Spinnerbait, Crankbait or Rattletrap- When would you use

[Spanky SC]

I am not sure when to use a spinnerbait versus a crankbait versus a rattletrap. If your casting to a point and there is a weedbed four feet down in eight feet of water which would you throw and why?

Is the point to get the lure to swim right above the weeds and hope that is where the bass are waiting?

Is it better to fish a spinnerbait when the wind is out and use a crankbait for calm waters?

Thnx

Foodeefish :-?

[SteveF]

I typically find that a rattle trap works best in clearer or colder water (not that it doesn't work all year though).

I would say that depending upon the type of weeds, the spinnerbait and crankbait (of proper depth) would be interchangeable and I would fish with one or the other first and follow up with the opposite to pick up extra fish.

Take care,

Steve

[Chris]

how clear is the water?

[BARON49_Northern NY]

Books have been written about each of these baits and for every opinion there are many with opposing thoughts.  Weight the information given and find what works for you.

In the situation you have described a Rattle trap fishing quickly over the top of the weeds might be the first thing to try to see if there are any aggressive fish.  Try a variety of retrieves to see what they want.  Burn it straight back, yo yo it, and a stop and go retrieve all can produce fish.  Try ticking the top of the weeds and rip the bait if you hang a weed.  Hard to say what might trigger a strike.

Try the spinner bait the same way with a variety of retrieves.  Buzz it or wake it near the surface for active fish.  Use a slower retrieve and try to tick the top of the weeds with the occasional stop or twitch of the rod.

I like using a crankbait to probe the deeper edges of weedbeds.  Sometime the fish are hanging along the weedline edges.  Look for small points along the weedline and run the crankbait as close as possible.  Also work the deeper end of the point where it falls off into deeper water.  Might be a hog or a school of fish holding on the breakline where the weeds end and the deeper water begins.

[bigtimfish]

I am not sure when to use a spinnerbait versus a crankbait versus a rattletrap. If your casting to a point and there is a weedbed four feet down in eight feet of water which would you throw and why?

Is the point to get the lure to swim right above the weeds and hope that is where the bass are waiting?

Is it better to fish a spinnerbait when the wind is out and use a crankbait for calm waters?

Thnx

Foodeefish :-?

well, i would throw both the spinner and lipless crank at that point. NOBODY really knows what those fish want. that whats fun about fishing. we get to figure it out

[Muddy Water Master1301600203]

Everyone talks about running a crank through weeds and bouncing it off of the bottom of lakes off rocks and underwater structure, well how do u possibly do this without getting either hung up, or reeling in a big wad of moss and algae like plants?!? That is all i get everytime!

[SteveF]

More than like you are either reeling too fast (which doesn't allow for finesse) or you are not paying enough attention to the feel of the bait.  Try working the crankbait with the rod tip more than reel as that should help keep it from getting hung or reeling in the wad of weeds.

[iceintheveins]

Everyone talks about running a crank through weeds and bouncing it off of the bottom of lakes off rocks and underwater structure, well how do u possibly do this without getting either hung up, or reeling in a big wad of moss and algae like plants?!? That is all i get everytime!

With weeds, you just want to tick the top, not generally run the crank right through it. With stumps and rocks though, you can run the crank right on them. Making contact with objects really often triggers far more strikes than any other retrieve.

[Spanky SC]

The water is clear down to about 6-5 feet. It's a spring fed lake.

Thanks Everyone