I Can't Land A Bass With A Crankbait.

[joebills78]

HELP!!!!

I have been bass fishing for about a year and a half now. With worms,jigs,spinnerbaits,spooks I set my hook and fight the bass back to the boat as needed. I started using crank baits and in the last two outings I has four solid, or so I thought, hook sets, but couldn't get the fishto the boat all the way. They are there and then gone. Using 12-17#flouro on medium action rod with curado reel. Please help. Two of the four were what you folks have been calling pigs!!

[Blue Streak]

Bigger hooks maybe??

[Diggy]

Try putting better hooks on the lures you are using? Rod tip down to keep them from jumping if they are throwing the bait? Maybe get a better rod made for cranking or a different action tip.

[SAC2]

i just reel into my fish. that is, when i get bite on a crank (or anything with trebles for that matter) i tend to just reel down, let the rod load up and what i call "lean into it". i dont really "lean" foward, but i kinda just bring the rod back in a smooth motion but with a good bit of force. i would venture to say i am about 85 percent hook up and land with my cranks (and jerkbaits, and lipless, and poppers/walkers)

note: watch guys like kvd (cranknig king in my eyes), and rick clunn throw a crankbait and you will know what i mean.

[Vinny Chase]

Besides what has been said, try switching up the color or go to a silent model - a subtle change can turn short strikes into a clomp fest!

[NBR]

IMO trebles always lose more fish than singles like worm or jig hooks. They have a much smaller shank to barb distance so they get a much smaller grip on the fish. Having said that I have been a barbless or pinched down barb fisher guy for over 30 years and I don't think there is a treble in my box with a barb leftun less its a never been used bait..

I don't set the hook a bunch of times unless I think I got a bad hook set to start. Every time you yank on that line it tends to open up a larger hole at the hook. As B lue Streak said maybe bigger hooks. When I buy a new crank I'll look at the hooks and decide if I should go a size bigger.

[.Paxamus.]

Not to seem condescending, but try holding your rod at a ninety degree angle to your body. I had a buddy of mine that i thought "knew" how to fish, but he would retrieve a crankbait with the rod tip pointed right at the crankbait, like you would a jig or a worm. You could also loosen the drag and switch to some Mustad KVD Trebles or Owner Trebles (the only two I use).

[smalljaw67]

I'm betting the problem is the rod. You say you have a medium action rod, I have heard that phrase so many times that it makes my ears bleed when I hear someone say it. What I bet you are using is a medium powered rod and most likely a fast action, kind of like what I use for jerkbaits. The problem with that is the fast action of the rod will cost you fish, especially if you are'nt experienced in how you need to use the rods leverage to keep from pulling the hooks free and that is were a crankbait rod is so nice as the parabolic bend keeps pressure on the fish without fail. A fast action rod makes it tough because you only get a little flex before you hit the backbone of the rod and it makes it real easy to overpower the fish and just pull the hooks free from the fish no matter how good the hook set, the medium power is a little more forgiving but for someone who doesn't have a ton of time with treble hooked baits it doesn't make it any easier. A crankbait specific rod will really help but if you can't afford one don't worry, there is still more that you can do but first you need to get rid of the line you have, good flouro or braid with crankbaits on a fast action rod is asking for trouble, get yourself a good mono, the added stretch of mono is a good thing in a case such as yours because when the fish surges and gets to the backbone of the rod the stretch in the line will provide enough give that the fish will stay hooked, you'll still lose the occasional fish but it will be a lot better than what you got going on right now.

[guitarkid]

I would go with a more moderate rod and mono.

-gk

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'm betting the problem is the rod. You say you have a medium action rod, I have heard that phrase so many times that it makes my ears bleed when I hear someone say it. What I bet you are using is a medium powered rod and most likely a fast action, kind of like what I use for jerkbaits. The problem with that is the fast action of the rod will cost you fish, especially if you are'nt experienced in how you need to use the rods leverage to keep from pulling the hooks free and that is were a crankbait rod is so nice as the parabolic bend keeps pressure on the fish without fail. A fast action rod makes it tough because you only get a little flex before you hit the backbone of the rod and it makes it real easy to overpower the fish and just pull the hooks free from the fish no matter how good the hook set, the medium power is a little more forgiving but for someone who doesn't have a ton of time with treble hooked baits it doesn't make it any easier. A crankbait specific rod will really help but if you can't afford one don't worry, there is still more that you can do but first you need to get rid of the line you have, good flouro or braid with crankbaits on a fast action rod is asking for trouble, get yourself a good mono, the added stretch of mono is a good thing in a case such as yours because when the fish surges and gets to the backbone of the rod the stretch in the line will provide enough give that the fish will stay hooked, you'll still lose the occasional fish but it will be a lot better than what you got going on right now.

x2

[Craiger12]

x3. I can't stand it when I hear pros refer to medium powered rods as medium action. Bill Dance has to be the worst. It really doesn't help beginners or those who don't understand the difference between power and action.

[amishnightmare88]

x2

X3 everything he just said is 100% right. mono line, and a crankbait designed rod. when i fist started hitting the lake i had the same set up as you, med fast action rod (not crankbait designed) and floro. i started fishing with a old friend that placed 16th in the 1980 bassmaster classic. i took that rod and used it for crankbait that outing with him. and he noticed i started missing fish, or getting them half way back to the boat and they would come get off. he told me to take my bait off and handed me a falcon cara with 10lb mono (crankbait designed) and told me to put different good quility hooks on the bait and put that crank on that rod. after that i every fish that hit that crankbait i landed in the boat. good learning experience.

[retiredbosn]

I had the same problem, switched to a crankbait rod, and viola hook up and landing rates skyrocketed. It's amazing how a bass can suck a crankbait into its mouth fully and spit it out without a scratch. A fast action rod just jerks the bait out of the fishes mouth, or due to lack of flexibility the fish throws it.

[Five-Alive]

there is a lot of good advice here!!

[OK Bass Hunter]

Let the fish hook himself and then give the rod a nice sweep when you feel the weight. Not a home run swing just a enough to make sure the hooks have a good set in the fish.

[angler3]

Try using a fiberglass rod when you are cranking, you will lose less fish. Also use sharp hooks and change them out often. I like the mustad KVD trebles on my cranks.

[Crankenstein Crony]

I would suggest getting a rod designed for cranking. That will help your hook up and landing ratio. Made a big difference for me when I first started fishing crank baits.

Try swapping out your hooks for a good EWG, and upsize your hooks too. If it comes stock with 6's, put on 4"s. If it comes stock with 4's, put on 2's. Using quality hooks will really make a big difference as well.

When it comes to your hook set, you don't need a giant powerful hook set like with a jig. When you watch KVD fish crank baits, he doesn't have a big hook set, he just sweeps his rod to the side. With cranks, if you set the hook to hard you can rip the bait right out of the fishes mouth.

[LoneWolf]

change hooks most that come on crankbaits are junk.....get ya some KVD triple grips ....was useing a 100 series bandit yesterday with stock hooks brand new lure....couldn't hardley keep a fish on....was frustrated and switched hooks from another crank that had KVD triple grips and finished the day with only one other lost fish.....made a believer outa me.......

[Ratherbfishing]

What they said.

You didn't say what size crankbait you're using. Sometimes I use tiny crankbaits and it's not at all unusual for bass to throw those little hooks. But big hooks can impair their action. So, although it's already been said, use bigger hooks (if it won't impair the lure's action), sharpen those hooks better (always a plus), use a "softer" action rod, or use stretchier line. Or do all of the above.

[outdoorsman110]

If you can't catch anything on a crankbait, I highly reccomend Bill Dance's YUM Dancin' Eel. I'm not serious, I'm kidding. Worst 3$ of my life.

[quanjig]

If you are fishing with a rod that is not specifically designed for cranking, switch to mono. The added stretch will help you keep the fish hooked up! If you purchase a cranking rod, I would stick with the floro! Some more info would be helpful, deep cranking, shallow, size bait.

[Al Wolbach]

I'm betting the problem is the rod. You say you have a medium action rod, I have heard that phrase so many times that it makes my ears bleed when I hear someone say it. What I bet you are using is a medium powered rod and most likely a fast action, kind of like what I use for jerkbaits. The problem with that is the fast action of the rod will cost you fish, especially if you are'nt experienced in how you need to use the rods leverage to keep from pulling the hooks free and that is were a crankbait rod is so nice as the parabolic bend keeps pressure on the fish without fail. A fast action rod makes it tough because you only get a little flex before you hit the backbone of the rod and it makes it real easy to overpower the fish and just pull the hooks free from the fish no matter how good the hook set, the medium power is a little more forgiving but for someone who doesn't have a ton of time with treble hooked baits it doesn't make it any easier. A crankbait specific rod will really help but if you can't afford one don't worry, there is still more that you can do but first you need to get rid of the line you have, good flouro or braid with crankbaits on a fast action rod is asking for trouble, get yourself a good mono, the added stretch of mono is a good thing in a case such as yours because when the fish surges and gets to the backbone of the rod the stretch in the line will provide enough give that the fish will stay hooked, you'll still lose the occasional fish but it will be a lot better than what you got going on right now.

X5-Well written and right on the money............................Al