WHY CRANKBAITS?
by Chuck Bailey
FIRST: THE CONFIDENCE DILEMMA
It’s a bold statement, one I cannot prove, but never-the-less true: Of the millions of crankbaits sold to anglers every year, only a small percentage of those lures will ever have their hooks adorn the lips of the purchaser’s favorite sport fish. Most will sit in tangled messes in a tackle box, having been thrown a few times, and tossed back into their container. Their hooks will be left to rust, and the crankbait’s potential never discovered. Why? Lack of confidence.
Confidence is what catches fish! And confidence comes from angling knowledge combined with experience on the water. When most beginning fishermen tie on a crankbait for the first time, they often have neither. It may be tempting for anglers to deduce that all that is needed is to cast them out and crank’em in – but that is a grand illusion promoted by fast talking tackle salesmen (more interested in catching anglers than fish).
Sure, on the right day, (when the conditions are perfect and the fish active), a novice may slay them on a newly purchased crankbait. But the truth is; this lucky first-time occurrence for beginners - is rare. Unless blessed with a “crankbait coach” in the boat, our initial crankbait experience probably ended in frustration. Too many leave with their lure hung up on some underwater structure, mumbling something about “a waste of time”, and rubbing sore casting muscles. And probably… with limited if any success!
Achieving consistent limits of fish can only occur after an angler accepts the fact that there is some “science” involved in fishing crankbaits. No, it’s not rocket science, nor does it require the sale of your first born or your soul to attain it. In fact, “crankbait wisdom” is the wonderful commodity offered on this site. It is this “knowledge” possessed by master anglers that makes the crankbait one of their most versatile and effective tools. Isn’t that what you seek, too?
You are absolutely correct if you suspect that crankbaits are one of the most misunderstood lures. So let’s change that! The more crankbait wisdom you accumulate, the greater the chance you will throw the right one, in the right place, at the right time, in the right way! Trust this: the crankbait knowledge found here, combined with the time you spend on the water, will lead to increased confidence – and confidence catches fish!
WHY CRANKBAITS?
I’d rather throw a crankbait than any other lure! If B.A.S.S. pros like David Fritts and Mike Iaconelli call them their “Confidence Lures”, there has to be a reason. Its simple: the purpose of a lure is two fold: 1) to locate fish, and 2) to catch fish. Crankbaits do both! It is one of the most versatile tools in an angler’s arsenal. And despite what some outdoor authors may imply, adaptive and versatile anglers use crankbaits all year long, especially in the South, and right up to the moment ice forms in the North.
One of the greatest advantages of crankbaits is the speed at which an angler can cover a vast amount of water. In other words, what “Goggle” is to the internet, crankbaits are to fishing: excellent search tools! They are great for locating active fish, (and surprisingly, they are amazing tools for eliciting reaction bites from inactive fish). And let’s face it; eliminating empty water on a new lake or a large body of water can be time consuming with slower presentations, (like throwing senko’s or plastic worms). Tournament fishermen have demonstrated time and time again in their pre-fishing, that throwing the faster-moving crankbait speeds up the process of locating fish.
Equally important, crankbaits come in a variety of shapes and styles and can effectively explore all the depths in the water column. Some outdoor writers state that crankbaits are only effective to depths of 25 feet or so, but those adept at trolling know otherwise. And if you have ever thrown a floating minnow-bait on a Carolina rig, you recognize no depth limits. I even use crankbaits on a three-way rig (moderately propelled by my electric trolling motor) to catch smallmouth in the winter down to 60 feet. Bass, walleye, and other sport fish can’t hide from an angler equipped with crankbaits that ranging from topwaters to deep divers.
Crankbaits also perform well in almost every form of habitat and cover. Whether a minnow-bait wiggles through open water, a deep diver intentional digs up the muddy bottom, or a square-billed balsa bait deflects off stumps or rocks – crankbaits are very versatile.
The only exceptions, (to the versatility rule), center primarily around grass, moss, and lily pads. However, lipless cranks thrown over the top of submerged grass, or divers traveling parallel to the pad edges, or twitch-baits cast into open holes can draw fish out, and make for some exciting experiences on the water. And don’t avoid thick wood cover – some of our articles will show you techniques master bass anglers use to walk a crank through the thickest branches with minimal hang-ups and fantastic results. Crankbaits go just about anywhere!
Crankbaits come in a vast variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, but remember; each one is a specialty tool! And the proper selection and application of the right crankbait results in increased catches - both in terms of quantity and quality. It would be foolish, however, to proclaim that crankbaits can or should replace all other baits available to the modern fisherman, (each has its strengths and limitations). But just as a carpenter with only a single saw and hammer would be limited if they owned no other tools, an angler is also handicapped until they equip themselves with crankbait wisdom and confidence.
CRANKBAIT CONCERNS?
Let’s face it, the same variety of shapes, sizes, and colors that make crankbait fishing so effective for master anglers, inversely causes beginners much nervous concern. The display cases at our local fishing stores, the outdoor catalogs we’re sent, and the pages of our favorite fishing websites have an endless selection that overwhelms and sometimes intimidates beginners. Where to begin?
How does one learn to properly select the right crankbait without blowing a fuse? Do you need a hundred crankbaits in countless colors and sizes? Are the expensive imports worth the investment? Does this crank go as deep as the package boasts? Do I pick the one that floats, suspends, or sinks? Is a tighter wiggle or a wider wobble best? Why are some bills, (lips), round and others square? Do I retrieve it fast or slow? Will my spinner bait rod and reel work with this topwater? What line do I use with a jerkbait? Relax – all that data is available and will be presented here in increasing depth and detail.
The mystery surrounding crankbaits will melt away if an angler will invest a little time in uncovering the factors and details concerning the following topics:
* BODY SHAPE AND DESIGN – we’ll explore…
- how the contours of a bait affect it’s action in the water.
- the differences in vibration between fat round baits verses thin flat-sided baits,
- how different body shapes affect water displacement and which to use in differing water temperatures and clarity,
- how the line tie placement affects how a bait runs
- which shapes attract the species you are targeting
- the six basic components of lure motion
- and more…* LIP or BILL DESIGN – we’ll explore…
- how varying the length, width, position, and shape of the bill affects the running depth,
- how the combination of bill and body shape gives each lure a distinctive action,
- how the bill shape and position can shield treble hooks, deflect snags, and reduce hang ups.
- why the path a crankbait takes is affect by the bill shape, size, and position.
- and more…* HOOKS – we’ll explore…
- why treble hooks dull so quickly,
- how and why the pro’s replace the trebles on new crankbaits,
- how to sharpen treble hooks if you can’t afford to replace them,
- when to change hook size or style,
- proper hook removal techniques from fish,
- treble hook safety and removal from angler’s limbs,
- barbed versed barbless hooks and fish mortality,
- and more…* HARDWARE – we’ll explore…
- the controversy over tying line directly to the eyelet or the split ring,
- when to replace a split ring with a snap,
- whether a snap should have a swivel,
- if the color of the snap or split ring matters,
- how to select the appropriate size split ring for a crankbait
- the oval verses round split rings and their advantages,
- and more…* BODY MATERIAL – we’ll explore…
- the pros and cons in the “wood verses plastic” controversy,
- which to use around hard cover,
- how body materials affect underwater sound and vibration,
- durability and maintenance of wood and plastic crankbaits,
- and more…* BUOYANCY– we’ll explore…
- when and where to use a floating crankbait,
- when and where to use a suspending crankbait,
- when and where to use a sinking crankbait,
- how water temperature affects buoyancy,
- how to modify a crankbait to change it’s buoyancy,
- and more…* SOUND/NOISE/VIBRATION – we’ll explore…
- if and when to use rattles,
- why all rattlebaits are not alike,
- how a fish hears sound and feels vibration,
- how the nature of water affects sound and vibration,
- how and where rattles are inserted in crankbaits,
- how the activity level of the fish and it’s changing strike zone influences the effectiveness of crankbaits containing rattles,
- whether topwaters need rattles,
- how water clarity and temperature affect the choice of sound producing baits,
- and more…* SIZE – we’ll explore…
- how fish aggressiveness or spookiness affect the choice of lure size,
- how water temperature and clarity affect lure size selection,
- why the size of topwater lures may affect line choice,
- when to “match the hatch” in determining lure size,
- when to “downsize”,
- bait sizes preferred by each species of fish,
- whether big baits really take bigger fish,
- selecting bait size according to the calendar seasons,
- size changes when fishing during the day or at night,
- how sky conditions, fronts, wind, and weather affects size selection,
- how fishing pressure and food supply affect the choice of lure size,
- how the lake size affects lure size selection,
- how the mouth size of the species targeted influences lure size,
- rod selection in relationship to lure size,
- why fishing giant baits (like swimbaits) requires special techniques, retrieves, and equipment,
- how and why to fish “miniature” crankbaits,
- and more…* RETRIEVAL SPEED– we’ll explore…
- how crankbaits speed is affected by water temperature and clarity,
- how the reel you select (gear ratios) affects the speed of your retrieval,
- how retrieval speed affects lure depth and vibration,
- when “speed reeling” is effective,
- why changing speeds can be effective with some baits and not others,
- how to change the speed of your lure through boat control when trolling,
- and more…* COLOR (AND BODY MARKINGS) – we’ll explore…
- how important is color,
- how to simplify lure color selection according to your region,
- how light conditions, and water clarity affect color selection,
- how fish see, especially in terms of color perception,
- whether colors are important when night fishing,
- whether colors are important when topwater fishing,
- why the underwater or over head background affects color perception,
- when phosphorescence and luminescence work,
- why clear crankbaits can work extremely well,
- whether painted eyes, gill slashes, shad spots etc… help attract fish
- when to “match the hatch” in terms of color,
- what colors disappear first as the water gets deeper,
- how to modify or customize lure colors,
- and more…* SCENT – we’ll explore…
- how fish smell,
- what scents attract or repel fish,
- the debate over whether fast moving crankbaits even need scent,
- whether topwaters ever need scent applied,
- if scent is used, how often should it be applied,
- and more…* LINES – we’ll explore…
- how water clarity affects line diameter selection,
- what line works best for topwater,
- how bait size affects line selection,
- how line size affects the running depth and action of a crankbait,
- if or when to use colored lines,
- how the cover you fish affects line selection,
- how to match the line to your rod and reel selection,
- when to choose mono, braid, fluorocarbon, etc..
- what knots to tie for maximum strength,
- when to use line conditioners,
- how line choice affects casting distance,
- and more…* RODS – we’ll explore…
- the controversy between fiberglass and graphite rods for crankbaits,
- what length and action of rod is best for shallow, medium, and deep divers, topwater, jerkbaits, etc…
- how the cover fished affects rod selection,
- how bait size affects rod selection,
- how a rod affects the strike and hook set,
- how the proper rod selection helps prevent the fish throwing the crankbait,
- why the length and action of a rod affect casting distance,
- which rods transmit the vibration of the crankbait to the angler,
- how to hold the rod to influence crankbait depth,
- when to use spinning verses casting rods,
- and more…* REELS – we’ll explore…
- how the gear ratio of a reel can affects crankbait speed and depth,
- what reels to use for deep running lures verses shallow runner,
- how the cover fished affects reel selection,
- which reel to use for topwater,
- how to fill a reel with line for maximum efficiency,
- when to use large capacity reels,
- what is an anti-reverse system,
- and more…* TUNING/ DOCTORING/MODIFYING/MAINTAINING CRANKBAITS – we’ll explore…
- how to tune or de-tune a crankbait,
- when to change hook sizes, wire diameter, or modify existing hooks,
- how to modify propbaits or poppers to increase or decrease water displacement,
- when and how to add or change color or surface designs on a crankbait,
- how to add external or internal weights to a wood or plastic crankbait to increase casting distance, change the running depth or buoyancy,
- altering the bill design to impact crankbait depth and action,
- how and when to add rattles to a crankbait,
- how to add a tail spinner or feathered hook,
- and more…* STRIKES – we’ll explore…
- how to sense subtle strikes,
- what makes a fish strike,
- how erratic movements and direction changes can trigger strikes,
- the art of getting reaction bites,
- how to detect strikes from hang-ups,
- the effect of “stop and go” retrieves and “deflection” in getting strikes,
- when to strike when fishing topwaters,
- and more…* TROLLING – we’ll explore…
- why trolling is an effective tool in covering open water,
- how to determine the proper speed and depth when trolling,
- what lines, rods, and reels to use,
- how to use boat control to increase strikes,
- what size, shapes, and colors of baits to use in trolling,
- when and how to use planer boards,
- down riggers and release clips,
- how to set the hook and play the fish,
- why understanding water temperatures and thermoclines is important,
- and more…* CASTING – we’ll explore…
- how casting length affects crankbait depth,
- boat position when casting,
- how line, rod, and reel choices affect casting,
- and more…* NIGHT FISHING – we’ll explore…
- locating fish at night,
- how do bass see and feed at night,
- preferred crankbait shapes, sizes, and colors,
- topwater techniques,
- when and when not to use rattles,
- speeds and retrieves,
- night fishing equipment and safety,
- seasonal factors influencing night fishing,
- and more…* SHALLOW CRANKING – we’ll explore…
- all the techniques/presentations/equipment and crankbaits that pertain specifically to shallow water cranking. This will include all the previous categories listed above.
- and more…* DEEP CRANKING – we’ll explore…
- all the techniques/presentations/equipment and crankbaits that pertain specifically to deep water cranking. This will include all the previous categories listed above.
- and more…* WATER CLARITY – we’ll explore…
- how water clarity influences crankbait color, size, and style,
- what rods, reels, and lines are dictated by clear, stained, or muddy water,
- how water clarity affects presentation speed and retrieval,
- what lures are better for topwater based on water visibility,
- how action, vibration, shape, and sound are dictated by water conditions,
- how water color affects water temperature,
- how water clarity affects fish behavior,
- how to determine water clarity,
- and more…* WATER PH – we’ll explore…
- the measurement of the acidity of the water fish live in,
- how PH affects the ability to withstand temperature and utilize oxygen
- how PH affects fish behavior and location,
- what a “breakline” is and how to fish it,
- and more…* WATER TEMPERATURE – we’ll explore…
- how water temperature influences crankbait color, size, and style,
- how water temperature affects presentation speed, retrieval, and depth,
- what temperatures should dictate topwater usage,
- how action, vibration, shape, and sound are dictated by water temperature,
- why water color affects water temperature,
- how water temperature affects fish behavior and location,
- and more…* HANG-UPS/LURE RETRIEVAL – we’ll explore…
- how lure buoyancy, bill shape, and body shape reduce lure hang-ups,
- rod and line techniques to free snagged crankbaits,
- lure retrievers and how to use them,
- and more…* TOPWATER – we’ll explore…\
- the techniques/presentations/and conditions affecting the usage of…
1) STICKBAITS-WALKING BAITS
2) POPPERS - CHUGGERS
3) PROP BAITS
4) CRAWLER BAITS
5) WEEDLESS BAITS
6) MINNOW BAITS* JERKBAITS – we’ll explore…
- all the techniques/presentations/equipment and styles that pertain specifically to jerkbaits. This will include all the previous categories of factors listed above.* RATTLEBAITS/LIPLESS CRANKBAITS – we’ll explore…
- all the techniques/presentations/equipment and styles that pertain specifically to Rattlebaits/Lipless Crankbaits. This will include all the previous categories of factors listed above.* SWIMBAITS – we’ll explore…
- all the techniques/presentations/equipment and styles that pertain specifically to Swimbaits. This will include all the previous categories of factors listed above.* CONFIDENCE – we’ll explore…
- why it's the mental side that determines fishing success,
- how to develop a handful of confidence crankbaits,
- how knowledge, practice, and experience creates confidence,
- and more…
So... are you ready to start? Let's get to it...
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