crankbaits: when to use a tight wobble vs. a wide wobble in spring?

[billgator]

hey guys, im curious as to when to use a wide wobble vs. a tight wobble in the spring. is it just a matter of tight wobble for clear cold water and wide for muddy warm? do you guys switch from one to the other at a certain temp or pre-spawn phase? thanks...

[roadwarrior]

The traditional answer is tight wobble for cold

water (<60*), wide wobble for warmer water.

However, structure and cover may be a better

gauge. Lipless crankbaits seem to be effective

in grass all the time!

8-)

[billgator]

in my area there aren't many grassy bottoms. it's more flooded timber and ledges, along with some riprap and rocky shorelines. there are some weedlines along the banks though.

[Raul]

Conventional wisdom says:

Cold water ---> tight wobble

Warm water ---> wide wobble

But I 'm not "conventional", if the water is cold then another factor comes into play, water clarity, if the water is clear I 'll use conventional wisdom, but if it 's not clear ---> screw conventional wisdom, I 'll fish wide a wide wobbling, fat and noisy bait. The only exception would be lipless cranks, those work well because they are very noisy.

[Thad]

I like to start the day off with one of each, no matter what the conditions are. Something like a Wiggle Wart and a Shad Rap. The fish will usually let you know what they want.

[Jake.]

These are the general rules I follow:

cool and muddy: tight wiggle, with rattle

cool and stained: tight wiggle, without rattle

cool and clear: tight wiggle, without rattle

These are by no means set in stone, often times the bass don't follow the "rules" and you have to change things up to catch them.

[Blade-Runner]

My Factoring Process:

#1) Water clarity.

#2) Baitfish imitation - tight wobble

Crawfish imitation - wider wobble

#3) Similar to using a colorado vs. willow blade spinnerbait, sometimes the wider wobble cranks have maximum action with a slower retrieve, which can be key in certain situations.

[Manigotapee]

I've caught alot of fish in water right around 40 degrees using wiggle warts.  Those are a wider wobble bait.  I do think if you pay attention, the fish will tell you what they want that day.  Structure, bottom composition, cover, and clarity (water) all will dictate what to use.

~Thomas

[tnbassfisher]

What exactly defines a tight or wide wobble?

[bassman31783]

I use a tight wobble crankbait when the fish wants a tight wobble.

I use a wide wobble crankbait when the fish wants a wide wobble.

If you happen to have multiple rods then i suggest tying different crankbaits to each rod & then fish the heck out of them. It really shouldn't take long at all before you find what profile/wobble/color they want.

[fishfordollars]

Let the fish tell you.

[Raul]

What exactly defines a tight or wide wobble?

Tight wobble ---> the bait rocks along it 's longitudinal axis

Wide wobble ---> the bait rocks along it 's frontal axis.