buoyant, round-body plug like the OG Rocco. The bait is fitted with an internal weight strategically placed to optimize balance, get the bait down in the water column and aid with casting.

Stop the retrieve in midstream and the Deep Tiny 7 almost seems to achieve neutral buoyancy for a second or so before lazily rising toward the surface. It’ll eventually get there, but it takes a while. I witnessed this behavior in a swimming pool before heading to the lake.

The benefit of the slow rise is that it makes it simple to the keep bait down in the strike zone, whether it’s fished stop-and-go or crawled along at a snail’s pace. This trait is sure to play well in the live sonar game.

Anglers just need to remember to stay in contact with the bait and be mindful of what it’s doing at all times, especially around submerged brush. Otherwise, you might find yourself reaching for a lure knocker more often than preferred.

Performance tips:

• The bait will reach its maximum diving depth on 12-pound fluorocarbon. Switching to a heavier line, monofilament line or raising the rod tip angle in combination with a slower retrieve will shallow it up some.
• It’s generally a good idea to fish the OG Tiny Deep 7 on a reel with a slower gear ratio — something in the 5:1 or 6:1 range — especially in cold water, when bass are more lethargic and less willing to chase.
• Throw it on a medium-power rod with a forgiving tip to help prevent ripping the trebles free before the fish have a chance to eat it. A moderate tip will also load up on the backswing and help with castability.
• The bait rises very slowly when idle. This helps it stay down in the strike zone well enough that forward-facing sonar junkies can use it to finesse suspended bass. 

Applications:

• Works year-round, but shines brightest in late fall, winter and early spring when water temperatures are cool
• Most effective in the 5- to 7-foot depth range
• Throw it around rock, stumps, docks, submerged grass, even suspended bass

Final thoughts

Building on success of the Tiny 4, the Deep Tiny 7 is designed to get at those lunkers that might be hanging out a little farther down in the water column. Whether probing around rock, docks, gravel points, steep slopes, stump fields or submerged vegetation, this is a crankin’ plug you should keep close.

As quality goes, you’ll be hard pressed to find a mass-produced balsa bait for probing the mid-range window that offers more in the way of top-notch components, premium finishes and fish-catching prowess than this one does. It comes with an affordable price point, too.