| There are many crankbait lures and designs. They | | | | -Shallow diving crankbaits are either short-lipped |
| generally look like some sort of bait fish or | | | | crankbaits or lipless crankbaits. |
| crawfish. There are "lipless" crankbaits. They are | | | | Short-lipped crankbaits: |
| typically more productive in weed and rock | | | | -Most only dive 1-3 feet. |
| structure. | | | | -I recommend thin crankbaits with flat sides in |
| Typically crankbaits for largemouth bass should be | | | | cold water, and rounder crankbaits that wobble in |
| 2-5 inches. Crankbaits are one of the most lifelike | | | | warmer water. -Some short-lipped crankbaits are |
| lures you can use. Fall is my favorite time to use | | | | long and skinny and some are short and fat. |
| crankbaits, especially shad and crawfish crankbaits. | | | | -Short-lipped crankbaits float when stopped. They |
| The bigger the lip on the crankbait, the deeper it | | | | should be fished slow. |
| will dive. I believe it's best to use heavier line (1214 | | | | Lipless Crankbaits: |
| lb. test) when using shallow running crankbaits, and | | | | -I recommend using lipless crankbaits in shallow |
| lighter line (8lb. test) for deeprunning crankbaits. A | | | | water, with a fast retrieve. -You can also let |
| lot of professionals will use 2025 lb. test when | | | | lipless crankbaits sink and fish for suspended bass. |
| fishing shallowrunning crankbaits. One important | | | | -You can get ones that sink or float at rest. Most |
| thing is you want to make sure that the crankbait | | | | of them sink. |
| is running straight. I like to pause often when | | | | Medium divers or mid-water crankbaits: |
| retrieving the crankbait, since it produces me | | | | -Medium divers go from about 5-12 feet deep. |
| more strikes. I also find it more productive to | | | | Deep diving crankbaits: |
| mainly retrieve the crankbait by pulling it in with | | | | -These crankbaits can go down to 30 feet. They |
| the pole and reeling in the slack on the pause. | | | | are most productive at 20 feet. You can use |
| Shallow running crankbaits in summer are great. I | | | | deep diving crankbaits for largemouth but I don't |
| have particularly caught a lot of bass using the | | | | recommend it. I'd just stick to the jig & pig |
| Rebel Crawfish. Its important to remember to | | | | lures. |
| pick your size of crankbait according to generally | | | | Things to remember about crankbaits: |
| how big the bait fish are in your location. Bass will | | | | -The bigger the lip the deeper the crankbait will |
| often stick to one size. You'll want several sizes | | | | go. |
| of the same crankbait and make sure you have | | | | -The lip just determines how deep the lure will go. |
| crankbaits that run at different depths. Its a good | | | | Some float and when you reel it in, they go down |
| idea to have some suspending crankbaits around | | | | to what the lip is set for. |
| that will stay at one depth when you stop reeling | | | | -Some sink. The ones that sink will usually sink at |
| in. Some people like to use a wire snap. I like to | | | | a rate of one foot per second. So, if you know |
| just use a swivvle snap to connect my crankbaits | | | | how deep the fish are these are great. |
| to the line. They are quick for changing out | | | | -When picking your color and size of crankbait try |
| crankbaits for example if you wanted to try a | | | | to match what the body of watre your fishing on |
| different size, depth, or color. | | | | has to offer as far as bait fish and such. -Use |
| Top water crankbaits: | | | | natural colors in clear water and bright colors in |
| -I like to use injured shad top water crankbaits. | | | | dark water. |
| Shallow running crankbaits: | | | | |