favorite cold water cranks

[lavbasser]

What are some of your favorite cold water lipped crankbaits? Not just Fall or pre-spawn but water temps in the low to mid-40's. Sometimes there are better options but at times it will produce.

I wish Lucky Craft didn't limit the colors on the Moonsault line. I use and like them a lot very early in the year but am looking for other options. I am curious what others use and where they like to throw them. Does anyone use any slow risers that come through cover well?

Shad Raps are fine. However, with very clear I usually have trouble getting the distance I want, even with spinning gear. The wind early in the year makes things worse.

I bought a few of the shallow running Little Johns and am considering adding some of the deeper runners. What else am I missing? Thanks.

Lou

[hitchhiker]

I find myself using a suspending Fat Free Fingerling in citrus or pearl white a lot when it's cold

[ww2farmer]

You already mentioned shad raps, those work great for me in clear water. I have had good results with Bandit Flat Max's in cold water as well, but they are kinda fragile, the bills break off after awhile. I am going to give Rapala DT Flats a try this year, as well as the Spro Little John. One Crank bait that goes against the grain for me, has a bit of a wider wobble but still produces in cold water is the Storm Wiggle Wart, I don't know why, but that bait just has it. I can be catching them on a wiggle wart, and go back and toss a Bandit 200 or Strike king series 3 (both catch me lots of fish in warmer temps) and not get a single bite.

[angler1]

Sebile crankster in arora black for a regular CB and a river2sea v-joint in chart shad if I want a CB to suspend or used as a jerk bait.

[zach t]

RC 2.5DD in appropriate colors

Lil Johns in spooky or spring craw

Rapala DT series in red craw

Thats about all the lipped cranks I throw in winter

I also love me some XR50 or 75s.

[lavbasser]

Thanks guys for your help.... Farmer, that is not the first time someone told me to use Warts early in the year. I'll have to take them with me.

[Fishes in trees]

In the Ozark Lakes, lots of guys fish wiggle warts early spring.  Crawded or shad colors.  Mess around with suspend dots to adjust how fast you want them to rise on the pause.

[bmadd]

I agree with the Wiggle Warts. They are killer around rocks early in the year.

[RoLo]

Bandit 100 series (floating diver)

Roger

[Indiana Bass1]

I wack em every spring on a deep baby n in the firetiger pattern.

[ww2farmer]

Bandit 100 series (floating diver)

Roger

Just curious, how cold of water are you talking? I can't seem to buy a bite on a Bandit 100,200, or 300 in water less than 52ish. But they bite the Wiggle Wart for me............go figure.

[Triton21]

I am going to give away a Top Secret of Tournament fishermen.

Pee Wee Wart YV37

Killer in cold water. I have caught Bass up to 8lbs in water colder than 52*.

No longer being made but can find them on eBay. Well worth what you will have to pay for them.

Kelley

[lavbasser]

I am referring to low to mid 40's, generally the few couple weeks after ice-out. I live in northern NJ. 50 degree water temps are not a problem with the bass here.

The past few years I've been using crankbaits earlier as the jerkbait bite isn't what it used to be. I generally fish smaller profile cranks, including lipless, as the water is really clear.

I have some Warts that I don't use that early but am curious if everyone else is using the current ones or pre-Rapala.

I bought some Little Johns last year but they were not as good going through rock and wood.

Thanks for all the feedback.

[Triton21]

The Pee Wee Wart YV37 will work from mid 30s* to low 50s* temp. All mine are pre-Repala

Kelley

[RoLo]

Bandit 100 series (floating diver)

Roger

Just curious, how cold of water are you talking? I can't seem to buy a bite on a Bandit 100,200, or 300 in water less than 52ish. But they bite the Wiggle Wart for me............go figure.

That's a very good question.

I live in Florida, so it wouldn't compare to what you experience.

The Bandit works well in our shallow natural lakes,

especially for pausing the retrieve to float-up over trouble spots.

A more productive coldwater crank is the Spro Aruku Shad (rat-l-trap)

but the poster specified "lipped".

Roger

[Catt]

Norman DD Series

Bagley Original DD Kill'r B

Original Fred Young Big O

Highly over looked deep cold water cranks!

Arbogast Mudbug

Heddon Magnum Hellbender