Crankbait Guidance

[PABASS]

Let me first start off by saying that I really enjoy crankbait fishing I don't get to do it often from the shore line so my experience is limited.  The weekend in a club tourney I missed two very big fish that I am having a hard time getting over loosing.  I am using a setup that works great with smaller crankbaits a KVD squarebill 1.0, get solid hookups.  Yesterday I needed to get deeper and a larger profile (KVd 1.5) the fish big fish came felt him did a slight sweeping hookset he boiled on the top and was gone, about 10 min later hooked into another larger one, felt her weight sweeping slightly felt a head shake and my drag went and she was gone.  My drag is set very high and this fish took drag.  So the reason I believe that I failed to connect was line, I was using 8# Berkley XT mono, I know Gene wrote an article on larger hooks and line choice so I am contributing that logic here, what are everyone's thoughts?  I am using a mojo plastics rod.  I would love to have a crankbiat setup but that wont be happening this year and this combo gets allot of use with jerkbaits and it works perfect for them.

[JeziHogg]

Could have been a lot of things.

1. If ur drag is set to high you'll just rip the bait right out of the fishes mouth.

2. Your line choice + rod isn't to bad because of the stretch from mono. But personally I prefer a low stretch Floro with a moderate rod.

[bigbill]

I prefer to use a copolymer line because of less stretch and it's ability we're it can take more abuse. Excalibur Silver Thread is my choice of line because of there test they did. Too bad there results of there testing is no longer posted but they sold me on it. I would suggest a stiff rod for crankbaits. I would go up one size larger on the rear hook too. Plus keep your hooks really sharp too. I have seen hooks go dull from hitting rocks and structure very quickly.

[00 mod]

I suspect the drag is your problem!  "High set drag" you probably ripped the trebles out of their mouths!

Jeff

[PABASS]

Not the highest but high drag, I didn't really set hard, so are we saying that when I sweep hook-set I should hear the drag?  On the second fish, felt the weight basically just reeled into the fish with a sweep set, felt the head shake and drag went and then fish was off, with the smaller baits I haven't had this issue.  The hooks on the 1.5 or 2.5 are huge I was thinking they never penetrated the mouth, but sounds like everyone believes I ripped it away?

 

 

bigbill,  I tried Nanofill with crankbaits and maybe it was the rod at the time love the sensitivity but my catch rate went down, I seem to do better with mono and treble hooked hardbaits.

[Bladesmith,]

Something no one else has mentioned; is it possible that these fish were striking short thereby not getting the lure all the way in their mouth before you set the hook. One thing that  I have noticed is with the high speed reels available now days there seems to be a tendency to crank the lures too fast. You might try slowing it down a little bit and see if that helps. Ol' Grandpappy Bass didn't get to be Grandpappy Bass by chasing bait all over the lake. He got there by hiding in ambush and pouncing on his food before it could get away. A slower bait gives the fish more reaction time especially if the bait comes from an unexpected direction. Just my .02.

[RoachDad]

I also get frustrated with CBs.  I cannot get them to swim straight. I have several tuning tools but no matter how I tune it, it never goes straight.

 

I like Rat-l-traps ok, but CBs and I do not get along. 

 

And I really want to use them.  They look so dang cool.  And with all those hooks, seems like they have to easier to hook up than a worm. 

[1234567]

I fish crankbaits unlike most. I use heavy braid and massive hooks. Example would be 1/0 or 2/0 owner st-41 or gammie magic eye short shanks on a kvd square 2.5. I even throw it on a daiwa zillion rod extra heavy, abu garcia stx with drag locked down. The extra bite of these big hooks rarely allows fish to get off. If they do mostly because Ireally horsed it in too fast. As someone mentioned the bass may be short striking as well. My technique is unconventional but it works for me. II've caught multiple big bass like this now as well as numbers.

[tomustang]

I never trusted kvd squarebill hooks, they are not worth losing fish. Look at switching your hooks and your keep ratio will go up

I keep my drag fairly low for my cranking rods, a sharp good quality hook goes a long way on a crankbait. Either VMC or mustad kvd elite are the ones I use

[Bankbeater]

Check to see if the hooks are sharp.

[gripnrip]

Make sure you switch out the stock hooks. I noticed an increase in hookup percentage when I did that. Then back your drag off. If you switched out the hooks the fish will basically hook themselves with trebles. Keep constant pressure. Last but not least, use the net in a tournament! I can not stress that enough.

[Hattrick7]

It very well could be your line. 8# mono, even though it's XT, probably gets a little stretchy. Imo even the slightest relief in line pressure to the fish they have that opportunity to shake the hook out of it's mouth especially if the fish is barely hooked. 

 

I would try moving up to 12+# on mono. XT is pretty thick from what I've compared other brands to. But with that heavier line there should be less stretch and so you should be able to keep constant pressure on the fish. 

 

What kind of reel are you using? 

[PABASS]

Thanks for all the replies, the hook(s) seem sharp but the gauge of them is thick and with the 8# line it just couldn't penetrate.  I am going to try new hooks, the Mustad KVD elites look good.  I am using a Spinning Outfit, Shimano SaHara, would like to get new combo(rood and baitcaster) but with a new house and car its not in this years budget.

[Robert Oakden]

I use the same crank baits with a stx burner. I use 30lb power pro I haven't lost a single fish.

[WRB]

You didn't say what rod you are using?

8 lb line is too light IMO with deeper diving crankbaits, I use 12 lb Berkley Big Game for the deep divers with a med/hvy crankbait rod. The key to a good hook set with crankbaits is keep reeling during the rod sweep and don't stop, you want the rod loading all the time. With 12 lb, set the drag @ 3 lbs for crankbaits. When you see the bass near the boat determine how well it's hooked and back off the drag if needed.

Tom

PS; just read your last post about the spinning outfit. Deep divers on a spinning outfit creates lots of line twist and the drag slips easily on hook sets. With the 8 lb line you may need to learn to use your index finger against the spool during the rod sweep to prevent the spool slipping, then release the spool during the fight.

[Robert Oakden]

Sorry I usually use my vendetta rod with the revo burner. I picked the rod up at walmart for 20.00 a while ago and i really like it.I use this combo for cranks and spinner baits.

[prjavelin]

I cant believe how many of you are fishing crankbaits "wrong". The idea of a medium action rod, a slower gear ratio and line with stretch is to give the fish time to eat the lure before you rip it off. Since I picked up a rig for cranks Ive been doing better and fishing them is easier and much more comfortable. 

[Sam]

Any slack in the line during the fight can allow the bass to throw your crankbait.

 

Other suggestions above are excellent. Go through them and start making changes to your crankbaits, line, reels and rods.

 

One of the best rods I have is an inexpensive Bass Pro Shops cranking stick. I like it better than my G. Loomis crankbait rod.

 

So consider getting a crankbait specific rod with a 5:1 ratio baitcaster.

 

Line selection is a personal preference. I still use mono for the stretch. Many of the pros are now using fluorocarbon line.

 

My test of choice is 15 or 17 pounds unless I am on a river or a pond and then I go with a 12 pound test.

 

Losing bass on crankbaits is not unusual. I still remember the big ones that got away on crankbaits.

[PABASS]

Thanks again for all the replies, I know what I need to change and hopefully this will make all the difference.