why are the bass nipping crankbaits?????

[Mike D.]

hey guys just a question I needed to ask.Ive been fishing crankbaits for the last month and have been very productive.The problem is they seem to be nipping them.this results in bad hooksets and missed fish.the ones I did land was hooked by back trebel hook and most of the time its 1 out of the 3 hooks that actually get them..in the summer the fish hammer these baits.just wondering if im doing something wrong.Is it me or the fish..any advice would be appreciated thanks  Mike

[Nine Miler]

Try setting your drag really loose.  When the fish gets the bait, he will not feel resistance, this will give him an extra second to snuggle up to it, and it will take you an extra second to plant your thumb on the spool to control the drag when you sweep set on him.

If you don't think that does the trick, try changing your retrieve, more pauses, etc.

If that doesn't work, try changing baits but run the same depth.  I would follow with a swim jig and single tail grub for a trailer.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

There can be several reasons.  Setting the hook a little early could be one problem.  You also may have bass that are just slapping at the bait.  The lure color could be a problem, the presentation, speed, etc etc.  Since you are getting bites, you may want to try either speeding up or slowing down depending on the conditions.  If that doesn't help, a slight color change could be the difference between getting a solid hookset or not.

[MMan16]

I know where i live the fish are becoming very lethargic. I still catch them on cranks but its definitely not like in the summer. Summer you can burn the crank back in the fall I'll slow them way down and even throw a bunch of pauses in there. I usually get great results with flukes in cold water. Twitch, Twitch, Pause. slow and meticulous.

[Carrington]

try verying your retrieve, there is something about your bait those fish do not like which is making them second think their attack.  Also try changing the color slightly.  I have never had a problem with setting the hook early.  I set the hook very hard on crankbaits and i set it the moment i feel anything different.  If you do set the hook hard like me make sure you have a rod that wont rip that hook out.

[Shane J]

I had this same conversation with myself this morning, when the biggest bass I've ever seen, followed my swim jig to the boat. I beat myself up for hours. Most of the time, it's a speed, or color thing.

[Beastie Bass]

I have to agree, some little detail is making these fish 2nd guess striking your bait. When this happens I usually change color, size, or even a different brand of crankbait. You didnt mention the retrieve speed, but I'm guessing it's pretty slow. I love when bass start getting pickier about presentation, cadence, etc. It keeps me hooked, and also stumps alot of my fishing buddies who like to toss the EXACT same lure as the catcher of the fish.HAHAHAHA Good luck figuring it out, this is what makes us all better fisherman/women!

[Beastie Bass]

I had this same conversation with myself this morning, when the biggest bass I've ever seen, followed my swim jig to the boat. I beat myself up for hours. Most of the time, it's a speed, or color thing.

I HATE when that happens! I wish that I'd never seen them sometimes! It's hardly ever a dink, always makes you go DOH! What did I do, or did'nt do?! AAAGH I still think about one of the 1st lakes I fished for bass in, gin-clear water and 5-7lbers just everywhere that were just slamming my spinnerbait burned just below the surface. TWO bass that were at least 8lbs came rocketing out of a fallen tree just as I sped my lure up to clear a branch, it was like you hit a switch. They both turned and swam to open water as my heart about exploded out of my chest! AAAHHH It was love at 1st sight , as they swam away with my hopes and dreams.

[Mike D.]

thanks for all your input.It could very well be the retrieval speed.I'll know more tomorrow.thanks again.

[Carrington]

mike, try to slow down the retrieve.  I think that will help alot.  Alot of people that i know sit there and burn cranks all day and i just dont understand it, you have to slow down sometimes.

[Shane J]

For me today, I think I was going too slow. I think just a little faster, and I would have got her to just slam it for the heck of it.

Ps- The water here today, was gin clear, as well.

[fishingfreak50]

Rod action and lure color change may help.

[farmpond1]

If the bass aren't terribly selective, and if you've been using crankbaits with a wide wobble, try switching to a flat crank bait or a lipless crankbait.  Or try the opposite if you've been doing the latter.  Or try a suspending crank where it can hang in front of the bass for a bit.  Mix it up a bit and see what the response is. 

[Nick]

Has your water turned clearer this fall? Most times when bass start nipping at baits of any kind, it's often becaue of one or two factors   

1. Clear waters.  We've had low clear water this year to the point that cranks are a poor choice of bait right now. The bass get too good a look at them except very early and late in the day.( Now I'm talking about 10 ft. visibility and don't know your local conditions,)

2. Cooling waters. When the temps drop into the lower 50's and esp. into the upper 40's  it;s usually time to slow down one's retrieve.  If the water color hasn't cleared, it's time to put away the crank in favor of the suspending jerkbait.  The jerkbait profile and speed is more conducive th strikes during the cool to cold water periods which most of us are about to enter. 

Last, it could just be the mood of those finicky bass based on local weather conditions, and they could even be telling you that they have seen your crank lots of times and are conditioned to it now. It does happen. Try a few different cranks at different times of the day to check on that theory.

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Same thing happened to me Saturday, went out for a few hours in the morning. From 7:30-10 they were actively hitting cranks but were back hooked and I lost a few. decided to slow down a bit with a suspending jerkbait and the next one absolutley choked it, hooked sideways with two trebles in each corner of the mouth. With the crank, it felt like they were just swatting at it and not actively inhaling the bait. I think they were able to take it in without expelling too much energy in the cold water.

[deaknh03]

try changing the color and/or size of the cranks, and try cranks with rattles and silent ones. it seems like the bass aren't completely taking your bait, they are hesitant for some reason, you need to find out the reason, using process of elimination.

[bassinbob54]

when that happens i just pick up another bait that runs about the same depth but a differnt color really does seem to make a big difference..good fishing

[Tin]

Extra o-ring on the back treble...360* of hook rotation = less lost fish and it hangs back further as well...