| Are crankbaits actually "Probaits?" Watch major | | | | banks or creek or river bottoms. They work the |
| bass tournaments. Any time of the year! | | | | spots at different speeds. First time down, |
| Professionals cast these ¼ to 1 oz. lures to | | | | perhaps fast. On the way back, they reel slower. |
| tease the big bass. It reveals where they are | | | | That return trip just might catch the lazy big bass |
| lurking. This finds spots where they'll catch big | | | | that didn't want to jump at faster moving bait. |
| ones. And big is what counts at the last day total | | | | Other areas to experiment with cranks and get |
| weigh-in. | | | | explosive results when the bass leaps at what |
| For novices, or even experienced vets like you, | | | | you offer are edges of grass beds slightly |
| what are crankbaits? Let's take a look at the info. | | | | beneath the surface, or over them. |
| Words out! There are two types: Lipped ones | | | | What size crank should you use? Try to find out |
| that DIVE deep under the surface. This happens | | | | the type of baitfish in the lake and the normal |
| when you retrieve line. And lipless ones that zoom | | | | bottom of the water bed before you fish. |
| underneath the water at about one-foot per | | | | Bottoms range from sandbars, ledges, humps, |
| second to snatch the bass' attention on the way | | | | and drop-offs to a variety of other structure or |
| down, on the way up. At least that's simple! Now | | | | hard bottom. You want your crank to skim over |
| how do we use them? Both breeds are narrow | | | | the top of these obstacles to lure the bass out of |
| lures resembling a fishing minnow. | | | | their natural cover. |
| Moving in for the kill | | | | Using Shallow Depth Cranks |
| Once the pros locate big bass spots with cranks, | | | | Types of crankbaits most pros use are lipless |
| they often switch to a lead head jig, dressed with | | | | shallow, medium or deep divers. Here's why and |
| a rubber, hair, or plastic skirt. They cast to the | | | | how: |
| perimeters of these spots' perimeters, and back | | | | Cranks are created with many materials. Some |
| in, following a circular pattern. Or they might use | | | | pros like light, cedar wood cranks for 10-foot |
| worms. | | | | deep shallow fishing. They want them with a |
| Be Prepared! | | | | natural swimming action. Or, if possible, shaped -- |
| Some tournament pros carry three or more rods | | | | or misshaped --like a wounded or disoriented |
| in their boats. Each holds a different crankbait. | | | | minnow. Many big lazy bass like what appears to |
| This lets them readily switch from one to the | | | | be an easy dinner! |
| other. This lets them tease bass quickly into | | | | Some pros use shallow-running cranks in deep |
| announcing where they are. | | | | water. Reason? Big bass might be suspended |
| Why not? After all, pros are time starved. There | | | | above the lake bed or structure. Rods 6 to 6.5 |
| are only so many hours in a bass tournament and | | | | feet are considered best: perhaps holding a |
| more casts = more opportunity. | | | | 12-pound test line. You may downsize to 8 or 10, |
| Rods pros use range from 6 to 6.5 feet. Some | | | | depending on the reel. |
| prefer medium-casting rods when covering open | | | | This last combination delivers deeper fishing and |
| water; faster-action rods when flipping crankbaits | | | | more bait action. |
| into snag-prone lake bottoms with stumps, logs, | | | | Winning with Medium Cranks |
| and the like. Unfortunately, that's where bass lurk | | | | One way to use medium cranks that travel at |
| to party, while waiting for dinner to pass by | | | | medium water depths is bounce them off |
| overhead. So you have to risk snags. Who needs | | | | obstacles such as stumps. Or, let them hit bottom |
| snags when fighting tournament time? | | | | and rise. Or run them along shallow grass edges. |
| But if they snag, all is far from lost. And there are | | | | Cranks used for this type of play usually are a |
| answers. | | | | thin-sided, fast wiggling type, with a wide lip added |
| One point before we move on: some pros use | | | | to give a slower, broader action. Rod to run with |
| rods with ratios that allow a slow or fast retrieve | | | | these lures is best if especially made for |
| to avoid snags | | | | crankbaits, about 6 to 6.5 in length, with a fast tip |
| Cranks Are Retrievable! | | | | action, medium power, and a 12-14 pound test |
| Bass anglers frequently hold the assumption that | | | | line. |
| crankbaits are impossible to retrieve. On a no-fish | | | | It's the best combination for top results. |
| day, they think the only thing cranks deliver is a | | | | Catching with Deep Runners |
| dent in their pocketbooks through lost lures. | | | | Deep cranks put in play a whole new ballgame. |
| Not so! | | | | Some pros run them at max depth to pull in big |
| Retrieving crankbaits simply requires finesse - and | | | | bass, and then slow them down until they almost |
| a bit of patience. Don't continually pull on a | | | | crawl. The larger-lipped cranks usually allow you to |
| crankbait if it's snagged. Jerking your rod sets the | | | | run snag free over submerged trees or if you're |
| hooks deeper into what you are caught on. Who | | | | hitting bottom. |
| needs that? | | | | When you feel contact with structure, slow your |
| Instead, position your boat directly over the snag, | | | | retrieval rate and the crank will usually bounce |
| or somewhat past it. And thump your line. It's like | | | | over the object, then deep dive once again. |
| fiddling a fiddle bow with your index finger and | | | | An even better action to feel is if a deep-lying big |
| thumb. The crank will soon jump free. | | | | bass hiding in cover strikes with a vengeance. |
| For the uninitiated, thumping is basically holding | | | | For this method, some pros like a rod with a fast |
| your rod at about a 40 to 45 degree angle from | | | | tip, 20+ pound test, and a medium-powered |
| the snagged object. Grasp your spool with one | | | | easy-to-cast rod. They feel it helps the lure's |
| hand and thumb. Use the other to grasp line | | | | action and wins the day. |
| mid-way between the reel and first eye on your | | | | Deep divers often also produce around or above |
| rod. Pull line out 18 inches up, creating a bow in | | | | submerged grass. |
| your rod. Release it fast, creating a snapping | | | | Now you've been through the crank's library of |
| action. If it sounds like a cannon shot, that's fine. | | | | "How to Use Us!" If it's good enough for the |
| Do this 6 to 7 times. The crank usually pops | | | | professional tournament players, cranks should be |
| loose. There: another pro secret is out! | | | | good enough for the rest of us mere mortals -- |
| Where Cranks Work Best | | | | to catch a big bass that prefers to take YOU |
| Some pros find cranks effective on tree-lined | | | | home.Enjoy the results. Good Fishing! |