Crankbait Fishing Help?

[CC268]

Alright so I have a Bomber Flat A in like crawdad colors, a Rapala Original Floater in white/chat, a Husky Jerk 8 in shad color, and a Shad Rap in shad color. I fish from the bank because I do not have a boat and just looking for some suggestions on how to fish these crankbaits. Unfortunately a lot of areas I fish are pretty weedy so most the time I don't even use them, but there are places I can fish them. I have watched some youtube videos and read several articles on here....here is what I have written down so far, let me know what you think:

 

Tips:

-  For best fish appeal, use an erratic retrieve

 

Experiment with these different retrieves:

 

Kneel & Reel

With a long rod, use a deep-runner and stick the rod tip in the water to attain extra depth.

             

Stop & Go

Reel rapidly, then stop. Floating crankbaits will slowly rise; suspending lures will stay at that depth. Then start reeling again. Repeat.

             

Bottom Bumping      

This technique is effective in both deep and shallow water. Root the crankbait along the bottom so it kicks up silt and runs erratically. To achieve this action, the bait must dive deeper than the water depth. With practice, you can actually make determinations about bottom content from the feel of the lure. A tapping on the bottom indicates rocks or gravel, a very slight drag indicates sand, and a longer tug (or a snag) indicates muck and weeds.

             

Ripping         

Crank the lure a few times to get it at the required depth and then pull back sharply with the rod, causing the lure to dart quickly through the water. Gather slack and repeat.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Not sure what the temps are in your neck of the woods right now, but my advice would be to try the above techniques but focus on a really slow retrieve. When fish are active enough to chase a fast moving crankbait you will know it by just looking at the water. Keep throwing the cranks and eventually you'll hook up. Once you get that first fish you'll start to develop your sixth sense for crankbaits and the rest will come naturally, then you will be able to focus more clearly on the nuance of technique. It sounds to me like you're off to a good start.

[CC268]

Not sure what the temps are in your neck of the woods right now, but my advice would be to try the above techniques but focus on a really slow retrieve. When fish are active enough to chase a fast moving crankbait you will know it by just looking at the water. Keep throwing the cranks and eventually you'll hook up. Once you get that first fish you'll start to develop your sixth sense for crankbaits and the rest will come naturally, then you will be able to focus more clearly on the nuance of technique. It sounds to me like you're off to a good start.

 

Thanks! Yea that water is cold and I have heard from other people on the AZ fishing forums that a slow retrieve with any lure is a must. It can be hard fishing from the shore and using a slow retrieve though because I pull a lot of weeds depending on where I am at. I will be trying slower retrieves though

[ColdSVT]

if an area permits run them as parralel to the bank as you can. I wear chest waders this time of year when I am bank fishing just so I can parallel the banks with jerks and cranks

[Fishes in trees]

Back in the day, when I was bank bound, I experimented with crank baits from time to time.  Like you've been experiencing, weeds were a constant hassle.  There would be brief periods of minor success, followed by many more experiences with the hassles of weeds.  What I realize now, and what I should have realized then, was that crank baits are a tool that are best used from a boat.  You can experiment with retrieves, crank & stop, try to let it float over weeds, etc., but bottom line, crank baits work better from a boat.  You can't get around that fact.

My advice would be save your crank bait fishing time until you've got access to a boat.   While you are bank bound and dealing with weeds focus on baits that come through weeds best.   For your slower approaches that would be tx rigged baits.  For reaction strike approaches, that would be spinnerbaits.  Throw in a top water here and there where appropriate.

 

The bottom line is that yeah, you can catch a fish here and there throwing cranks from the bank, but there are other techniques that are much more productive for the bank bound angler.   Unless you have an unlimited amount of time, I'd focus my learning curve on techniques that have a higher probability of success for your current situation.  JMO

[Marty]

I wouldn't rule out using crankbaits from the bank. I was bank bound for 35 years and caught plenty of fish on crankbaits. My belief is that a full variety of lures should be used as appropriate, and there is no reason to not use crankbaits when the cover permits their use and the conditions are right.

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I wouldn't rule out using crankbaits from the bank. I was bank bound for 35 years and caught plenty of fish on crankbaits. My belief is that a full variety of lures should be used as appropriate, and there is no reason to not use crankbaits when the cover permits their use and the conditions are right.

x2. I have thrown crankbaits from shore with great success. I also use them pretty frequently while wade fishing for smallmouth. 

 

On the other hand, losing a crankbait while bank fishing is real buzzkill. :'(

 

@CC268

Once the water starts to warm up above 60 or so, try throwing a wakebait (Mann's 1-Minus, BPS The Egg, etc.) or a squarebill crankbait. These are crankbaits designed to stay high in the water column (dive maybe 3-12", well above the weeds.) When effective, these baits provide some of the best bass fishing action there is imho.

 

@Fishes in trees  

I can see how you would feel that way, as crankbaits are expensive to lose and pretty much useless when they have half a pound of salad swimming behind them. To be fair I should say that throwing crankbaits from shore has historically been an early-mid spring ritual for me, and in these parts there is rarely any vegetation to snag that early in the season.

[CC268]

Thanks a lot guys!