How To Find And Fix Crankbait Problems?

[Cboogie]

people tune crankbaits so they swim right.

anyone do this?

id like to know what causes the problem and how to fix it

[Blue Streak]

Look for a bent line tie or hook hanger, sometimes they are also twisted. Just bend them straight again. Other times it may be the bait is just out of balance, if so just keep bending the line tie in the opposite direction it is running. You might have to work with it a little , but you can usually fix the problem

[BobP]

Basic crankbait tuning is to make it run straight back to you instead of running off to one side. As crankbait manufacture precision improves, this has become less a problem but it still exists and can also arise after using a crankbait for awhile. A straight running crankbait reaches its max design depth and you can swim it more accurately around cover, and both things catch more fish. Tuning is accomplished by bending the line tie slightly left or right, in the opposite direction from which the bait is running off. Most guys use needle nose pliers. For example, if it's running off to the right, bend the line tie a little to the left until the lure will run straight back on the retrieve. On most plastic crankbaits, that's the most you can do to tune them. It's not guaranteed to fix the problem but will work on most. Some baits will work OK at slow speed but spiral if retrieved too fast. You can tune them to run straight at low speed but the problem persists at high speed. That's just poor bait design or manufacture and there's no help for it. You can try putting heavier treble hooks on the bait. Sometimes that masks the problem, sometimes not. If you can't get a crankbait to run straight, I say throw it away or return it to the seller. It's never gonna catch many fish for you - and that's a waste of precious fishing time/effort.

[Marty]

I have a couple of the Bass Pro Shops Tuning Tool Key which I find much easier to use than pliers.

http://www.basspro.com/Tuning-Tool-Key/product/52284/-1003709