defective crankbait maybe?

Question
I have a crankbait that retrives on its side it dosn't look like it swims right no matter the speed of the retrieve.  The asthetics of the bait look normal.  I have many crankbaits and this is the only one that does this.  The lip on it looks fine and its fresh out of the box.  It's a bass proshops brand xps maybe its junk I'm not sure. I really like the way it looks with the markings and its a shallow diver.  I use a baitcaster with 12 pound test and a six foot medium action rod. Thanks for taking this question maybe you can help?  

Answer
Hi Matt,

It probably needs tuning.  Some companies pre-test the baits before they package them and some don't.  It's easy though.  

You will need a needle-nose pliers.  Looking that crankbait square in the face, if it runs right, bend (ever so slightly) the line tie to the left.  Now try it.  Is it getting closer to running straight?  You may need to tweek it left a little more.  Or, maybe now it runs left.  Do just the opposite and tweek it right.  By bending the line tie a little each way you will get it running straight.

It's good to learn because they all need tuning now and then.  Fish, stumps, rocks and other contact will knock them out of alignment.  

And some guys have baits that run either direction so they can cast them along docks and such and have them run under a dock.

The Bass Pro baits are good baits.  There is probably nothing wrong with it and it just need a "front end alignment".

There are two other possibilities if you cant get the bait to run straight.  There are rattles or weights in plastic crankbaits.  Once in a while during the gluing process, those weights till get stuck or glued to one side.  A good sharp rap on the side of your boot usually frees them.  Or, you could ahve a leaker.  Lures that get water in them don't run right.  In these two cases, I'd return the bait and get a different one.

Good fishing!