Advice on crankbait

[yankthatsucker]

So im hearing everywhere that crank baits are where its at right now.

im down in south florida temperature averaging about 60s early mornings to around 70-75 at the peak of heat midday.

visibility in the pond i fish is prob 2-3 feet

what do you suggest? how do i fish it? where? please be detailed

THANKS IN ADVANCE GUYS I REALLY APPRECIATE IT!

[roadwarrior]

A couple are all you need to start with:

Norman Fat Boy (bluegill pattern)

http://www.bassbuckandduck.com/norman_fat_boy.htm

and

XCalibur Xr50 (chrome blue & orange belly)

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0036610120825a.shtml

Fish them along a grassline, over structure or near any cover.

The strike is very aggressive!

8-)

[yankthatsucker]

A couple are all you need to start with:

Norman Fat Boy (bluegill pattern)

http://www.bassbuckandduck.com/norman_fat_boy.htm

and

XCalibur Xr50 (chrome blue & orange belly)

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/product/0036610120825a.shtml

Fish them along a grassline, over structure or near any cover.

The strike is very aggressive!

8-)

awesome...thanks again.

[Grey Wolf]

That Fat Boy that RW mentioned is one heck of a crank bait.

[Thad]

That Fat Boy that RW mentioned is one heck of a crank bait.

Yes it is, I never really took a look at this bait till RW mentioned it.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Yep cranks are where it's at right now.These recent cold fronts are really turning the bass on and the bait is coming up and on the move.The water is still warm and I haven't noticed the famous lockjaw syndrome starting yet.

Might I reccomend the rapala dt series.These are great beginner cranks.

Use a dt fat 03 in pearl or silver.This is an aweseome bait around brush.Will dive up to about 5 ft on 10lb line.

Dt 4 and 6 foot models in shad color.this color has been great lately in clear or stained tanic water.

Rapala jointed shad rap 5 and 7 in shad color.This is a suspending crankbait.Not as good around cover but kiiler in more open water when the wind is blowing.

If you see fish busting or large groups of bait dimpling the surface, run the bait through and around them.Use a stop and go,pause twitch,fast then slow,or a sudden rod sweep in one direction.keep changing every few casts.If you are hitting bottom or any other structure then pause after hitting it and let the bait float up then rip or twitch it along.

[The_Natural]

I'll recommend a Lucky Craft Moonsault cb-100.  The Fat Boy is good, but I find it (as well as several other shallow baits) run just a hair too deep for ponds (4-5ft).  I find that a shallow bait that runs 3ft is optimal.  Switch hit with a Bagley B2 in a shad pattern as well.  It is a great combo of big/slow, and small/fast

[Primus]

Another great crank from Lucky Craft would be the RC series in the 1.5 size.

[.dsaavedra.]

Rapala DT's in depths that are suitable for your waters and colors that match the hatch.

'nuff said.

[BassinBoy]

Try a shallower square billed crankbait. Bounce it off of any cover such as weeds, rocks, logs, ect. Choose the color accordingly with the water clarity.

Rapala DT

Strike King Models

[Brian_Reeves]

My first piece of advice is to get a lure retriever.  If you aren't getting snagged, you aren't fishing crankbaits where they perform the best.  A 12 dollar lure retriever will save you hundreds over the years.

Right now, I'd be throwing a Strike King 1XS or Series 3 (if it's deep enough there) or half a dozen other brands in Sexy Shad, a chrome and blue, or a firetiger pattern in the backs of creek pockets.  If there is none on the pond, then find any coves or indentions that offer quick acess to deep water.  If there is cover in there, then pound it with a shallow crankbait and a spinnerbait.  

Crankbaits are best when they hit something.  Whether its ticking the top of grass (best use for a lipless that I've found) or smacking them into trees, or having them dig ditches in the bottom...they work so very much better when they are constantly hitting or deflecting off of something.

My favorite crankbaits are the Strike King baits, the Mann's Baby 1 minus, and anything made by Norman.  I have a ton of all of them and working on getting more.

[FD.]

I use 8a bombers in firetiger the most.  In fact I caught a 6 pounder today on one in lake Toho.

The bombers are cheap so you can afford to replace them a little easier.

I vary my retrieve speed  to maintain contact with either cover or the bottom.  The 8a dives to 8 ft but if you slow down you can scrape along the bottom in shallower water.

There is something about the bomber, either the wobble or the sound that makes them very effective in Florida.