Crank Bait Goes Light

[BG RTR]

New to cranking. Sometimes the bait goes light like it has lost resistance. Thoughts on what is causing this?

[papajoe222]

Sounds like a 'blow out' to me. Cranks are designed to run at a speed that will maintain their optimal depth. Some will kick off to the side or actually flip over if retrieved too quickly. It has to do with the increased water pressure across the lip. Once the bait reaches its optimal depth, there is no need to reel quickly.

The other thing that may be happening would be similar, but caused by an out of tune bait. Check the line tie and the split ring. If you're using a snap, loose the split ring and never attach with a swivel snap.

[GodfatherOfSeoul]

You should definately feel this bait as its running back to you during the retrieve. Papajoe is right though, it may need a tune. Tie directly to the crank bait until you get hang of it. It just comes with experience. I would throw right in front of you a couple yards and see if runs straight or needs to be tuned. See if it wiggles or wobbles. "Become" the bait for a sec ago you know what you are working with and know that's what the retrieve will feel like.

If you still get the dead zero resistance feeling, take a peek before you lift it or the water. See if its laying to the side, or a hook is caught on the line. A tune sounds most likely though.

I like to throw as far as i can and reel fast to get to depth then crank pretty slow on anything deeper. Rattle traps are my fav and I like the yoyo and the bass love it more!

Hope it works out and that you have a new fav go to technique

[Bluebasser86]

You might want to set the hook next time if you've lost feel of your crankbait and it's not running left, right, or spiraling. A lot of times fish will "slack line" me, when they eat the bait coming straight towards the boat and it just feels like my bait is gone all the sudden. 

[Turkey sandwich]

Tuning is usually pretty easy if it's pulling to the side or rolling (not uncommon with some off the shelf models, or after you run the bait into something hard). With a pair of needle nosed pliers, slightly adjust the line tie opposite the side it's pulling to. Make small changes until it runs straight. It's better to make several small adjustments rather than overcompensating and trying to fix it. All the advice on here is good.

[Logan S]

You might want to set the hook next time if you've lost feel of your crankbait and it's not running left, right, or spiraling. A lot of times fish will "slack line" me, when they eat the bait coming straight towards the boat and it just feels like my bait is gone all the sudden. 

Either this or you've picked up some grass (or anything really)...But then you'd be picking grass off your bait, so you'd probably know .  You would be surprised at how lightly a bass can eat a crankbait.  

 

A crankbait that's out of tune will usually still 'thump'.

[BG RTR]

Thanks!

[scaleface]

Try a different crankbait . If I suddenly lose contact with a bait of any kind I'm setting the hook. 

[hatrix]

You might want to set the hook next time if you've lost feel of your crankbait and it's not running left, right, or spiraling. A lot of times fish will "slack line" me, when they eat the bait coming straight towards the boat and it just feels like my bait is gone all the sudden.

This ^^

It's probably a push bite where they come up behind it. Chances are probably pretty slim the bait is flipping over or something. If you should be feeling you bait and now you don't all of a sudden. Or it feels different like heavy or mushy set the hook. More often then not when it feels like it's caught in the weeds or something it's a good fish. Their mouths are so big the bait never hits the side to give you that thump.