Having trouble catching fish on crankbaits

[LoganHale408]

Been trying to start using crankbaits a lot more lately and I been doing a lot of research on different techniques and ways to use them but when I try I don’t have much luck so any tips would help, thanks

[Drew03cmc]

I only toss them in the rivers, and then, its squarebills and DT4/6. 

[dszal]

I think it's important for crankbaits to make contact with cover to trigger a strike--whether it's ripping off some grass, bumping rocks or crashing through a brushpile.

[WRB]

22 minutes ago, LoganHale408 said:

Been trying to start using crankbaits a lot more lately and I been doing a lot of research on different techniques and ways to use them but when I try I don’t have much luck so any tips would help, thanks

Do you fish from a boat?

Tom

[Spankey]

I love fishing crankbaits. Am a river rat also. You can't really fish a crankbait wrong but there is the need to fish them at various speeds and depths. Different cadence. Mimic something real. But I guess you don't have to do that. I do. I sort of get into it. Color that's a whole different set of opinions. It means something to me but is it everything? No. Crankbait shape is important to me. Or at least important enough to where if I was fishing a Bomber Model "A" and felt the need to switch to a Shad Rap shape. I could go on and on about crankbaits but too much to write and be opinionated about.

 

You have to believe. You have to have confidence in what you are doing and throwing. I really believe you do have to have a few proven colors, a few basic shapes/models, a few sizes to match baitfish size.

 

I'm sure you'll get a lot of good advise.

27 minutes ago, LoganHale408 said:

Been trying to start using crankbaits a lot more lately and I been doing a lot of research on different techniques and ways to use them but when I try I don’t have much luck so any tips would help, thanks

Saw that you are new. Welcome. Good Fishing.

[LoganHale408]

5 minutes ago, WRB said:

Do you fish from a boat?

Tom

No, bank mostly 

[WRB]

Crankbaits come in a wide variety of types from shallow running to deep diving, what types are you looking at using?

Shore bound you are limited where and how you can fish a crankbait.

Tom

[LoganHale408]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Crankbaits come in a wide variety of types from shallow running to deep diving, what types are you looking at using?

Shore bound you are limited where and how you can fish a crankbait.

Tom

Probably shallow types

[kenmitch]

Bass aren't always actively feeding so they won't always be willing to chase your crankbait down. Have you tried early in the AM or later in the evening? 

 

What crankbaits have you tried so far?

 

 

 

 

[Yakalong]

As stated above, I like bouncing them off things, rocks, grass what ever is on the bottom. With so many options just try different methods and different ones. I will always have a crank bait tied on to at least one rod. They work, just keep throwing them. 

[WRB]

The risk of using sinking lipless lures from shore is getting a backlash allowing the lure to snag the bottom cover. 

My suggestion is use floating divers that float when stopped. You need to use lures heavy enough to cast effectively, 1/2 oz or more,  if you are using baitcasting tackle, spinning lighter weight lures can be used.

I would suggest fishing points or dams that have deep water access for the bass and allow your lures to perform without constantly getting hung up.

Tom

[Bucky205]

If you don't feel it bouncing along the bottom put on a deeper bait.  You would think they would hang up more than they do but they tend to run nose down with the hooks out behind them.  You can tune them to make them run better also.

[LoganHale408]

2 hours ago, kenmitch said:

Bass aren't always actively feeding so they won't always be willing to chase your crankbait down. Have you tried early in the AM or later in the evening? 

 

What crankbaits have you tried so far?

 

 

 

 

Bandits, just got a strike king going to try that out.

[everythingthatswims]

Strike king KVD 1.5 is one of the best squarebills on the market. I would start with them, you can't go wrong. Fish them around shallow cover, and make sure to cover as much water as you can. This can be difficult from the bank but if you have a place with lots of bank access, that would be a good place to try!

[Bluebasser86]

Just don't fish them, that's what I do, or don't do, however you want to look at it. I don't miss fishing them and I still catch fish every now and then. 

[kenmitch]

If you have a Walmart around you could pick up some of the Cotton Cordell Super Spot lures. Lipless crankbaits work at times to entice the bass. They're only $2.50 at Walmart so it's not a big loss if you break one off. 

 

What kind of line do you use? When I was shore fishing I switched to 30lb braid once I broke off a couple of lures. It's plenty strong enough to pull out most snags as long as one ties proper knots and is careful on the pulling part. Braid tends to cut the fingers and hands if one is not careful. A lot of snags that will break lighter line will pull out pretty easy. 

[Drew03cmc]

9 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Just don't fish them, that's what I do, or don't do, however you want to look at it. I don't miss fishing them and I still catch fish every now and then. 

On lakes, from shore, nope...not a crank in my box...as @Bluebasser86 can tell you, I'll toss a Wart from a boat.

[scaleface]

I love crankbaits but dont throw them bank fishing . 

[WRB]

Trying to cast a treble hook diving crankbait from shore going to be very frustrating hanging them up all the time. There are options with single hook lures like a chatter or blade bait and Scrounger jigs with a soft plastic trailer that go through nearly anything without hanging up.

Tom

[LoganHale408]

26 minutes ago, WRB said:

Trying to cast a treble hook diving crankbait from shore going to be very frustrating hanging them up all the time. There are options with single hook lures like a chatter or blade bait and Scrounger jigs with a soft plastic trailer that go through nearly anything without hanging up.

Tom

Yeah, just wanted to try something new and see a lot of people have success fishing crankbaits from the bank.

[Troy85]

I don't do much bank fishing, but i have my best luck with crankbaits when I'm ripping them thru grass.  

[Koz]

In all of my life I may have caught just 3 or 4 fish on a lipped crankbait and one of those was a small bluegill that was probably just trying to nip the tail of a passing "fish" when it got a big surprise. I still fish them now and then as one of the last lures that comes out of my bag.

 

Lip less cranks, however, I do use with some success. I even pulled in a 3 pounder with one the other day, but for me they mostly catch 1-2 pounders and never anything big.

 

For me there are plenty of other baits that are more effective fishing from shore.

 

 

[Raul]