Crankbaits for shallow rocky river /creeks

[gall]

So as the title suggests I wanna get into cranking this spring and summer. The only problem the. Moving waters I fish are primarily shallow (2-4ft)with some areas slightly deeper and others more shallow. So I figure square bulls to bang off the rock. So I guess any suggestions on ones guys use in the type of water would be extremely helpful. 

[TnRiver46]

You will lose a lot so I would go with a cheap (er) one. H20 express makes good ones for $3

[gall]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

You will lose a lot so I would go with a cheap (er) one. H20 express makes good ones for $3

That's what I figured ha. That's the cost of chasing smallies. Do you think square out round bill would be better? I had the thought process that thr round might roll off the rock better. 

[Munkin]

Bandit 100 and Manns Baby 1- both work really well in the shallow rocky parts of the Upper Potomac. Crayfish and shad colors work best overall for me due to clearer water.

 

Allen

[Scott F]

I have never been a fan of crankbaits in shallow, rocky, rivers. Besides the obvious snag potential, the current messes with a crankbaits action. Because I find most of my smallies near current and smaller rivers are often narrow, I find myself casting into the current. To get a crank moving and wiggling the way they are supposed to while moving with the current, you really have to wind fast. Casting downstream in the current, all you have to do it hold it steady for it to vibrate. That can, at times, be a real advantage. Retrieving in against the current you can only reel very slowly before it spins and rolls. There are too many other baits I can work more effectively in a wider range of situations than crankbaits for me to spend much time using them in rivers.

[gall]

3 hours ago, Munkin said:

Bandit 100 and Manns Baby 1- both work really well in the shallow rocky parts of the Upper Potomac. Crayfish and shad colors work best overall for me due to clearer water.

 

Allen

Funny you mention those I was just looking at them. Also the area you fish is pretty similar to my type of waters. 

 

25 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I have never been a fan of crankbaits in shallow, rocky, rivers. Besides the obvious snag potential, the current messes with a crankbaits action. Because I find most of my smallies near current and smaller rivers are often narrow, I find myself casting into the current. To get a crank moving and wiggling the way they are supposed to while moving with the current, you really have to wind fast. Casting downstream in the current, all you have to do it hold it steady for it to vibrate. That can, at times, be a real advantage. Retrieving in against the current you can only reel very slowly before it spins and rolls. There are too many other baits I can work more effectively in a wider range of situations than crankbaits for me to spend much time using them in rivers.

Yeah I agree with you a 100% in the current. Though some of the areas the current is minimal until you hit riffles. I also have an area the water treatment plant the water is deep. The only time you see real current is when they flush and drain the water back into the creek. That always gets them pretty active. 

[padon]

Bandit 100s and kvd 1.5 are both good and inexpensive,relatively.I fish both of those on the Susquehanna and do well.cast up and across and retrieve diagonal through the current.also fish behind rock current breaks and grass islands

[gall]

56 minutes ago, padon said:

Bandit 100s and kvd 1.5 are both good and inexpensive,relatively.I fish both of those on the Susquehanna and do well.cast up and across and retrieve diagonal through the current.also fish behind rock current breaks and grass islands

I was hoping someone from thr susky would chime in. What branch you fishing? That's funny cause that's exactly how I do my topwater and jerk baits. Especially the topwater tight to the shore up and cattyeompas

[padon]

I fish the main branch from selinsgrove down to about Marysville.I fish most of my moving baits that way

Oh I see you from the area.great fishing in the rivers around here.

[gall]

If you're down the Marysville way some time give me a shout. My girlfriend is my main fishing partner now, always be happy to go out with someone new. 

[heavyduty]

I agree with Munkin and would add Spro baby fat john 50

[Mumbly]

Kvd 1.5 shallow might be a good option. Runs to 3 feet but you can control that a bit more line size and rod positioning.

[padon]

11 hours ago, gall said:

If you're down the Marysville way some time give me a shout. My girlfriend is my main fishing partner now, always be happy to go out with someone new. 

Sure.actually duncanonn to Marysville is my main stomping ground.I'm always looking for guys to fish with.what do you fish out of?

[Spankey]

21 hours ago, gall said:

So as the title suggests I wanna get into cranking this spring and summer. The only problem the. Moving waters I fish are primarily shallow (2-4ft)with some areas slightly deeper and others more shallow. So I figure square bulls to bang off the rock. So I guess any suggestions on ones guys use in the type of water would be extremely helpful. 

Yes I agree with square bills but in those conditions they don't have much of anything over a rounder bill. The Footlooses and -1 are good baits but they ain't touching bottom of 4' of water. Great when taking off the surface. I'm a river rat and in my experiences the deeper diving crankbaits serve me well also. If I'm fishing 4 ft. Of water I want a CB that will go to 6 ft. Touching bottom will get you some nice fish. I'm not dismissing a very shallow running CB. I don't want to make it sound like 1.5's, baby fats, -1's, or bandits and bombers are not the way to go either. I'd like to have $.10 for every one I caught on them. But try fishing some longer minnow type baits. They don't have to be 4" long. They'll work through your depth zone. Some baits that represent a true shape of a minnow. Conntdowns and some husky jerks. Just an opinion.

[fishballer06]

Don't be afraid to try a 2.75" Keitech or Rage Swimmer with a 3/16oz. head. I bet you'd clean house with that little bait.

[gall]

1 hour ago, padon said:

Sure.actually duncanonn to Marysville is my main stomping ground.I'm always looking for guys to fish with.what do you fish out of?

Kayak right now but working on getting a jon. Come summer mix between kayak and wade. 

 

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

Yes I agree with square bills but in those conditions they don't have much of anything over a rounder bill. The Footlooses and -1 are good baits but they ain't touching bottom of 4' of water. Great when taking off the surface. I'm a river rat and in my experiences the deeper diving crankbaits serve me well also. If I'm fishing 4 ft. Of water I want a CB that will go to 6 ft. Touching bottom will get you some nice fish. I'm not dismissing a very shallow running CB. I don't want to make it sound like 1.5's, baby fats, -1's, or bandits and bombers are not the way to go either. I'd like to have $.10 for every one I caught on them. But try fishing some longer minnow type baits. They don't have to be 4" long. They'll work through your depth zone. Some baits that represent a true shape of a minnow. Conntdowns and some husky jerks. Just an opinion.

My go to in winter is jerk baits suspending them and drifting them. I've caught some monsters trout on that right there. I was also thinking some craw colored cranks for that reason. The way they scuttle across rocks. 

 

1 hour ago, fishballer06 said:

Don't be afraid to try a 2.75" Keitech or Rage Swimmer with a 3/16oz. head. I bet you'd clean house with that little bait.

That's my next bait I'm gonna start using. I know they crush flukes, so they will deff key in on that. I've watched them go crazy on baitfish and craws when they start pouring water from the plant. 

[roadwarrior]

Another vote for the Bandit 100.

 

[padon]

5 hours ago, gall said:

Kayak right now but working on getting a jon. Come summer mix between kayak and wade. 

 

My go to in winter is jerk baits suspending them and drifting them. I've caught some monsters trout on that right there. I was also thinking some craw colored cranks for that reason. The way they scuttle across rocks. 

 

That's my next bait I'm gonna start using. I know they crush flukes, so they will deff key in on that. I've watched them go crazy on baitfish and craws when they start pouring water from the plant. 

Ok,I'm gonna let you in on a secret.lol well not really but a very productive bait in the rivers.3.8 keitech fat impact on a 1/8-1/4 depending on depth and current will hammer fish.also in summer flukes are great especially the last hour of light.really in summer Yuri don't need much stuff.some swimbaits,fluke a few cranks topwaters and senkos will get you bit all summer.throw in some tubes if you wanna fish low and slow and that's it.

[bowhunter63]

Rebel crawdad shallow runner.Kills Smallies

 

[gall]

2 hours ago, padon said:

Ok,I'm gonna let you in on a secret.lol well not really but a very productive bait in the rivers.3.8 keitech fat impact on a 1/8-1/4 depending on depth and current will hammer fish.also in summer flukes are great especially the last hour of light.really in summer Yuri don't need much stuff.some swimbaits,fluke a few cranks topwaters and senkos will get you bit all summer.throw in some tubes if you wanna fish low and slow and that's it.

I crushed them in flukes in the fall transition. Also something about a torpedo early in the morning,even musky will crush it. I've been on a big tube kick here lately. 

[smalljaw67]

I fish the same waters and I do well with crankbaits. I have 2 cranks that are tough to be in the river for smallmouth, both are Mann's, the Baby 1 Minus and the Baby X. The 1 Minus is for the ultra shallow stuff and the Baby X runs around 2', the X is the same body as a 1 minus but it has a square bill, the bill looks kind of crude but it is made that way on purpose. It makes that crank deflect really hard, it has been one of the best river smallmouth cranks in my arsenal. Another really good one for me has been the Bagley Rattlin' Kill'R B, it is a plastic version of the Kill'R B and has a low pitch rattle that is surprisingly effective in clear water. If the smallmouth are aggressive and eating larger baits I like the Yo-Zuri 3DB square bill and the Rapala DT Fat 3 and the DT Flat 3, the flat 3 is an absolute must in early spring. That is just a small list, I use an entire different set of cranks when the water is over 4' along with some killer baits that have been discontinued but what I mentioned are my best shallow water producers.

[drew4779]

My home water is also a small shallow creek and cranks can be very effective.  I recommend having some options.  Have some wide wobble, tight wobble, plastic, balsa, silent, and rattle cranks. 

 

Spring and fall, my go to are yozuri 3dr flat cranks. Summer I like silent xcals, lucky crafts,  and sebile cranksters. Balsa cranks like some Rapalas rise through the water column a little quicker which can generate strikes and get you out of trouble in particularly snaggy areas. 

[gall]

9 hours ago, smalljaw67 said:

I fish the same waters and I do well with crankbaits. I have 2 cranks that are tough to be in the river for smallmouth, both are Mann's, the Baby 1 Minus and the Baby X. The 1 Minus is for the ultra shallow stuff and the Baby X runs around 2', the X is the same body as a 1 minus but it has a square bill, the bill looks kind of crude but it is made that way on purpose. It makes that crank deflect really hard, it has been one of the best river smallmouth cranks in my arsenal. Another really good one for me has been the Bagley Rattlin' Kill'R B, it is a plastic version of the Kill'R B and has a low pitch rattle that is surprisingly effective in clear water. If the smallmouth are aggressive and eating larger baits I like the Yo-Zuri 3DB square bill and the Rapala DT Fat 3 and the DT Flat 3, the flat 3 is an absolute must in early spring. That is just a small list, I use an entire different set of cranks when the water is over 4' along with some killer baits that have been discontinued but what I mentioned are my best shallow water producers.

I was hoping you would make a post sooner or later. I'll have to make a order of cranks maybe go to sft too. Have you ever tried Adam's custom lures? I was cursing his site look like they might work nice. 

 

4 hours ago, drew4779 said:

My home water is also a small shallow creek and cranks can be very effective.  I recommend having some options.  Have some wide wobble, tight wobble, plastic, balsa, silent, and rattle cranks. 

 

Spring and fall, my go to are yozuri 3dr flat cranks. Summer I like silent xcals, lucky crafts,  and sebile cranksters. Balsa cranks like some Rapalas rise through the water column a little quicker which can generate strikes and get you out of trouble in particularly snaggy areas. 

I like the idea of balsa a lot especially in some fo the waters I fish. The problem is some of the limestone over the years they cut put crevices and boy oh boy those things eat lures. The boulders  are prety easy to work with irs those shelf thst are they tricky part. 

[Djohn]

On the Shenandoah the Rebel Wee Crawfish works well around shallow rocky areas. Be prepared to lose a few.

[gall]

Just now, Djohn said:

On the Shenandoah the Rebel Wee Crawfish works well around shallow rocky areas. Be prepared to lose a few.

What size are they? And do you swap hooks or Anything or do you run them stock?