Starting Spinners And Cranks

[HeavyDluxe]

All,

 

Started being somewhat more serious about fishing a couple years ago and decided to take the simple approach.  I began with a 7ft M/F spinning outfit that I used for fishing soft plastics (c- and t-rigged, but mostly weightless).  Then I bought another 7ft MH/F spinning outfit for jigs last year.

 

This year, I haven't hit the water much, but I'd like to get another setup (I'm guessing another 7' M/F spinning) and begin to explore throwing cranks and spinners.

 

So, I'd love some suggestions on the one or two 'go to' brands/models you'd consider in both categories.  I like to keep things simple and so I don't need a ton of variety in my tackle box if I think I have reasonably productive options.

 

Thanks.

 

 

Edit - To be clear, I'm looking for feedback about lures ("Hey, man... Rapala cranks are the bombdiggity and Strike King is teh lozer.") rather than for feedback about the rod/reel setup.

[Bruce424]

Pretty much anything strike king will be good. Maybe 1/4 - 3/8 oz baby burner spinnerbait or a war eagle. As for cranks I like squarebills or shallow cranks. Strike king, bandits. Lucky crafts are good too.

[bigbill]

Welcome to the forum

Crankbaits,

Mann's, baby 1 browncraw crankbaits.

Bomber Model A size 05 Redapplecraw.

Bomber Model A size 05 green craw.

Bomber Model A size 05 firecraw.

Norman thin N chartruese killer.

Norman thin N violet.

Rebel BIGCLAW CRAWFISH crank D74 chartruese

Rapala original floater size F7 blue.

Inline Spinners,

Strike King inline #3 silver blade, black dressed.

Mepps Anglia #3 silver blade, Brown dressed.

Mepps Anglia #3 gold blade, gray dressed.

Mepps Anglia #3 red/white blade, Brown dressed.

Joesfly 1/4oz bass size blackgnat.

Joesfly 1/4oz bass size firetiger apache. Try in overcast cloudy rainy days, evenings at dusk and twilight early mornings.

Spinnerbaits,

Mann's classic 1/4oz Colorado gold blades, white skirt(blue glimmer)

Mister Twister white 4" split double tail grub trailer. Trailer hook.

Mann's classic 1/4oz Colorado gold blades, chartruese skirt,

Mister twister chartruese 4" split double tail grub trailer. Trailer hook.

Presentations are the key to success with any lure. You have gin clear water so a fast presentation maybe the key.

Don't forget a scent

I have a camp in Rochester,Vt. God's heaven. Love it.

[bigbill]

Hank Parker was killing smallies on the Mann's baby 1 crankbaits in browncraw in NH on lake Winnie??????

I bought one and was killing bass in ct.

[HeavyDluxe]

Welcome to the forum...

 

In the immortal words of LL Cool J, "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years."

 

Thanks for the thoughtful reply...

[Dblj44]

I've had great reaction with the live target crank baits. A bit more expensive than I'd like, but the bite helps ease the pain (got my first in an MTB box).

[roadwarrior]

Norman Fat Boy (red ear)

Rapala DT6 (Demon)

 

MegaStrike StrikeBack Spinnerbait (white w/ double willow blades)

Siebert Outdoors Cosmic Double Willow

[Avalonjohn44]

For cranks, I would start with Bandit 100s, 200s and Strike King's KVD 1.5s. Excellent all around cranks, cheap and available at most Walmarts.  I like to collect and throw my Megabass and LCs, but find that I keep going back to my Bandits and SK1.5s time and again.  I have never had one need tuning out of the package, and all are very durable. I have not had a single bandit or SK1.5 crack or had the bill break. Can't say the same for most other brands (Manns, Rapala and Bagley in particular...).

 

For Spinnerbaits, my favorite is War Eagle Green White or Bluegill colors. Terminators are great too, but the price is better for War Eagles... I usually put a white grub for a trailer on most of my spinnerbaits, seems to catch more.  My walmarts don't carry either brand anymore, I have to find both at Dicks or Gander.

[WRB]

You ask about a spinning rod for crank baits and spinnerbaits, very few are available.

Aaron's Edge Enigma EAM72CB-M-S spinning rod is design for this purpose.

Crank baits, stay with the basics to start with;

Norman DD14 in craw color, deep diver.

Bomber 7A in baby bass color, medium diver.

Bandit Footloose square bill in Shad color, shallow diver.

Yo-Zuri 3D vibe in prism Shad, lipless that works very good on the fall and cranked.

Spinnerbait;

Strike King KVD 3/8 oz Shad color with double blades, Colorado and Willow.

Add a chatter bait, 3/8 oz in white-chartreuse.

Should keep you busy with a variety of good brands until you figure out what you prefer to use.

Tom

[Kentuckysteve]

I started with the old stump jumper spinner baits.This was the only kind my dad would buy back in the day.First crank baits were the original rapala's  and the jointed rapala's and the rebel lures..Now i throw a lot of Terminator spinner baits.Best color is probably chartreuse and white.I have good luck with inline spinner baits.Mepps and roostertails.I never was great at crank bait fishing but i have several boxes of different kinds.Most are old and some you probably cant find on the shelf today.I have no idea what the best crank bait is today.My walmart sells these cheap spinner baits for $1 each and i have caught a lot of bass with them.Several were really nice bass.A lot of times i don't think its the bait as much as where,when and how you use them.

[Scott F]

Spinner  - Mepps #4 PLAIN!! I know everybody uses the models with the squirrel tails, but for 2 bucks less the plain models are a much better value and trust me, they will catch just as many fish. Plus, if you get weeds on them, they plain ones are easier to clean off.

[Bankbeater]

For crankbaits I like Mann's 1 minus in gray ghost, and fire shad.  I usually throw SK spinnerbaits, or BPS lazereye spinnerbaits.

[Jaw1]

For crankbaits I don't think you can beat a bandit in the 100 and 200 series. Then add in a #5 shad rap and I think your set for basic cranking. Spinnerbaits are not my favorite bait to fish but when I have to its mainly a wareagle. #5 shadraps are a rapala bait.