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Ultimate Crankbait Guide for Bass Anglers

Ultimate Crankbait Guide for Bass Anglers

Introduction

Bass fishing is a very popular activity that is enjoyed by professional and recreational anglers. In this competitive realm, anglers are always looking for something that can act as a game changer. Among the variety of lures that are used crankbaits have become immensely popular as a niche tool and go to lure. They have become popular and staple in tackle boxes due to their performance and unique features. Innovation in their manufacturing has enhanced their abilities and also allows anglers to target and win challenging conditions.

In this article we have tried to jot down everything that you need to know about crankbaits for successful bass fishing whether you are professional or recreational anglers.

Understanding crankbaits

What are crankbaits?

A crankbait is a fishing lure that has a hard, short body that is usually fat.It may or may not have a bill or lip. They attract small baitfish or predatory fish by mimicking their movement and appearance. They are usually made up of plastic or wood with a varying length of lip at the front that gives it the ability to dive when it is retrieved. Lip also gives it a wobbly movement that presents this lure to the fish as an injured fish making it a very attractive object for them to bite. The multiple hooks increase the probability of catching a fish when it bites. They are available in different patterns and colors that enable them to imitate different kinds of fish.

Types of Crankbaits

Crankbaits are popular among professional anglers because of their ability to explore large radii of water covering different depths and different locations. This feature of crankbait is achieved by modifying its lip to various lengths and shapes.

Here are the types of crankbaits.

Lipless crankbait

Also known as rattle traps these baits lack a lip or a bill on the front that is usually involved in maintaining its buoyancy. With the lip absent it can easily sink to any depth and allow the angler to fish at their desired water column. When they are retrieved they wobble attracting the game fish. Depending on the speed of a retrieval the wobbly action can be rapid or steady which is accentuated by placing a ball inside the bait to produce consistent vibrations. You can check out rattle sinking lipless crank bait for added fun.

Deep diving

These crank baits usually have a large lip that let’s them dive and reach the deep water. When you are using deep diving crankbaits make sure they are casted beyond the target point so that the lure can reach the depth before it arrives at the hiding point of the fish.

Shallow divers

These crank baits have a short lip that is either square or rounded that only allows them to reach a certain distance under the water. They are a good choice to catch fish such as bass that come out of the depth when the temperature cools down.

Jointed crankbaits

Jointed crankbaits have small lips and one or more joints that let them move rapidly. To highlight the extra rapid action of these lures, it is advised by professional anglers to slowly retrieve. It is also believed by anglers that these crankbaits work very well in clear water where the fish can spot the rapidly moving baits from miles away.

Suspending crankbaits

They can suspend at a particular point without floating or sinking. Their neutral buoyancy is detected by larger fish such as bass. Suspending crank baits is an ideal choice for slow days when fish are not chasing baitfish.

How crankbait work for bass

Action and vibrations

Crankbaits are designed to move in different styles or actions such as wiggle, wobble or erratic motion. These actions are performed by the lures when they are retrieved and they primarily depend upon the shape of the lip.

If you use crank baits with a large wide lip and round body you can get the wobbly action mimicking an injured fish. Wobbling is a preferred choice of lure for bass fishing when the water is cold. The wiggling action of crank baits are usually shown by lures with smaller lips and narrow body. This type of crank baits produce a rapid and tight action wobbling that is very productive for bass fishing in warmer conditions. Lastly another action that is produced is the erratic action that is usually produced by lures that have a square bill or jointed body. This action becomes even more noticeable when the crank bait hits structures like logs and rocks and gets deflected.

Crank bait can produce vibrations that can be sensed by bass. These vibrations are powerful enough to attract the fish because they resemble the quick swimming movement of small bait fish.

Sounds produced by rattles that are present inside the crankbait. They can attract fish in dirty water where the visibility is limited so they rely on their other sensory organs to notice the baitfish.

Color and size selection

Color

Crankbaits are the best fishing lures that can help you catch bass throughout the year but among the millions of colors and patterns how can you choose the right one. The color of the crankbait should be similar to the bait fish of the bass such as crawfish, bluegill and shad.

Generally you can follow the following trends:

During the colder months the primary prey for bass is shad so you can use crank baits with black and silver colors.
When the fish is in its spawning state, it is located in shallow waters and its major food is crayfish so use a color combination of orange, black, red, green or brown.
In the post spawn time the bass generally strikes lures with color ranging from pearl white, citrus green and blue.
If you are fishing for bass in dark, murky waters you should choose colors that are very bright.
If the water is clear then select the lure that is similar to the natural colors of the prey.

Size of crankbait

Size of the crankbait is as important as the color. The size of the lure depends upon the size of the prey that the bass likes to eat in a particular season. During spring the bass eats crawfish and baitfish. These two types of prey in the spring are quite small ranging between 1 to 3 inches. So you also need to pick a crankbait in this size range.

In the warmer months bass basically focuses on large baitfish, crappie and bluegill. Therefore, the size should be similar to the size of the bait fish. In fall bass hunt for baitfish with a size of 3 to 5 inches. Select a crank bait size proportional to this. In the colder months, you will require large deep diving crank bait to catch the fish.

Techniques for using crankbaits

Retrieval techniques

There is no doubt that crank baits are a perfect lure to catch plenty of bass however even if you have the best lures and fishing gear but you don’t know how to present it you may not be able to catch anything.

Burn it

This is one of the most popular techniques where the angler can cover vast expenses of water. It employs fast steady retrieve that allows you to make multiple cranks in very less time. For this technique, use a high speed reel for example of 5.3 to 1 ratio or even try 6 ratio 1.

Stop and go

In this technique you can start reeling in the crank bait slowly or quickly but then you have to stop the reel for three cranks of the reel handle. This will simulate the action of an injured fish falling momentarily. Anytime you pause the lure will fall. This technique is very useful when you know where the fish is hiding and you simply have to throw the lure.

Yo yo

This technique is very good for deep water fishing. You have to use the tip of your rod to make the crank bait move up and down over the structure. Don’t forget that the lure will fall at the rate of 11/2 ft/ second. For example, if the depth of water is 20 feet you can yoyo the crank bait from starting from 5 feet to 15 feet. The fish will be likely in this zone.

Your retrieval speed also depends upon the temperature of water. If the water is cold, retrieval speed should be slow to medium steady and if the water is warm, employ fast or medium retrieve with pause.

Seasonal strategies

There are different strategies that are employed to get rewarding results depending upon different conditions each season offers.

Summers

During summers crankbaits are very effective when the fish is settling into the post spawning patterns feeding on small fish. Try to bang and deflect the lure with rocks, pilings and stumps in the water. Don’t forget to go deep in water on every cast. Try to cast at the same angle every time and don’t forget to mix in match different types of retrieval techniques.

Winters

During winters the fish are slow and crank baits work very well when they disturb the calm winter water. You want to use lipless lures in winter. The wobbling action of these lures will mimic bluegill, shad and crawfish. Make sure that you use it over sandbars, and docks in winters using the yoyo retrieval method.

You can also use flat side crank baits using stop and go retrieval.

Spring

To make the best out of the situation you have to clearly understand the temperature of the water. If the water is very cold it means that the fish will be deep in the water and will show the winter patterns. Try tight or soft wiggle in these conditions. If the water is warm combine lipless and snag resistant baits with wobbly action.

Fall

During this time you can throw a fast moving bait until mid autumn. During early fall target brush piles, coves and creeks. In late fall, try to check out rocky banks and points. Initially you can wind it as quickly as possible and then adjust the speed according to what the fish desires. You can use deep diving and square bill crankbaits.

Choosing the right crankbait

Selecting the right type of bait is very important to catch bass. Among many important factors that you have to consider before selecting a lure, parameters of the water body are crucial.

Water conditions

Water clarity

If the place where you are fishing has clear water it is important that you use lures with natural colors of the prey. You can easily use crank baits resembling shad and bluegill. However, if you have dark water it is advised to use bright or dark colors. You can also select crankbaits with bold patterns resembling the prey the fish is targeting.

Temperature

Bass is a cold blooded animal and its metabolism is also linked with the temperature of the surrounding area. If the water temperature is warm, they are very active but if it is cold they become inactive. Anglers should consider the temperature of water to determine the type of crankbait. If the water is cold, it is recommended that you use crank baits with round bills and narrow body to produce tight wiggle. If the temperature is warm you can use wide body lures with square lips to produce erratic motion.

Water depth

If you are fishing in summers you should target shallow water areas where bass is actively feeding and if you’re fishing in colder months the bass would be located very deep in water so you should target that. For different depths there are different crank baits. If you are targeting 0 to 6 ft, shallow running baits are best. Medium diving crank baits can reach up to 6 to 10 ft and deep diving can reach 20 ft or more.

Target fish behavior

Depending upon this season bass behaves differently. During spring bass can be located in shallow water where they are preparing for spawning. They will stay there even after spawning and feed on bait fish. ADuring this time square bill crank baits can give you a lot of strikes. During summer, they spread out to actively feed and grow. Lures that are a preferred choice can run from 1 to 4 feet and even reach 10 feet deep. In fall, you can find the bass scattered throughout the water body but often get together to feed on baitfish and shad. This behavior is to store energy for the coming winters. During this time you can use lures that resemble bait fish. In winters, they prefer warm water with good concentration of oxygen. For this reason they move to the bottom of the water body. Due to the cold temperature, they prefer not to move because they don’t feel the need to feed frequently. That’s why you have to use baits and techniques that can entice them to give a reaction. Flat sided shallow diving crankbaits are best for fall.

Maintaining and storing crankbaits

Cleaning and maintenance

Fishing tackle such as lures are expensive pieces that cannot be bought again and again. Therefore, it is very important to properly clean and maintain them after a fishing session

After a fishing session you can clean the crankbaits by simply washing them with water at first. This will remove salt water and any other impurity. Look for any other material that is not getting off. You can use dish wash soap to soak the lure and gently remove the dirt from its surface. If gentle cleaning is not enough you can use steady hands and a toothbrush to remove debris from the lure. Once it is clean, dry it completely under the sun. Look for any damage to the hooks, replace them right away. If you suspect that during the fishing sessions they have lost their luster or shine you can use spray wax to restore them.

Proper storage

Here are some tips to effectively store them:

Because they have multiple hooks when they are stored together they can get tangled. To avoid this you can use dental rubber bands. Use bands around the hooks of 1 piece to hold them tight. Once they are secured they would not make a tangled mess and you can pick any lure and use instantly.
Before storing them it is important that you inspect the hooks for any rust or nicks. If you find rusty hooks that are dull it is good to replace them and then store them.
Another very useful tip to store the crank bait is to write the depth it can reach under its lip. This will make it easy for you to select the bait instantly when you are out fishing.

Conclusion

Crank baits are a very good option to catch plenty of bass. Using the correct type of lure and technique is imperative for successful fishing experience. If you select the correct type of crank bait that can reach desired depth and has appropriate colors that can entice the fish you will enjoy a world class fishing experience. Right crank baits not only mimic the natural prey of the fish but also allow the angler to cover great expenses of water. However, even if you have the best crank baits for bass fishing you still need to practice and master the fishing techniques to get a rewarding experience.

FAQs

What are the best crankbait colors for bass?

For stained water bright colors work ideally and in clear water natural colors such as bluegill and shad are effective.

Can crankbaits be used in all types of water conditions?

They can be used in different water conditions but you need to carefully adjust the depth and color of the lures according to the temperature and clarity of water.