Cold Water Cranks?

[rowyourboat]

i know crankbait all have different wobbles....

 

but what ones are best for water less than 50 degrees?

most of the ones i have are: shad raps, strike kind XDs, bandits, norman dds, bombers...

 

i dont know. im over whelmed. but could anyone break down what ones are best in colder water (less than 50)

 

thanks!!!!!!

[BradH]

Shad Raps and lipless are always a good bet.  I've also had great luck with Rapala DTs, Norman Deep Little Ns and DD22s in cold water.  Yesterday I took the new Norman DD22HD for a test drive.  Water temp 37 degrees.  Casts numbers 3 and 4 both produced fish.  I'm thinking I like that one.  I've had good luck on squarebills in cold water too.  Jerkbaits are a cold water favorite but I'll still toss the same baits I'd toss in July if I know where the fish are and those baits will reach them.

[keith71]

Tight wiggle baits like a Shad Rap,Little Johns are usually what I go to first but my first fish of the year came on a Norman deep lil N in 44 degree water.You have to experiment a little.

[Fishes in trees]

Here in Missouri, a wiggle wart (or something with a similar action) is a decent early spring bait.  If you got really clear water, I'd go with a shad rap.  I think in early spring, the wind is telling you which direction to throw.  I always try to set up so that I can throw shad raps with the wind.  Throwing shad raps into the wind gets counter productive.  JMO

[Blues19]

I would try the Wiggle Wart. Great bait in early spring with cold/chilly water

[Jigfishn10]

I went lipless crankbait for the first time this year after reading many posts about using red and lipless cranks in cold water...Three in a few hours in low 40*'s was enough to convince me.

[ww2farmer]

I would have to say about 80% of my cold (<50 degree water temp) bass have been caught on lipless cranks. The rest on small bodied divers like a Storm Wiggle Wart, SK series 3/3xd, bandit 200/300, etc.... or smaller squarebills if they are shallow like a SK KVD 1.5, SK series 1, Bandit 100, etc...on the lakes I fish most often, it seems like flat sided baits (other than lipless cranks) are just not all that effective, or at least I have never had banner days on them.

[BassThumb]

Don't forget about balsa jerk baits, or any jerk bait for that matter; they also shine in cold water.

 

My favorite cold-water crankbait is, hands down, the bargain-bin Cotton Cordell Super Spot with some upgraded hooks. It has an unusually tight wobble, which simply produces fish in cold water. By the way, true cold-water fishing only takes place in the late fall for me, due to the fishing opener in MN being so late in the season. That might make a difference, or it might not, but I figure I'd mention it anyways.

[Bluebasser86]

Shad raps, warts, traps, and little johns are some of my favorite cold water cranks. 

[BassinB]

I would have to say about 80% of my cold (<50 degree water temp) bass have been caught on lipless cranks. The rest on small bodied divers like a Storm Wiggle Wart, SK series 3/3xd, bandit 200/300, etc.... or smaller squarebills if they are shallow like a SK KVD 1.5, SK series 1, Bandit 100, etc...on the lakes I fish most often, it seems like flat sided baits (other than lipless cranks) are just not all that effective, or at least I have never had banner days on them.

How do you work a lipless crank in water that cold?

[ww2farmer]

How do you work a lipless crank in water that cold?

Over and through grass. I usually start by reeling it fast enough to "tick" the top of any milfoil/grass that's growing, popping it off any grass it hangs on, and killing it several times during the retrieve, letting it flutter down into the grass and ripping it out. Or I'll let it sink into the grass and rip it out and pump it back to the boat the entire retrieve. 1/2 oz. sized baits work great for this from the bank out to about 8-10 fow. I use the position of my rod tip to follow and keep contact with the grass as I work it back to the boat. 9 time out of 10, I'll catch bass when it's either falling into, ticking, or ripping out of the grass. With a straight retrieve , Pike seem to bite more often.

[Bluebasser86]

Over and through grass. I usually start by reeling it fast enough to "tick" the top of any milfoil/grass that's growing, popping it off any grass it hangs on, and killing it several times during the retrieve, letting it flutter down into the grass and ripping it out. Or I'll let it sink into the grass and rip it out and pump it back to the boat the entire retrieve. 1/2 oz. sized baits work great for this from the bank out to about 8-10 fow. I use the position of my rod tip to follow and keep contact with the grass as I work it back to the boat. 9 time out of 10, I'll catch bass when it's either falling into, ticking, or ripping out of the grass. With a straight retrieve , Pike seem to bite more often.

This technique generates some of the hardest strikes I've ever had in cold water and is a great way to catch big fish.

[GOOCHY]

I've been trying this over the past couple of days with no luck.  Water temp is below 40 right now.  Going to keep at it this week...

[iceintheveins]

The shad rap is king in cold water if you are talking billed cranks. Lipless cranks like Red Eye Shads, Super Spots, Rat L Traps, and Clackin' Raps are very good though too.