Crankbaits

[bilgerat]

I plan on getting into crankbaits this spring, I need a little help deciding what to go with. A majority of the water I fish is fairly shallow - about 3' to 10' on average, with a lot of vegetation to deal with. There are some places where it can be a little deeper.

1) Would it be even worth it to run cranks in these conditions ?

2) I've read up on them here and elsewhere, I see where guys will chew up the bottom with them or bang them off of stumps and whatever. How do you pull this off without constantly getting fouled ?

Will take any suggestions on brands, techniques, do's and dont's, etc.

[Marty]

I plan on getting into crankbaits this spring, I need a little help deciding what to go with. A majority of the water I fish is fairly shallow - about 3' to 10' on average, with a lot of vegetation to deal with. There are some places where it can be a little deeper.

1) Would it be even worth it to run cranks in these conditions ?

2) I've read up on them here and elsewhere, I see where guys will chew up the bottom with them or bang them off of stumps and whatever. How do you pull this off without constantly getting fouled ?

Will take any suggestions on brands, techniques, do's and dont's, etc.

This is a post I made on another forum yesterday:

"I've been fishing crankbaits for 39 years, but I claim no expertise. However, there are countless brands, sizes, styles, shapes, colors, etc. that are productive.

I'd choose a few from brands whose names you know (you're off to a good start with the BPS) and make sure they run at the depths you want to fish. I don't place a high priority on color. Get a muted color like shad or bluegill and a loud one like firetiger and they will serve you well.

Don't buy too many. Use a few to get a better feel for using them and after awhile you'll know what else you want in your crankbait box.

Good luck. I generally throw cranks wherever the cover will permit and I think these lures have few equals in their ability to attract strikes."

I've seldom had conditions when I could actually bump the baits off bottom, but that's not necessary to catch fish. One of the things that bumping does is cause the lure to change speed and direction and that can be done with your arms, hands, rod and reel.

I believe everybody can benefit by having cranks in their arsenal.

[bilgerat]

I'll take that advice. I'll start with lower priced (but decent) ones and perhaps modify them a little like clipping off the forward facing hook on the treble so as to minimize fouling. I deal with a lot of "snotgrass" here.

I figure on getting into the shallow divers.

What's the deal with round lips, coffin lips, square lips, etc?

[Marty]

I'll take that advice. I'll start with lower priced (but decent) ones and perhaps modify them a little like clipping off the forward facing hook on the treble so as to minimize fouling. I deal with a lot of "snotgrass" here.

I figure on getting into the shallow divers.

What's the deal with round lips, coffin lips, square lips, etc?

I don't know a lot about it, but I believe square lips are less likely to get snagged than round lips when bumping cover, such as wood.

If you're using the term "snot grass" as I understand it, then I don't consider it and crankbaits to be very compatible.

[MALTESE FALCON]

Absolutely throw crankbaits in 3'-10' of water. I throw cranks ALOT and 90% of the water I fish is in that depth range.

Bomber Square A

Rapala Shad Rap and Shallow Shad Rap

Rapala DT 4 & 6

Norman Mad N

Strike King Series 4S

Strike King Series 1 & 3

Cotton Cordell Big O

These are a few that produce for me.

Falcon

[MNBassguy]

Dont forget, dt fat 3 works great over weeds!

[Primus]

I fish in SW Michigan and the majority of our inland lakes have an abundant amount of grass, when fishing shallow flats I like a crank that runs just deep enough to tick the top of the grass and as soon as I feel the rod start to load I rip the crank off the grass and that's usually when I'll get bit. I also like to do the same with lipless cranks. As the others have suggested keep your color selection simple, as you gain more confidence you'll add other colors/brands as needed or in my case you'll buy more anyway whether you need them or not. The great thing about modern cranks is that you can get cranks that cover the surface down to app. 20' deep. I would suggest some wake style cranks to run on the surface down to a few inches deep, some 1 minus style that run about 1' deep, a few that run 2'-5' deep, 5'-8' deep and so on. The key is looking at your cranks as tools to do a specific job and in my opinion the most important consideration is finding one that runs the right depth. As your collection and expierience grows you'll learn there are times to use a crank with a tight wiggle, along with those that have a wide wobble. There is also going to be a place for silent cranks (usually in natural or transluscent colors) along with rattling cranks in louder colors like Chartreuse. The last aspect of your selection will be deep running cranks to fish along the weedline, normally I want one that runs just deep enough to hit bottom or to be able to rip off the short deep grass.

[bilgerat]

Thanks gentlemen for the replies. All I can do now is stock up, read up and wait for spring. My "experience" with anything close to cranks was running Rapala floaters with a steady retrieve just under the surface. I know they weren't intended for that, but man it got me a lot of fish over the years !

[zbass]

A lipless crankbait is deadly burned over the weeds and also can be counted down to fish at different depths. Chrome/blk or gold/blk are two of my favorites

[bluerock bass]

For shallow craning, I have found the Storm Sub Wart, Mann's minus 1 on minus 4, and Bomber Square "A". These are the baits I use for the 1 to 4 ft range. I use the bandit 200 and Rapapla DT6 for the 5 to 6 ft range.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Thanks gentlemen for the replies. All I can do now is stock up, read up and wait for spring. My "experience" with anything close to cranks was running Rapala floaters with a steady retrieve just under the surface. I know they weren't intended for that, but man it got me a lot of fish over the years !

Not intended for that? Sure they were Any way you can think of to retrieve it and catch fish.Theres no limit as long as it works.Same with cranks.

A lipless crankbait is deadly burned over the weeds and also can be counted down to fish at different depths. Chrome/blk or gold/blk are two of my favorites

If the water is shallow try the 1/4 oz sizes=more control.

Cranking is a game of angles.The farther you throw it the deeper it will go and also rod position. If trying to keep out of weeds or just barely tick them you may need several short casts.In other words you play with the distance,speed and rod position until the particular bait runs in the depth zone you need.

Fish around heavy vegetation may not often see a crankbait either,consider that.