Scroll, Select, and Enjoy
1) WHY CRANKBAITS? - A general discussion that opens up the topic of crankbaits and explores WHY they are important in fishing. Explore why beginners struggle and pro anglers love them! How much is there to crankbaits?
2) WHAT IS A CRANKBAIT? - As you will see, its easier to recognize one that define one. Does it have to do with materials, hardness, hooks? How about shape, size, hardware? There's an exception to every rule...
3) THE BILL (LIP) - Bill or lip topics - like length and angle, effects on wobble and vibration, and shape and deflection. Bill variations and materials are discussed.
4) DEPTH - Learn about the factors that affect crankbait depth; such as the bill, line, casting distance, retrieve speed, rod position, lure buoyancy, weights, and trolling techniques.
5) SHAPE/DESIGN/MOTION - Explore these characteristics by looking at long-thin MINNOW baits, Short-fat SHAD baits, Flat sided LIPLESS baits, SPECIALTY shaped baits. Lure motion terms are defined.
6) SPEED - Examine the effects of speed upon a crankbait's effectiveness. Included: Speed reeling, Slow-Mo Reeling, speed change, speed's effects of depth, trolling, and a reel's ratio impact on retrieval speed.
7) SIZE - How to select crankbait size. Included: Match-the-hatch, seasonal implications, water temperature and clarity, light conditions and miscellaneous factors. Also - Do big baits catch big fish? When to downsize.
8) SOUND AND VIBRATION - Let's explore Sound and Vibration. First - what does a fish hear and feel? Then, do fish strike crankbaits BECAUSE of rattles or DESPITE rattles?
9) COLOR/FLASH/MARKINGS Part 1 - Part I looks at how fish see, and how color selection is influenced by H2O, background, local forage, water clarity, depth, light and sky conditions, fish aggressiveness, and lure speed.
10) COLOR/FLASH/MARKINGS Part 2 - Part II looks at black, red, and clear colors, duel schemes, body marks, flash, gloss, phosphorescence-luminescence, colors at night, and topwater colors.
11) SCENTS: SMELL AND TASTE - Let's explore whether crankbaits need scents applied to them. Do scents attract fish or simply mask offensive smells? Are they useful when fishing topwater?
12) HARDWARE: SNAPS,SPLIT-RINGS, SNAPS - Should the line be tied directly to the eye of a crankbait? Should an angler use snaps, split-rings, or swivels?
13) HOOKS - Ultra-sharp trebles are essential components for successful crankbait angling. Let's explore "how" and "when" to select the right replacement size and style of treble hooks.
14) CRANKBAIT RODS - When selecting a rod for cranking, should an angler select casting or spinning rods, long or short, stiff or fasting action, graphite or fiberglass?
15) CRANKBAIT REELS - What gear ratio should an angler choose for crankbaits? Do you pick torque over speed? Left or right handed? Spinning or Baitcasting?
16) LINE - While controversial and confusing, picking the proper line is important for fishing crankbaits. Should you use monofilament, braid, fluorocarbon, and what diameter? What about colored line?
17) TUNING, DOCTORING, MODIFYING, and MAINTENANCE - PART1 - ...tuning a bait, modifying jerkbaits, topwaters, propbaits, and minnowbaits. Altering the a bill. How to sharpen a treble hook.
18) TUNING, DOCTORING, MODIFYING, and MAINTENANCE - PART 2 - Replacing and modifying treble hooks, changing color and appearance, adding weights, rattles, and spinners.
19) STRIKES - Let's examine HOW and WHY a fish strikes a crankbait. And just as important; how to elicit strikes through changes in direction and speed.
20) LOSING FISH - to reduce the number of fish lost on crankbaits, you will want to know proper retrieval techniques, and have the right equipment - rods, reels, line, knots, and hooks. Do you?
21) PLASTIC OR WOOD? - Ever wondered which is best? In this article we'll examine the differences between wooden and plastic crankbaits.
22) FLAT-LINE TROLLING - Let's explore the basic information on trolling crankbaits. Learn how to control the factors that affect crankbait depth, and much more...
23)TOPICS STILL TO COME - a list of future ABC's topics and a request for your feedback.