Cast and crank....

[billmac]

One of the hardest things for me to make myself do is getting away from cast and crank.  I know pausing and twitching and jerking various baits are proven techniques, but it is really hard for me to force myself to do it.  I vary retrieve speeds OK, but that's about it.  Two of my best bass the last couple seasons hit when I wasn't paying attention and accidentally reeled backwards (basically pausing the retrieve) and I still find it hard to do intentionally.  Maybe that's why I'm not much of a topwater fisherman (other than whopper plopper type baits).

Anyone else?

[InfantryMP]

I have always gave a little jerk here and there, usually in an upward direction. I guess I have done it so much, it is one of those things I do not even think about anymore. I have not caught a bass this year on a square bill however....I catch on lipless all the time, and chatterbaits.

 

I think adjusting your retrieve, and even a pause will work well, especially in the colder water days. 

[TnRiver46]

The one thing I’ve never had much luck with is “cast and crank.” I can’t stand it. A buzzbait is the only lure that works with for me 

[scaleface]

I cast and crank a lot with success . Retrieving  spinnerbaits Jimmy Houston style has accounted for hundreds of bass this year .

[Sphynx]

Depends on the lure for me, I am usually cognizant of my retrieve and will alter it if the old chuck and wind isn't doing it for me, I do struggle with this on bladed jigs though, probably because I don't buy jackhammers and thunder crickets and don't like having to restart the blade on my account, squarebills I do this with a lot out of habit, because I almost never get bit on one with a monotonous retrieve. 

[swhit140]

I always have a crankbait tied on, I have a lot of confidence with them. I had a few 20-40 fish days using a crankbait this past season. If they are biting the crankbait I'll be throwing it until I feel the need to change.

[CountryboyinDC]

I guess it depends on what you're fishing, but there's worse things.  You can't really fish a buzzbait much of any other way, and David Fritts is a legend of just casting and cranking those crankbaits.  Topwater plugs except the Whopper Plopper type don't generate much interest that way.

[Spankey]

Keep doing what you are doing. That pause was the ticket. Not sure what kind of bait you were using (here nor there) but in my mind I can see that bass crushing that bait on the stopped slow rise pause. Bait most likely had a rising flutter to it and the bass couldn’t resist it. 
 

Years ago I heard crankbaits refered to as idiot baits. I guess I’m an idiot, and I like being an idiot. 

[Darth-Baiter]

My PB was on a crank bait. I was just cranking, bored.  Haha. 
 

on a kayak, a big crank bait will pull my kayak out of position. Something I need to learn how to adjust to. 
 

 

[Choporoz]

@billmac, maybe @Glennwill let you change your BR name to Chuck N Wind.

[Bankc]

2 hours ago, CountryboyinDC said:

I guess it depends on what you're fishing, but there's worse things.  You can't really fish a buzzbait much of any other way, and David Fritts is a legend of just casting and cranking those crankbaits.  Topwater plugs except the Whopper Plopper type don't generate much interest that way.

This summer I was tossing a buzzbait and my hand slipped off the reel.  The buzzbait dipped below the water, and when I went to pull it back up, I had a fish on it!  So I tried that a few more times, and it worked again!  I did pretty well that morning, and every bite came on that buzzbait, right when I paused it.  Since then, I will often try to pause the buzzbait near cover if a steady retrieve isn't working.  Usually for only a half second pause.  Just long enough for it to disappear below the surface.  

[CountryboyinDC]

@Bankc, I've tried that myself (in addition to it happening inadvertently) quite a bit, thinking it may be like a spinnerbait and trigger a bite, but it's never brought me any luck.  I may try it again sometime.

[Jigfishn10]

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

The one thing I’ve never had much luck with is “cast and crank.” I can’t stand it. A buzzbait is the only lure that works with for me 

I actually use a slight pause on a buzzbait retrieve with great results. 

[Big Rick]

30 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

I actually use a slight pause on a buzzbait retrieve with great results. 

I do the exact opposite. I give my rod a quick twitch to make the blade sputter like a shad busting the surface. 

 

All in all, it's a change in cadence or direction that incites a bass to strike. 

[Bankbeater]

Cast and crank how I fish crankbaits and spinnerbaits. I will let the baits be still for a few seconds, but my retrieve will be steady and slow.

[Jigfishn10]

I can definitely see that working very well @Big Rick. 100%!
 

I read about the pause thing many years ago. Almost positive it was an article by Zell Rowland. 
 

Great post. Perfect!

[Shimano_1]

I used to have a hard time slowing down but over the years I've figured out how badly I was hurting my fishing.  I go to catch fish. If that requires fast moving baits, jigs, long pauses with jerkbaits or a ned rig fished slowly...im game. My dad fishes with me a lot and unless they're smashing something moving fast I always give him a beat down lol. Ive cashed a lot more checks probably fishing things others won't or don't because its too slow. Even when I'm fishing something fast I give it pauses and jerks. 

[WRB]

8 hours ago, billmac said:

One of the hardest things for me to make myself do is getting away from cast and crank.  I know pausing and twitching and jerking various baits are proven techniques, but it is really hard for me to force myself to do it.  I vary retrieve speeds OK, but that's about it.  Two of my best bass the last couple seasons hit when I wasn't paying attention and accidentally reeled backwards (basically pausing the retrieve) and I still find it hard to do intentionally.  Maybe that's why I'm not much of a topwater fisherman (other than whopper plopper type baits).

Anyone else?

Consider this; bass are active to very active about 20% of the time and willing to chase down a fast moving lure.

Tom

[soflabasser]

I have noticed that I can get a lot of picky fish to bite if I add pauses in the retrieve. Other times reeling fast gets the reaction bite. Some days they will bite with any technique you use. You have to experiment and see what they want especially in pressured waters.

[Bluebasser86]

My mind wanders too much if I start just simply casting and reeling a bait in. I have to constantly do something during the retrieve to keep myself engaged and focused.

[Koz]

Do you want to stop the cast and crank? Here's what you do:

 

1. Cast

2. Crank - Crank

3. Open Bass Resource on your phone

4. Crank - Crank - Crank

5. Check email

6. Crank - Crank

7. Check social media

8. Crank - Crank - Crank

9. Call your mother (long pause)

10. Crank - Crank

11. Repeat as needed and cast again.

[tander]

<<<<I hardly ever stop, twitch a crankbait or spinnerbait. I throw it out and reel it in.