[Stringjam]

This is one style of crank I've never really spent any time with, so I picked up a few copies and variants (Zoom WEC Tapp and Ugly Duck, and an On-The-Line Tapp copy).

I have noticed one common trait, they have a very tight wiggle with very little roll (compared to some of my other straight-lipped coffin-bill baits, anyway....I find my Herman Oswald MC2 and Rapala DT Flat to be more lively than any of these).

Is there are particular situation or condition where these baits excel?

[Skeeter]

It is said that in the early spring that fish prefer a tight wiggle in crankbaits. Personally I have not found that to be true. But Fritts won the 1993 Classic using a Mellow Yellow Tapp and Jeff Coble won the first BFL All American using one also. They are good baits if the lips are installed straight and stay in the bait.
Skeeter

[Stringjam]

Thanks Skeeter -- I haven't found the early spring/tight wiggle thing to be particularly true, either. One of my best cranks for this time of year (and among the biggest springtime money winners here in the Ozarks) is a Wiggle Wart.

I guess I lucked out on the Tapps - - all the lips and hardware appear very straight - however, I also picked up a couple of WEC Z-Flats and one of them has a blatantly crooked lip....I wasn't expecting that from such a premium (priced) lure.