Crank-Bait Basics

[Dillo]

I have never used a crankbait before, but I am thinking about trying them out. I have a few questions about them, though. I will be fishing from shore, so shallow diving baits are probably my best bet, but:

• What type of bait should I use(fat body, longer body, round or squarebill)
• What is a good brand
• when to use them

 

[BasshunterJGH]

I fish from the shore also and primarily throw shallow cranks. I would start with strike king squarebills. Affordable, and they catch fish. I use them year-round, all day long.

[TheSmilingSwordsman]

I would also suggest the H2O Express square billed Crankbaits as well as the Rat-L-Trap lipless crankbaits.

As far as colors go, it really depends on the water you are fishing. Although, with crankbaits I'm not sure how important color really is to a bass this time of year. I like me natural colors as well as chromes and whites.

[F14A-B]

Even from shore, there is most always deeper water avail. Squarebills for shallow , Rapala Dt series baits for that bit deeper water, Dt4-Dt6-Dt10... From shore that will about cover it, much deeper than that.. I am going to just Throw a Trig

Some guys like the store brand cranks, I have never used them.

[Catch and Grease]

I like bomber square A's, KVD 1.5s, and the H2O CRS square bills they are all affordable and catch lots of fish!

Plenty of good info on here about fishing squarebills! I'll link some good post and articles below, if you have any specific questions about square bills I can try to answer them for you

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/145094-squarebill-crankbait/?fromsearch=1

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/143817-how-squarebills-work/?fromsearch=1

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/117670-bass-resource-exclusive-square-bill-crank-bait-tips-with-scott-martin/

[Dillo]

I like bomber square A's, KVD 1.5s, and the H2O CRS square bills they are all affordable and catch lots of fish!

Plenty of good info on here about fishing squarebills! I'll link some good post and articles below, if you have any specific questions about square bills I can try to answer them for you

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/145094-squarebill-crankbait/?fromsearch=1

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/143817-how-squarebills-work/?fromsearch=1

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/117670-bass-resource-exclusive-square-bill-crank-bait-tips-with-scott-martin/

question about squarebills: why use them over normal cranks?

[BasshunterJGH]

Squarebill or coffin-shaped bills deflect off cover (stumps, rocks, trees) better than round-lipped crankbaits. That's just one advantage.

[Montanaro]

Stick to cheap cranks for shore fishing...much easier to lose them from shore so buy something you arent afraid to throw in a jungle and never get back.

Go for something that runs at a medium depth so you can dig up bottom and get in strike zone on a long cast.

[Catch and Grease]

question about squarebills: why use them over normal cranks?

Read the second link I posted and that's my explanation on what separates and round bill and squarebill crankbait

[warpath58]

Give these a try they come in just about every color you will ever need. Bandit Crankbaits Series 100 200 & 300 They also make some great squarebills. I used to live near Sardis where they were made use to pick them up for a Dollar.

[smalljaw67]

You are correct in you assessment of using shallow cranks when fishing from shore. Deep cranks, at least to me, aren't search baits, deep cranks are used when you find fish. Square bills are great because they will deflect off cover and they cover a wide range of diving depths, the Bomber Square "A"  in the 3/8oz model is small but good and inexpensive so it doesn't hurt to lose it but it also seems to come through cover extremely well. The KVD 1.5 is another good one as it dives deeper than other square bills. 2 cranks that I consider "must haves" for shore or shallow fishing is a Manns Baby 1 minus and the Manns Baby X, the 1 minus dives to a foot and the baby X dive to 2' with the same body as the 1 minus only it has a square bill. Rapala DT-4 cranks are also good if you get them on sale and the Luck-E-Strike RC square bills in the series 2 and series 3 models.

[desmobob]

Of the crank baits I've tried so far, I'm fondest of the Bill Norman Little N and Big N.   After using the Little N and Bomber Square A back to back, I found the Little N deflects off the weeds much better.  I was constantly having to pull weeds off the Square A.

 

I love throwing crank baits but the weed issue can get frustrating.  Does adding Triple Grip hooks reduce the amount of weed hooking?

 

And speaking of crank baits, I bought a couple of Strike King's Bitsy Pond Minnows (1/8 oz., 1 1/4" long) throw on the ultra-light spinning rig I always carry when bass fishing .  I tried them yesterday and the yellow and white perch absolutely loved them!  But... with the lure being so small with two tiny trebles, it was necessary to use hemostats to unhook almost every fish.  I need to get a photo of one of them alongside one of the very large Norman Big N's.  Quite a contrast!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[Jtrout]

I just started using crank baits and notice a lot of fish just get off it's kinda annoying lost 3 this morning what should I do?

[Catch and Grease]

I just started using crank baits and notice a lot of fish just get off it's kinda annoying lost 3 this morning what should I do?

What set-up are you using? When I set the hook with a square bill I just sweep the rod to the right or left with a good amount of pressure and reel harder, how have you been setting the hook?

[Jtrout]

7' mh bps tourney special flueger president reel 10 pound braid I feel hit n give it a jerk to set the hook put pressure on em n start reeling and a little bit later they get off. I was using a lipless crank

[Catch and Grease]

you cant catch them all, I have had cranking days where it seems like I cant get any bass to the boat... Are you using good sharp hooks? How is the action on that rod? I use braid for cranking and I love it but your setup needs to have alittle give somewhere and because braid has zero stretch you may need a softer rod. I use a M/F for lipless

[primetime]

I have been using lighter line and spinning gear for pond fishing lately for crankbaits and have been throwing alot of the 1/8 oz speed traps, Storm Subwarts with adding a larger Mustad Triple grip 2x short in front, regular inline in rear, but those lil subwarts flat out catch fish just like the little cordell Big O square bills. I have been doing well with firetiger patterns and always threw subwarts on ultralight gear, but they work fine on 6-8lb test nylon mono like trilene xl or xt, medium light to medium spinning rod, from shore, I like a shorter rod for accurate casts...Skipping smaller baits and cheaper baits like Storm for example make losing a few lures not as bad. If you are avoiding the areas where water is accross the pond, and a good 6 feet is behind some overhanging branches, I guarantee it is time to practice your skipping since those are the spots everyone else also skips....

 

For skipping baits, I have gotten good enough to use hardbaits without losing many, but a tube could be the best soft bait to skip and it lands quietly and you can load it up with 3/4 oz if needed....I have days at one pond where if I am not getting my bait way in the back within a few inches of cover, I am not getting bit, so deflection and ripping is key....Silent lipless crankbaits are golden in ponds if they get pressure, once bass see a lipless crank in a small pond they all go nuts for a few days then will not go near em....Swap out colors and sizes to what other's don't use. I look at what other people are throwing and make sure I am always using different stuff...Smaller cranks, quiet entries, translucent colors, heavy weights for fast falls since most people think 1/4-3/8 is heavy pitching to cover. Going up to 3/4-1 oz on a creature or worm even in 4 feet of water can get you bit when 1/2 will not....Key is to throw the kitchen sink until you find the right tool for the day, after rain, Lizards work well with a loud splash, same with frogs under large trees...