Let’s learn crankbaits together

[GoneFishingLTN]

1. If you had to make a list of must have crankbaits old or new. That had different actions what would they be? I’m assuming a lucky craft 1.5, Rapala dt, strike kind xd series, wiggle wart, but how about baits like the big o? Or the speed trap? Post below what you consider a must have and why.
    

[Fishes in trees]

Crankbait choices depend on where you fish & when you fish.  I wish I'd known that a long time ago.  Many of my crank bait choices were made the old fashioned way i.e., the "That looks cool, I'll buy it" school of thought.  Another school of thought is - "so and so told me that was a decent bait, so I'll buy it too."

 

Sometimes crank bait choices can happen because of a cult - Years ago there was the cult of Lucky Crafts and more recently the cult of Vision 110.

 

You've just got to find what works for you.  I've got 5 or 6 Big O's - they never seemed like great crank baits to me, now they are revered as collectors items so I don't fish them.  Same for the Speed Trap - every so often you read in a fishing magazine how great a bait they are - never done much for me.  I would ask if they were such a great bait why were they discontinued?

 

For me, for where I fish, I like Timber Tigers - which at one time were available in several different sizes, from shallow diving to deep diving.  When I realized that they were being discontinued, I bought about half of the ones a local tackle shop had left - I have enough to last me for a while.

 

I think it is cool to ask what other guys like to fish with, but if the conditions that they fish the baits aren't congruent with how you fish you might go down a few blind alleys and acquire a set of "collectors items" baits.

 

Good luck on your quest.  Be mindful that different kinds of cranks require different rod & reel set ups to function properly.  Last, if you buy a crank bait - don't buy just one of any particular size or color.  That is just a guarantee that you will catch some fish on it, then you'll lose it, and there is a more than decent chance that you won't ever run across that bait again.  

[Cgolf]

For me there is only 1 must have for fishing down to about 6 feet, a Bandit 100. I have caught lots of brown and green bass on this bait on both rivers and lakes. The rest are nice to haves and have there moments where they shine.

 

If I was pushed for a second, the Red Eye shad is close, but would still lean towards the nice to have.

[Todd2]

Cold water - Shad Rap

Warm water - Jointed Shad Rap

 

I have fished many brands and some days it doesn't seem to matter but I have high confidence in the two above. 

[scaleface]

The Rapala Crankin Rap CR14 just keeps getting stronger . It has become my first choice for that productive 10 to 12 foot zone and it goes through brush real well .The CR8 and Cr10 does not go through brush like it . I guess because they have smaller lips . I've been walking that CR14 through brush as shallow as five foot ,where  its shallower diving siblings get hung in .

[PourMyOwn]

20 minutes ago, scaleface said:

The Rapala Crankin Rap CR14 just keeps getting stronger . It has become my first choice for that productive 10 to 12 foot zone and it goes through brush real well .The CR8 and Cr10 does not go through brush like it . I guess because they have smaller lips . I've been walking that CR14 through brush as shallow as five foot ,where  its shallower diving siblings get hung in .

Those are such a good bait, great tip on shallow brush. 

The CRR3 and 5 are also good baits, I don't think I've ever had a bad Rapala.

[Dens228]

I go by depth and most of my cranks are 6th Sense but do have brands. For each depth I try to keep it simple. 

Shad color, bluegill color, ghost color, something with chartreuese.

Silent and rattle. 

2-5 feet

5-9 feet

9-12 feet

15+ feet

 

Without duplicating that right there is 32 crankbaits if you use all the options. 

Then throw in lipless.......lol

[schplurg]

11 hours ago, Dens228 said:

I go by depth and most of my cranks are 6th Sense but do have brands. For each depth I try to keep it simple. 

Shad color, bluegill color, ghost color, something with chartreuese.

Silent and rattle. 

2-5 feet

5-9 feet

9-12 feet

15+ feet

 

Without duplicating that right there is 32 crankbaits if you use all the options. 

Then throw in lipless.......lol

Me too, except I'd add a dark color one too. I don't care too much about brand. If one bass doesn't like my bait's wiggle another one will I figure. They aren't all the same.

 

Note: I'm still a beginner and I'm cheap.

[DitchPanda]

For me my must have are:

Bandit size 100 in baby bass

Bomber square a in red ? craw

Size 5 shallow shad rap in shad or silver

Cotton Cordell super spot gold black back

 

 

[jimmyjoe]

   Bomber 13a and 15a, for sure.

   I've got a stash of Rapala crr5 squarebills. When they're gone, I'm gonna cry.  ?

   Super Spot in chrome.

  

   Why? That's simple! They're what catch bass where I fish. Move me 150 miles in any direction, and that list will likely change radically.      jj

[Mbirdsley]

Bomber 4A’s and bandit 200 and 300’s.  These two are kinda the same though.  The powder blue chartreuse xd-5 kills on the Saginaw river all species. 

 

I can’t catch a cold on my DT’s.  Pb came on size #5 Delta craw shad rap 

 

ive started cycling through and getting rid of cranks that I  bought in the last 3 years that just don’t work.  

[Bluebasser86]

Bandit 100 and 200, Berkley Frittsider, Shad Rap, Strike King 1.0, 1.5, 5XD, 6XD, wiggle warts. Pretty much all I need right there.

[GoneFishingLTN]

Does no one believe in the effects of old killers like the kill’r b2

[PourMyOwn]

4 minutes ago, GoneFishingLTN said:

Does no one believe in the effects of old killers like the kill’r b2

Yes, but I try not to talk about baits I can only buy on Ebay.

[scaleface]

I lost one of my Rapala CRR14 last week . Just picked up three on ebay for 20 dollars in green craw . Not the color I wanted but it should do okay .  Its been a really hot lure this late spring / early summer on points , brush and ledges .