There are many different ways to work a crankbait and using the right presentation can improve your day's catch. Here are three of the very best techniques for crankbait fishing.
Burn It:
This is by far the most popular method, a fast, steady retrieve covering a lot of water. Many professional fishermen use this method, and they call it "locating". It will allow you to make a lot of casts in a short period of time, thus improving your chance of finding an area where fish are holding.
This is an early spring favorite for covering shorelines where bass are spawning. Once you catch a fish, stay in that area and really give it a good workover. You most likely will pick up a couple of more fish in a short period of time.
A high-speed reel is highly recommended when burning a crankbait. Most reels today come with 6.3 to 1 ratio and are sufficient for this method. However, a 7 to 1 ratio or higher is better on your arm.
Stop & Go:
When you reel in a crankbait, whether you're using a slow or fast retrieve, stop the reel every 3 or 4 cranks of the reel handle. This will cause the lure to fall for a second, simulating an injured baitfish. You can experiment with this technique by changing up the rhythm of your pause.
This is a perfect technique to use where there is a target to throw at. If there is a log, boulder, stump, or dock, run the lure up to it and pause the bait before and after the cover. You don't need much of a pause; just a split second will allow the bait to fall a little. Be ready at that point, that's usually when the strike will occur.
YO-YO:
Up and down, a very effective technique for deeper water presentations. Use your rod tip to make the lure rise and fall over structure. Keep in mind that some crankbaits will fall at the rate of 1 1/2 ft per second. This will help you count the lure down to a certain depth. A good example is when fish suspend at 15 feet on a graph. You could count to 10, and the bait will most likely be right in the zone for a strike.
If a school is holding in deep water of a major point, try the technique and cover both sides of the point. It really helps if you know the depth of water on each side. If you're in 20 feet of water, you may want to Yo-Yo the lure from 5 to 15 feet. Remember, the size of your line will affect how fast a lure sinks. A heavy line (15lbs or more) will slow the fall rate down, and a small diameter will speed it up. Also note that braided line is bouyant, whereas fluorocarbon sinks, thus affecting the running depth of your crankbait.
Tommy Martin won his first tournament at the age of 32 on Ross Barnett Lake in 1972. He was a Pro for several decades and loved teaching and motivating others to fish for bass, and teaching others to respect other pros and anglers during tournaments. He won19 national tournaments and 54 top 10 finishes, was a Bassmasters Classic Champion in 1974, and fished in 19 Classics. He was one of the pioneers in professional bass fishing.
