How does a crankbait work?
A crankbait is a lure with a plastic lip that dives underwater when it is reeled in Crankbaits are used to target fish at specific depths The length and angle of the plastic lip is what determines the depth that the bait can reach Longer, less-angled, lips dive deeper than short, sharp-angled, lips
When should you throw crankbaits?
Crankbaits work best in the spring, summer, and fall, except during the few weeks a year fish are spawning Use medium-diving crankbaits when waters are about 50-60 degrees As the season moves along and the fish start moving from the banks toward deeper waters, use a shad-colored crankbait
How fast should I reel in a crankbait?
The correct speed of any crankbait reel is 21 inches of line pick-up per turn of the reel handle Most of that information is on the internet or on the packaging If it isn’t, measure what your reel is doing with a ruler It’s that important
What is the best gear ratio for crankbaits?
A slow reel is the ideal choice for most crankbaiting A reel with about a 5:1 gear ratio is going to help you get your baits to their maximum depth and also give you superior feel, so you know exactly what’s going on with your lure
What action is best for crankbaits?
Rod Action vs Power The majority of bass lures are best fished with a fast or extra fast action tip, but crankbaits perform best with a slow or moderate-fast action tip This measure of speed is just how long the tip goes from being bent to being straight when released in a catapult style
Do crankbaits have to hit bottom?
For professionals like Skeet Reese, Todd Faircloth and Mark Menendez, mismatching crankbaits to water depth — especially in the shallows — has become less an exception and more the rule “As a general rule of thumb, you want a bait that will be in contact with the bottom at all times
Do you put a weight on a crankbait?
You can alter the performance characteristics of hard baits like jerkbaits and crankbaits by adding weight to them Making a lure suspend, rise slowly or even sink can come in handy when you want the bait to stay in the strike zone longer But, adding weight can also change the action of the bait
What is a good crankbait rod?
A good crankbait rod should have a relatively slow action In other words, the rod should start to bend down about half way down when moderate pressure is applied to the top section Fast action means that just the top third will bend with the same pressure
Should I use a swivel with a crankbait?
Never use a swivel or angled snap when fishing crankbaits This type of terminal hardware makes it more difficult to tune lures Even worse, avoid tying crankbaits directly to the fishing line using common knots like the clinch
Is crankbait good for bass?
Crankbaits are a useful and effective tool for bass anglers to have in their arsenal These bass lures can be fished throughout most of the year They are often one of the first lures I fish when exploring new areas They allow you to cover water fast and hopefully produce a bite so you can dial in your strategy
Do crankbaits work year round?
Crankbait If it wasn’t for jigs, crankbaits would probably hold the crown for best “year-round bait” By changing your crankbaits with the seasons and water conditions, you can always find bass willing to bite In winter, slender profiled cranks with flat sides and a subtle wobble reign supreme
What’s the difference between a crankbait and a jerkbait?
Crankbaits are generally shorter and fatter, while jerkbaits are slender and longer Jerkbaits mostly have three treble hooks, while crankbaits have two The most common types of bills for both jerkbaits and crankbaits include square bills, diamond-shaped bills, and rounded bills
How big should a crankbait be?
Medium Diver: Occupying the second spot in the family of lips, the medium diver has a larger lip than shallow divers and can attain depths between 5 and 12 feetCrankbait Buyer’s Guide Species Approximate Crankbait Length Largemouth Bass 2-5 inches Smallmouth Bass 2-5 inches Walleye 3-6 inches Northern Pike 4-9 inches
How fast should you troll crankbaits?
Changing speeds is key Typical crankbait trolling speeds are 15 – 3 mph, and there are times when it makes a big difference If you are marking bait and fish but not hooking up, don’t be afraid to speed up or slow down Making “S” turns is also a good way to test several speeds at once
How do I become a better crankbait fisherman?
When fishing around cover slow your retrieve or raise your rod and pause the bait Try a stop-and-go presentation when running the lure in open water to trigger bites from inactive bass The key to fishing a crankbait is if you know where the fish are; figure out what the fish want
What line does KVD use for crankbaits?
I’ve won two Elite Series tournaments this season using crankbaits (Strike King Series 5 and 6 lures), and both times fluorocarbon line has been a factor I use Bass Pro Shops XPS fluorocarbon line for most of my crankbait fishing these days for several reasons First of all, it’s denser than water, so it sinks
Can you use braided line with crankbaits?
Straight braided line is all we ever use for crankbaits Braided line is nearly stretch-free, so a strike transmits a sharp thud Bass often hook themselves on braid, so there’s no need for a jaw-breaking hook-set The only drawback to using braided line with treble hooks is the tear-off potential on a short line
Is KastKing a good brand?
KastKing reels are among the best on the market for a number of reasons For one, they’re budget-friendly, compared to other brands Despite that, they’re packed with useful features, and they’re designed using high-end materials