Can crankbaits replace spinnerbaits??

[The Rooster]

Are there unique situations where you use a crankbait over a spinnerbait, or a spinnerbait instead of a crankbait??  Or can I mostly use a crankbait anywhere I'd use a spinnerbait and visa versa??  

[njbasser]

You can use spinnerbaits in weedy areas where cranks cant and in places where a crank would get snagged easier.

[5bass]

There are better scenarios for each one although both can be worked in the same places for the most part, if that makes sense. Both are merely tools. You just have to assess the situation in front of you and take the best tool out of your tool box.

That said, I have the ultimate confidence in a crankbait so I will always pick up a crankbait first. Always.

[ptomacbass]

lately shallow cranks have been way better than spinnerbaits for me.

[KevO]

lately shallow cranks have been way better than spinnerbaits for me.

X2 early spring throught the beginning of summer was my best time for the spinnerbait

[Marty]

Both are great baits. I prefer crankbaits, but as has been pointed out, spinnerbaits can be used in some weedy areas where crankbaits can't. I'm almost always going to at least try crankbaits where the cover will permit their use.

[Lambo6]

I actually I recently read an article somewhere when i was flying that said "Shallow Cranks are the new Spinner"

I really like using em in the conditions that I would reguarly use a spinner,

[George Welcome]

As with the jig vs. T-rig, these are two totally different baits. Although usable in many similar situations they work totally different, presenting different movement, and profiles. The differences are many.

[MALTESE FALCON]

Typically, I will start with a crankbait first, because I have so much confidence in them, but I agree with the statement five.bass.limit made in his post.

"Assess the situation in front of you and take the best tool out of your tool box".

Words to live by.

Falcon

[Grey Wolf]

As with the jig vs. T-rig, these are two totally different baits. Although usable in many similar situations they work totally different, presenting different movement, and profiles. The differences are many.

x2

[tyrius.]

Nope.  Spinnerbaits and cranks are two completely separate baits with completely different action, profiles, etc.  I went out yesterday and fished the creek inflow on one of my neighborhood ponds (we've gotten like 6 inches of rain so the water was flowing fast).  In just over 2 hours of fishing, zero fish on a crankbait and about a dozen on a spinnerbait.  Had a HUGE one swipe at the spinnerbait too.  The crank wouldn't work right in the current and the spinnerbait was perfect.

[TrippyJai]

Nope. Spinnerbaits and cranks are two completely separate baits with completely different action, profiles, etc. I went out yesterday and fished the creek inflow on one of my neighborhood ponds (we've gotten like 6 inches of rain so the water was flowing fast). In just over 2 hours of fishing, zero fish on a crankbait and about a dozen on a spinnerbait. Had a HUGE one swipe at the spinnerbait too. The crank wouldn't work right in the current and the spinnerbait was perfect.

good post... this is the type of comments that i think i learn best. ;D

[Raul]

Different animals, different aplications.

[Primus]

I generally prefer cranks over spinnerbaits in most situations. I have at least 4 situations where I may opt for the spinnerbait. The first would be night fishing, my first choice is a black 3/8 up to 1 oz spinnerbait with a large single colorado blade. The second is when fishing in the rain. The 3rd is in the spring bumping a spinnerbait (or sometimes a swimming jig) through emerging lily pad stems or later through the lily pads if not too thick. The fourth and most obvious is when the weeds are too thick to fish a crank, and they won't come up for a topwater or wake bait (either crank or swimbait version). I'm sure there are other situations but I hope this helpful, with all that being said I'm generally more confident in crank because of it's more realistic profile and the fact that it is easier to fish deeper water.

[snapper G]

I like to use a spinner bait in murky water with allot of weeds, and a crank bait in less murky water around pilings, wood, and rocks. One thing you have to keep in mind about spinner baits, is that they are semi weedless, and crank baits are not weed less at all, although they can be ripped from cabbage and other softer, weeds, you'll have no chance if you use it in pads and reeds.

Spinners also but out more vibes and less sound and cranks but out more sound, and less vides. Spinner baits also put out a bigger image and are better for targeting BIG  , wile crank bait can still produce big bass, the little ones can also get 'em good (at lest better in my experience).

You can also fish a spinner bait different ways, on the top slow rolled and jigged, you have no hope jigging a crank bait (with lip).

Spinner bits tend to more effective in low light situations, they will give more flash and vides. Wile a crank bait, with give less flash, and more rattles. But if you add rattles to a spinner bait (some thing I have done when the going gets tough) you can have the sound of a crank bait, and the vides, and flash of a spinner bait!

But if you're trolling, as apposed to casting, you should use a crank bait, if your using a spinner bait, than the blade will get rapped in the line, and if you using mono, the line will eventually snap.  :'(

Crank baits can also be better in areas with high current, a spinner bait can also get the blades wrapped in the line if the current is strong

enough.

[J Francho]

I think many assume that a spinnerbait is just a shallow water, fast, horizontal tool, when really they are much more versatile than a shallow crank, which outside of color, is a one trick pony.  I'm not sure i understand the drive behind the this lure is really that lure rash of threads.  They're ALL DIFFERENT.  Learn how to catch fish with all of them.

[TournyFish001]

let the fish tell you what they want- usually but not always a spinnerbait bite is best with choppy water and cloud cover- match the baitfish as best as possible with your color selection.  A crankbait works well in the same conditions but usually better deeper- that being said there are a lot of shallow crankbaits as there are also deep running spinnerbaits- best advice I can give is put time on the water with both, swing for the fence build on your last experience- the more diversified you are the better bass fisherman you will be- do not let one bait replace the other- use one bait for the right situation.  That being said I am a tournament fisherman and have both on the deck-

Good Fishing to Ya

[The Rooster]

Yeah I wouldn't really quit using one compared to the other, I have a lot of both actually.  I just didn't understand this part ----> if both of them put off vibrations and both of them can be fitted with rattles, and both of them can even have flash, and both of them resemble a shad, then when do you use one over the other??  

I can see that the trebles of a crank can tangle in weeds so the spinnerbait would be better there.  Maybe the vibrations are different from one to the other, and also the retrieves can be varied differently too, such as the stop and go retrieve.  With a spinnerbait it's going to sink when you stop it, but a crank will either float up or suspend, so the same technique with both lures will give different results.  

I think I might have just answered my own question there.

[senile1]

I actually I recently read an article somewhere when i was flying that said "Shallow Cranks are the new Spinner"

I really like using em in the conditions that I would reguarly use a spinner,

I think that was in a recent Bassmaster issue.  I believe it suggested that shallow cranks with square lips are a replacement, or are even better,  when banging wood in shallow water.  There are situations where one could replace the other, but overall they are different baits and I wouldn't be without either of them.

[Shadcranker]

In the spring time, if the fish are getting slammed in the head with spinnerbaits, I'll throw a small Cb like a Bandit 200 behind guys slinging blades and catch the heck out of them. One day last spring I went right behind two guys fishing an upriver bank near a spawning cove. They were both slinging big spinnerbaits with no luck, and I caught 6 fish right behind them on a shad colored 200.

If the wind is right, and the water is stained, a spinnerbait will wear them out, but if it's calm, or the fish have seen a ton of blades, the cb will often work better.

[BassFishingMachine]

One thing you have to keep in mind about spinner baits, is that they are semi weedless, and crank baits are not weed less at all, although they can be ripped from cabbage and other softer, weeds, you'll have no chance if you use it in pads and reeds.

I learned this the hard way... lost a luckycraft crankbait in some pads the other day  :'(.

[iceintheveins]

It just really depends on the situation. A good basser needs to carry and be proficient with both. Overall a spinnerbait is more versatile, but when the bite is on a crank will almost always outproduce a spinnerbait.

I prefer a spinnerbait when fishing areas with a lot of cover, but banging a crank into wood and rock cover is a lethal technique. I deeper water, I do prefer a spinnerbait over a crank usually.