Crank Baits For Bass Fishing
There
are four different types of Crank baits to use to land that bass hog:
Deep
Divers designed with a big long lip
Medium
Divers that have a shorter bill
Shallow
Divers that have a very short lip
Lipless Crank Baits which have no bill
I
will first of all describe the anatomy of Crank baits:
First
you have a Rattle Chamber which is the body where a hollow space will have metal balls that make a clacking
sound when you are reeling it in. The shape of the body which is made of plastic or wood will determine the
lure's action, meaning if the Crank bait has a round or flat body it will have a wide wobble, while a thin/flat
side will have a tight wobble.
Next,
you have the treble hooks. Most of your Crank baits have two treble hooks on them that a lot of fishing people
change out right out of the box or package.
They
have come up with the Red in color treble hooks that folks like to put on the front. I recommend a number 4
treble hook.
Be
careful when changing out the hooks; you do not want to deviate from the action.
The
last part of the Crank bait is the bill or lip which is usually made of a clear Lexan. This controls the Crank
bait's diving depth.
Where and When To Fish Crank Baits:
While
Plastic worms and jigs are what I call slow fishing or moving lures designed to get down in dense cover, Crank
baits are a faster moving lure.
This
way you can cover a lot of water faster. I would advise when you start using a Crank bait to use it in open
water such as points and drop-offs. There is no sense in losing a brand new lure your first cast in the
brush becuase of not knowing how it works.
The
Crank baits are good for water temp 60 to 80 degrees and when the Bass Are Active.
Using the Four Types of Crank Baits:
Deep
Divers can get down to 20 feet of water. They are the one you want to use when the water is very warm because
the bass have moved down deep to stay cool. Find a good creek channel or ditch and position your boat
where you can cast across the creek channel or ditch, and believe me when it drops off the side
Medium
Divers usually go to a depth of 5 to 8 feet. I would use these on a slow tapering bank, on a point or
flats.
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