Getting addicted to cranks

[smashingsmallies]

After all the recommendations from you guys, I've finally started to fish cranks regularly and I think I'm getting addicted.  I will throw 3-5 presentations per hole and the feeling of the crank bangin' on the bottom/rocks and then dead weight, fish on, is something else.  Thanks for the info guys.  My catch rate has increased due to the cranks AND the gumption to fish different presentations (twisters, straight worms, tubes, topwater etc...) on each hole.  Even if I catch fish on a certain bait, when they stop, I ALWAYS pick up another rod or put another bait on and get the stragglers.  This river/creek fishing just does it for me and I can't wait to get out there again-having problems with the elbow(s) so I can't go back to back days-trying to let it heal.  Thanks again, fish on, John.

[bigbill]

With your elbow when your in the shower run the hot water over it as hot as you can take it for a while. I do it all the time with my knees and back/hips trust me it works. I do it everyday so i can function.

I also suffer from back pain all day long too i been also using a heat pad at night and now its much better too.

I'm starting to fish everyday again.

[stepchild]

Cranks and jigs have always been my downfall. Figured what's the use when you can use jerkbaits and spinnerbaits instead of the cranks and tubes, senkos and T-rigged plastics instead of the jigs.

Well I went out on a limb and bought a few LiveTarget cranks to mimic pumkinseed and perch...since I tied one on, I haven't taken it off! I brought in a solid 4lber the other day on it and as it jumped beside the boat, it spit out a small sunfish looking exactly like the lure in its mouth.

When the fish are active, you can't go wrong matching the hatch with cranks!

[flippin and pitchin]

Sweet !  I'd rather catch smallies on a crankbait than any other lure.  Try ice on that elbow when you get home and some ibuprofen to reduce the inflamation.  There's a topical analgesic called Biofreeze that helps too.  If your elbow issue is from the stress of winding a crankbait and you haven't tried a 5 to 1 ratio reel please do so.  It reduced my fatigue and soreness by 90% .   My crankbait has a first name, it's Norman.

[smashingsmallies]

Think I'm gonna have to maybe try that 5-1 ratio.  I originally screwed it up by paddling up stream and hoofin' it.  However, that, combined with the constant casting, put the hurt on it for sure.  I ice it every time now and I tried the bio freeze but I've settled on the "Active On" which works great for me.  d**n casting!  Gonna have to find a launching rod and reel combination--gotta be accurate 'cuz I can already catch trees myself.  John.

[bigbill]

I stopped trout fishing and started bass fishing.  I would read and watch every TV show and video i could get my hands on to learn about bass fishing. I also spent a lot of time here too.  We fished for bass very little we were mostly trout guys.  Ok about crankbaits, i was watching a Hank Parker show with him in New Hampshire using a manns baby 1 in crawdad brown.  Since it was wintertime and snowing here i went down to the local walmart and found that exact lure after watching his show.  I purchased a few of them because you know i'm going to lose a few in the process.  This brown craw crankbait with the red/orange bottom is one hot bait too.  It catches bass and i even caught a large salmon with it too.  Crankbaits do work awesome and are a hot bait too. ;D

I think thats awesome you mastered crankbaits. 8-)

My problem is since the cranks are hot i found myself using cranks all the time and not learning anything about all the other baits. Then i tried to learn a few new baits every spring, i promised myself i would switch to other baits and stay with them and learn them too with different presentations.  Trust me learning all the other baits and there presitations will help us down the road when the fishing gets tougher with cranks, like when the cranks ain't working we can switch to other baits and continue to catch fish.

The more knowledge we have in our arsenal of baits the better fisherman we will be.            BigBill

[urp]

The essence of the crank is that it covers sooo much water.

[Bass Fisher55]

They overall are a better lure to use in summer, but you should other baits to mix it up once and awhile. 

[Grey Wolf]

It really is one of many great techniques but don't forget about other techniques or you'll be missing out on a lot of fish.

[NorcalBassin]

My PB smallie came on a Strike King 6XD... thought for sure it was going to be a LM. Definitely one of my favorite baits to use. Good luck with the elbow... ice is your friend (before and after fishing).

[smashingsmallies]

It's a good thing to learn new things and the crank thing was a good learn this year.  I still use a variety of lures, it's just alotta fun when the crank "bite" is on.  Right now the flukes and twisters are doing better for me, with the fluke edging out the twister.  I still throw the crank during this time and I catch some with it.  I'm gonna fish into late, late season on the creeks and rivers I fish and I hope the crank bite picks up during this time.  Fish on, John.